Aston Martin DB9 (Sports Car),Reviews

The new Virage is intended to plug the gap between Aston Martin DB9 (Sports Car) and the more hardcore DBS models, says Steve Sutcliffe in Autocar. That means, more of a grand tourer than a hardcore sports car. It’s a hard car, and a hard car to operate, and there are those who say that the wheels are coming off Aston’s previously untarnished brand kudos.

Aston Matin Virage, 2+2 coupe
Engine: 5.9-litre V12 petrol
Output: 365kW at 6500rpm and 570Nm at 5750rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Price: $371,300 plus on-road costs
On sale: Now

FOR every car you can think of there's a Goldilocks model that's just right. The Aston Martin DB9 is one that has missed on this score. Then a couple of years ago Aston Martin made the DBS, a hot version of the DB9 that addressed many of its problems. The Virage sits above the standard car on performance but below the DBS on price. It costs $10,000 more than a DB9 but is $114,000 cheaper than a DBS.

The recipe benefits from Aston Martin DB9 (Sports Car) experience with the DBS and its four-door Rapide, which arrived about a year ago. This includes adaptive suspension, which makes all the difference to the way the car handles. Where a DB9 always has the potential to bite, the Virage is just very accomplished and predictable. It also has the pace to exploit its handling, with a power figure that falls midway between a DB9 and a DBS. The automatic feels right for the car, with more refinement in its changes than the robot manual gearbox in Aston V8s (see Vantage S First Drive, opposite).

The steering is light, in grand tourer style, and the car embraces fast-flowing corners. From the outside, there's enough novelty in Virage's design to excite DB9-ers looking to upgrade.

Here’s a good’un! The Mercedes SLS is more powerful and more fun through the corners, but Aston Martin DB9 (Sports Car) Virage is more engaging to drive, and more flattering if you get it right.