Aston Martin introduces the new Virage - supremely elegant and powerful, yet juxtaposed as an understated sports car. The marque can now provide customers with a class-leading range, all with different characters, yet with the same unique Aston Martin soul and luxury.

Beautiful, dynamic and prestigious, the Virage combines outright sports car performance with luxury, comfort and refinement. The front mid-mounted V12 engine's torque delivery provides outstanding performance, coupled with the car's inherent agility and perfect weight distribution delivering the ideal balance between outright sports car performance and trademark sporting luxury exemplified by modern Aston Martins.

Aston Martin CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez said: "100 years of automotive history has demonstrated that evolution delivers the best solutions in time.

"So it is with Virage; it is the next level of evolution in our VH architecture strategy and it does everything with the perfection that you would expect today. It is the perfect balance of opposites."

The Virage sits between the enduringly elegant DB9 and overtly sporting DBS, providing customers with a car that remains luxurious and understated but delivers increased performance and crucially performance that is always accessible for effortless driving.
Aston Martin's revered hand-built 6.0 litre V12 engine produces 490 bhp (365 kW/497 PS) and 570 nM (420 lb. Ft) of torque and through its carbon fibre prop shaft, is mated to a six-speed Touchtronic II automatic transmission mounted on the transaxle contributing to perfect 50:50 weight balance.

The Virage's dynamics have been tuned to deliver an engaging yet more refined driving experience, where the driver can extract the maximum performance from the car with greater ease. A newly developed Adaptive Damping System (ADS) intelligently 'reads' the road to provide optimum road holding, adapting to different conditions. The system now selects up to five different stiffness settings within normal mode, and a further five stiffer settings within sport mode.

Aiding driver control, a 'Sport' button on the facia allows the driver to select a sharper throttle response and faster gear changes while also holding the gears without automatically shifting up at the revolution limiter.

Virage will be delivered with Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes as standard - bucking the trend in this market - offering progressive and tremendous stopping power. Powerful, resistant to fade and much lighter than conventional cast-iron discs, the CCM braking system means that not only is the overall vehicle weight reduced, but the weight saving at each wheel means that a better balance between ride comfort and handling can be struck. Lower rotational mass also provides improved acceleration.

Virage capitalises on the technology from the DBS and unites it with the comfort and refinement found in the DB9 and Rapide. Aston Martin's own bonded aluminium 'VH' architecture that forms the backbone of the marque's sports cars, takes inspiration from the aerospace industry where weight reduction is the ultimate goal. Strong yet light, the inherent properties of modular aluminium lend themselves perfectly to an extremely rigid and versatile platform which allows the production of a Virage coupe and Volante.

The Virage sits low and wide asserting the power which lies beneath; single bi-xenon headlamps follow the lines of the car's flanks to give a more crisp and modern look from the front. A new aluminium metal front grille, inspired by the One-77, features five horizontal vanes which are chamfered creating an aerofoil profile. The new front bumper is pure and relieves the car of any visual complexities, contributing to the overall simplicity of design. The front wings distinguish the Virage from its stable mates housing a new modern interpretation of the Aston Martin iconic side strake housing six LEDs elegantly forming the side repeater. Virage's side sills carry the simplicity of the front bumper through to the rear diffuser which houses a body-coloured blade accentuating the width of the car.

As drivers and passengers open the signature swan wing doors, they are greeted by the aroma of seven hides of the finest Bridge of Weir leather expertly hand stitched by craftsmen. Inspiration has been taken from luxury leather goods to produce a pinstripe welt which flows down either side of the facia and along the seat and door, drawing your eye through the car. Each Virage will have 70 man hours of expert craftsmanship lavished on the interior alone to create the famous sophisticated Aston Martin interior. In all, over 200 man hours will be spent handcrafting the Virage at Aston Martin's global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England as it becomes the tenth major production car to be built there in the space of less than eight years.

Simplicity runs throughout the car with the new fully integrated Satellite Navigation system that has been developed in conjunction with Garmin. The new system simplifies operation through the existing four-way joystick mounted on the facia. A new 6.5 inch high resolution display uses the latest graphics and maps to visually and aurally guide the driver to their destination.

Standard equipment includes heated seats (Sports seats only), cruise control, satellite navigation, Bluetooth telephone preparation and the powerful 700W Aston Martin Premium Audio System with Dolby® Pro Logic II® and full iPod® integration.

The Virage and Virage Volante are on sale now, available from Aston Martin's global dealership network spanning 132 dealerships in 41 countries. Pricing for the new Virage will be confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show where it will be joined by two further new cars; the V8 Vantage S and the new Tailor-Fit Cygnet city car, all of which will be brought to production in the UK by Aston Martin in 2011.

The Virage sits between the enduringly elegant DB9 and overtly sporting DBS

Luxury British sports car maker Aston Martin is today unveiling three hand crafted ‘Year of the Dragon’ special editions as it grabs the spotlight at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.

The historic British brand, desired worldwide for its engineering and design excellence, is using this important Chinese exhibition to build on its long-term commitment to the Asian market, with a particular focus on China. Aston Martin will open 11 new dealerships in China this year.

The Dragon 88 Limited Edition models debuting at Beijing demonstrate the exceptional personalisation possibilities available from Aston Martin, with the world-famous sports car brand making 88 cars available for the ultimate in personalisation.

Show goers will be able to see a DBS Volante, Virage Coupe and V8 Vantage S Coupe from the Year of the Dragon series. The Dragon 88s on the impressive show stand will be complemented by Aston Martin’s exceptional One-77 supercar, together with a four-door Rapide customised by Aston Martin’s new ‘Q by Aston Martin’ bespoke service, and a DBS cutaway model.

“The stunning Dragon 88 sports cars – hand-built by our world-class craftspeople in England – reflect the design flair and technical excellence of the luxurious Aston Martin brand,” said Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin.

Dr Bez added: “I am very happy to be able to present these iconic cars on the world stage here in Beijing, and I and my staff in China look forward discussing them with visitors to the exhibition.

“This is the first time we have participated in a major automotive show in China since our wholly-owned subsidiary, Aston Martin Lagonda (China) Automobile Distribution Co., Ltd., became our general distributor in China in summer 2011.

“We became general distributor after resolving a lawsuit about distribution rights on friendly terms and we are both proud and pleased that we were able to achieve this. It is another important step on our journey to developing a successful sales operation here in China. Like many newcomers to China we have learned a lot since we first came here in 2007.

“We expect China to become one of our most important markets and look forward to sharing the Aston Martin experience with Chinese customers. Our dealership network is growing very quickly. It now includes Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Shenyang and Ordos City, and will soon include Kunming and Tianjin.”

Global Sales Director Andy Gawthorpe said: “We are investing significantly in the Chinese market throughout 2012 and beyond. Today Aston Martin operates nine dealerships in the region, with 11 additional showrooms planned to open in China this year alone.”

He added: “With the new limited edition Dragon 88s, our ‘Q by Aston Martin’ bespoke service and the massive expansion of our sales network, China is on course to become Aston Martin’s third biggest market.”

New models for China

The Dragon 88 concept is reserved for Aston Martin’s most powerful, elegant and prestigious models: the DBS, Virage and V8 Vantage S.

Each of the 88 cars will feature bespoke details that celebrate the mystical qualities of the dragon symbol, synonymous with power, strength and good luck in Chinese folklore. Among the detail changes, 24-carat gold is applied to the signature Aston Martin wing badges on each car. The cars are also finished in one of three special colours selected to chime with traditional Chinese art and imagery.

Also starring at the Beijing show the One-77 is the ultimate expression of Aston Martin’s engineering excellence, representing the world’s most desirable automotive art form. The hugely potent 7.3-litre, naturally aspirated V12 engine and the low mass, high-rigidity properties of a carbon fibre chassis give a unique group of 77 owners around the world a driving experience of unrivalled intensity and excitement.

‘Q by Aston Martin’ bespoke service

‘Q by Aston Martin’ is a bespoke specification service that goes well beyond the already extensive standard palette of paint, leather and trim finishes. This exciting new service brings Aston Martin’s talented designers together with the company’s expert engineers and highly experienced craftspeople, allowing customers to specify their Aston Martin sports car with meticulous attention to detail.

The service covers interior and exterior styling, offering almost endless opportunity for expression. Thanks to Aston Martin's unique VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture, the philosophy that forms the backbone of its sports cars, the company has evolved a fast, flexible and modular approach to engineering. With ‘Q by Aston Martin’, the ability to commission the design and manufacture of a truly unique car is now within reach.

The Ming dynasty is the inspiration for the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ Rapide on show in Beijing. Ming Blue Paint, ‘glacial’ wings and side strakes, Walnut wooden boot and door inserts, Falcon Grey and Metallic Bronze leather, and Ming-inspired seat embroidery are all unique for this car. Meanwhile the DBS cutaway model at the show stand has been created to give visitors a unique insight into Aston Martin’s unique VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture.

Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez said of the British sport car maker’s dramatic show presence in Beijing: “I’m very happy to be presenting such a compelling collection of luxury sports cars to a Chinese audience. My team has striven to create cars that are as beautiful as they are rare and exotic, and we all look forward to welcoming show visitors in Beijing.”

Italian design house Zagato Atelier was at the Chantilly Art & Elegance Concours D'Elegance today to release the Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake. The car was commissioned by an unnamed European client and will be a one-off example.

The base car appears to be 2011-12 Aston Martin Virage, a short-lived 2+2 that slotted in between the DB9 and DBS. Though Zagato did not specify any drivetrain details, it's likely that the shooting brake is powered by the Virage's 6.0-liter, 490hp V12.

Zagato says that it contains design cues of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and mid-80s Volante. It also claims that the new car completes a trilogy celebrating Aston Martin's 100th anniversary, which it began last year with the DB9 Spider Zagato Centennial and DBS Coupe Zagato Centennial. Incidentally, the coachbuilder says it also finishes the trio of famous Aston body styles -- Coupe, Spider, and Shooting Brake.

Zagato has a long history of rescultping Aston Martin bodies, one that began in 1960 with the DB4GT. Only 19 of the lightweight high-performance versions were built. Over the decades, the Italian design house worked their styling flair on several more British machines, including the V8 Vantage Zagato and V8 Volante Zagato of the 1980s, 2003 DB7 Zagato, 2004 Vanquish Roadster and 2011 Aston Martin V12 Zagato.