Aston Martin Turn 2011 Review
Test Drive

Aston Martin Turn 2011 Review

IT'S the eyes that get you. The teardrops pulled back, which look like a dagger at the road, look menacingly at other road users. Narrow, backward-curving headlights are taken from its older sister, the four-door Rapide. Using these lenses on this car - Virage - is more than a coincidence or even a cost savings. It is the visible DNA that links the last two Aston Martin models.

The Virage is the final 'V' to wear the Aston badge, and while it's undeniably a stunning statement in metal, its inclusion in the brand's range feels over the top at first. Aston Martin disagrees. The company's Australian spokesman, Marcel Fabrice, says the Virage plugs any gaps in the minds of Aston Martin buyers.

"It's less impressive in terms of power, drivetrain and ride than the DBS, but more advanced than the DB9." He says.

This is exactly what I feel. The problem is not that there are three identical models in Aston's tight lineup, but that the Virage is the best. Of course, this is Aston's problem, not mine.

VALUE

For the price of an apartment Virazh is redundant. Compared to other hand-assembled exotics on wheels, it’s not bad. You will be the judge. It costs $371,300, which is $17,742 more than the DB9, and yet a whopping $106,293 less than the DBS. The Virage gets dinner-plate-sized carbon-ceramic rotors, Garmin's excellent sat-nav system that's easier to use and clearer than previous Aston designs, plus 20-inch wheels and Alcantara leather upholstery.

Design

Nice. There's nothing better than this, and even with Jaguar getting close, the Aston DB9 style will wear a belt and crown in any beauty pageant. Put a bikini on him and you will marry him. Pragmatists will object that this is a big car with a small cabin. It's like I have a business.

In truth, there are four seats, but if you are not a sadist, the Bend will only fit two people. Although, perhaps two deep recesses with leather trim on the back will suit small children, maybe a dog. Did I mention it's beautiful?

TECHNOLOGY

I used to prefer Aston V8 Vantage V9 from DB12. In fact, the V8-powered models felt more nimble and needed less cornering correction. What happened then. The 5.9-liter V12 is smoother and more responsive to the right foot. By becoming less sluggish, it has changed the dynamics of the car, and in the Virage, more than ever, emphasizes how accurately this car can enter corners and how balanced it sits out.

It is powered by a six-speed ZF automatic transmission whose response time is enhanced by pushing the sport button and shifting gears using paddles on the steering wheel. I prefer this box over the automated manuals in the Vantage S because it's significantly smoother to drive and easier to live with in lanes.

SECURITY

Just four airbags? For $371,300 (plus travel expenses)? No crash safety rating? You get robbed, put into an unsafe car that can leave black marks on the road at blinding speeds, but still have impact protection like a Vespa. Exotic manufacturers tend not to hand over the car to the collapse. Therefore, it is difficult to offer a standard of safety without comparison. You will be the judge.

DRIVING

The car has been sitting for about six years. If it was some other brand, it would already be over the hill. But the Virage - nee DB9 and DBS - still has fresh styling and is competitive on both performance and price.

It's just that I'm not happy with the fact that year after year I look at the same dashboard. Maybe I want the shifter to bounce back and forth in unison with the various roars of the engine, rather than politely pushing the acrylic buttons on the overhead dash. But I'll never, ever lose the thrill of that eruption when the V12 starts up in the morning.

Forget that you have a long bonnet and that curious motorists might want to get up close for a better look, and you'll quickly get used to the way the Virage caresses the driver.

The seats wrap and warm the body, the steering wheel fits snugly in the hand, and the magnesium switches sticking out from under the steering wheel click distinctly at the touch of the fingers. It's a sensory ride.

The suspension of a sports car - such as a DBS - is usually harsh and pierces the kidneys hard. Virage is softer, with button adjustment from firm to really hard, depending on your mood, the road, the weather and the condition of your kidneys.

Everything about this car is perfect - it turns instinctively, reacts instantly to the slightest touch, and always emits a rich V12 howl.

VERDICT

Yes Aston. You make beautiful cars. Now face it - only a few of us can afford it. It's a selfish two-seater (plus a dog and a cat) built for desert winding roads in cool climates. Aston has a few on the boat and they've all been sold - mostly at the expense of DBS, which can be too hardcore for city driving. The Virage is the future of Aston's big coupe, and more so than other Aston Martin models, it echoes the owner-friendly line of the Rapide.

ASTON MARTIN TURN

Cost: $371,300

Guarantee: 3 years, 100,000 km, roadside assistance

Resale: 64%

Service Interval: 15,000 km or 12 months

Economy: 15.5 l / 100 km; 367 g / km CO2

Safety equipment: four airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.

Accident Rating: No

Engine: 365 kW/570 Nm 5.9-litre V12 petrol engine

Transmission: Six-speed sequential automatic

Body: 2-door, 2+2 seats

Dimensions: 4703 (l); 1904 mm (W); 1282 mm (B); 2740 mm (WB)

The weight: 1785kg

Tires: size (ft) 245/35R20 (rr) 295/30R20, without spare tire

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