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The Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades-old V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of the standard car was changed to V8 Coupe in 1996. This V8-powered car was intended as the company's top model, with the 6-cylinder 1994 DB7 slotted below it. Although the DB7 switched to a V12 engine and claimed the performance crown, this V8 model remained the exclusive, expensive, and hand-built king of Astons. It was replaced in 2000 with the Vanquish. The V8 Vantage name reappeared on a new entry-level model in 2005. By the end of the 2000 model year, 1,050 of all Virage related models had been produced. A new generation Virage was introduced at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, to fit into the middle of Aston Martin's current lineup. ==Virage== When compared to the preceding V8, the design was fresh and more modern. It looked more like a Lagonda than the V8 it replaced. Indeed, the chassis was an evolution of the Lagonda's, with a de Dion tube rear suspension, located by triangulated radius rods and a Watts linkage, and a double wishbone unit at the front.〔Autocar & Motor, Aug. 15, 1990, p. 29.〕 To cut costs, many of the less-important pieces came from other companies, as had been the case for many an Aston past. The sleek headlights and taillights were Audi 200 and Volkswagen Scirocco units, respectively, while General Motors, Jaguar, and Ford provided the steering column, climate control panel, and dash switches. In fact, Ford had purchased Aston Martin and Jaguar shortly before the Virage debuted. The Virage was a large, heavy car in spite of its all-aluminium body, but the 32-valve 5.3 L (5,340 cc) V8 engine's torque elevated its performance to near super car levels. "Acceleration just never seems to run out", claimed ''Sports Car International'' on a first test. They also praised the "eager and quicker revving" nature of the engine with its Callaway-designed heads and Weber-Marelli fuel injection. "Nothing sounds quite like an Aston V8," they concluded. The 1,790 kg (3,946 lb) car could reach 158 mph (254 km/h). The automatic could reach from standing in about 6.5 seconds.〔 An upgrade to was announced at the 1996 Geneva Show. The five-speed ZF manual was fitted to about forty percent of Virages. The more popular automatic option was Chrysler's three-speed Torqueflite transmission. For 1993 the three-speed was replaced by a four-speed automatic unit.〔 The six-speed manual from the Vantage also became optional late in the Virage's production run.〔''Automobil Revue 1997'', p. 153〕 A less extreme V8 Coupe was also built from 1996, replacing the defunct Virage. Lacking the superchargers and the more aggressive body style of its big brother Vantage, the V8 Coupe produced 349 hp (260 kW) and 369 lb·ft (500 N·m). In total, 101 examples of the V8 version were built from 1996 through 2000. ===Works Service=== In January, 1992, Aston Martin introduced a conversion service, transforming the car into a Virage 6.3. As the name implies, the centerpiece of the conversion was a V8 derived from the AMR1 racing car. This engine produced 500 hp (373 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 480 lb·ft (651 N·m) at 5,800 rpm, allowing the car to reach 175 mph (282 km/h). Other changes included 362 mm (14 in) ventilated disc brakes, the largest used in a passenger car until the Bentley Continental GT, and 18 in (457 mm) wheels. Visually, the 6.3 had wide flared bumpers, low sills and air dams, and side air vents. ;Virage Shooting Brake In true British tradition, a shooting brake (estate) version of the Virage was offered in extremely limited numbers. A three-door four-seater, it debuted at the March 1992 Geneva Motor Show. Unlike prior Aston Shooting Brakes, however, the Virage was produced in-house by the company's Works Service, with maybe six constructed in total. The price new was . The cars are believed to have retained Virage chassis numbers, except two that received chassis numbers of the type "DP/2099". 〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Virage Shooting Brake in Aston Martins.com )〕 ;Lagonda Virage Saloon Another rare Works Service car is the ''Lagonda Saloon''. Only a handful of these long-wheelbase four-door Virages were built as a special customer order, reviving Aston Martin's long-dormant second marque. Introduced in 1994, it was made by Aston Martin Works Service with a chassis extension, although two were ordered with an extension. The name refers to the four-door Aston Martin Lagonda. The Lagonda Virage cost about and only eight or nine were made, with some being conversions of regular Virages. ;Lagonda Virage Shooting Brake The five-door Lagonda Virage Shooting Brake debuted at the same time as the Lagonda Virage. It was made by Aston Martin Works Service in only one or two examples, and has been spotted bearing "''Vacances''" badging at the rear. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Aston Martin Virage」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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