Page 1 of 2 Next >> At the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show, Aston Martin revealed the long overdue replacement for the V8 that had been in production for the better part of two decades. Dubbed the Virage, the new Aston Martin retained all the familiar elements of the V8 but further refined and in a modern package that looked ready to take the British manufacturer into the 1990s.
For the design of the Virage, Aston Martin had opened a competition. Beating quite a few rivals of note, the work of British stylists John Hefferman and Ken Greeley was chosen. Their design featured prominent, square headlights and tail lights, while a subtle version of the familiar Aston Martin grille was used. Although smoother than that of the outgoing V8, the lines of the V8 were straightforward yet elegant.
As before, the body was crafted in aluminium and mounted on a steel subframe in a classic coach-built fashion. This structure was mounted on a steel platform chassis. Like the V8, the Virage featured double wishbone suspension at the front while the rear-end boasted a tried and trusted DeDion rear axle. Massive ventilated disc brakes were fitted on all four corner.
While the 5.3-litre displacement was retained, the V8 engine was comprehensively reworked. It was fitted with four-valve heads that had been developed together with Reeves Callaway. Another novelty was the Weber fuel injection system. As a result, the rumbling V8 now produced 330 bhp and crucially close to 500 Nm of torque. Aston Martin offered either a five-speed manual gearbox or a Chrysler 3-speed Torqueflite automatic. Page 1 of 2 Next >>
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Virage 6.3 Volante
At the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show, Aston Martin revealed the long overdue replacement for the V8 that had been in production for the better part of two decades. Dubbed the Virage, the new Aston Martin retained all the familiar elements of the V8 but further refined and in a modern package that looked ready to take the British manufacturer into the 1990s.