You might be wondering what’s new, but this really is a new model from Aston Martin. Called the Virage and available in both coupe and topless Volante form, it revives the famous old name last heard in the 1990s. Virage is derived from the French word viragem, which means bend or curve.

Although it looks similar to Aston’s recent models, the Virage is a new model that sits between the DB9 and range topping DBS made famous by Agent 007. In the UK, the Virage will be priced from £150,000, sandwiched between the £125,000 DB9 and the £175,000 flagship. Volante models will cost about £10,000 extra.

Built on Gaydon’s bonded aluminium VH platform, the Virage is powered by the familiar hand-built 6.0-litre V12, but with 490 bhp and 570 Nm of torque, as opposed to the DB9′s 470 bhp and the DBS’ 510 horses. Through its carbon fibre prop shaft, the engine is mated to a new six-speed ZF automatic transmission, which Aston brands Touchtronic II. Weight balance in this front engined, RWD car is exactly 50:50.

The Virage’s dynamics have been tuned to deliver an engaging yet more refined driving experience, where the driver can extract max performance with greater ease. The new Adaptive Damping System (ADS) intelligently ‘reads’ the road – it now selects up to five different stiffness settings within normal mode, and a further five stiffer settings within sport mode. A ‘Sport’ button on the dash allows for sharper throttle response and quicker gear changes. It also prevents auto shift up. Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes are standard.

Inside, one will be “greeted by the aroma of seven hides of the finest Bridge of Weir leather”. Inspiration has been taken from luxury leather goods to produce a pinstripe welt which flows down either side of the fascia and along the seat and door. Apparently, each Virage will have 70 man hours of expert craftsmanship lavished on the interior alone.

Gallery after the jump.
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Aston Martin has introduced a leaner and meaner form of the bog standard V8 Vantage called the V8 Vantage S, which is heavily influenced by the 2011 Vantage GT4 race car – it’s meant for the driver looking for significantly more go.

The 4.7 litre V8 engine on this one has been reworked to offer 430 hp at 7,300 rpm and 490 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm, working with a new ground-up developed Sportshift II transmission.

Specifically designed for the car, the seven-speed automated manual transmission – with a single clutch system – is offered as standard fitment. Highlights include 20% faster gear changes compared to the Sportshift box, and the extra gear permits shorter, well-spaced ratios which, combined with a shorter final drive ratio of 4.182:1, delivers quicker acceleration and a more sporting feel.

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In addition to this, the Vantage S features a ‘Sport’ button which quickens the gear changes and gives the driver a more aggressive throttle response while also opening the exhaust bypass valves across most of the engine speed range.

Other dynamic revisions include a quickened steering rack ratio of 15:1 (compared to 17:1 on the standard car) and a larger diameter front brake disc, with new six-piston front brake calipers. There are also new springs and dampers, as well as wider rear wheels.

The car also gets a new dynamic stability control (DSC) system specifically tuned to it, as well as a new brake module providing features such as Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) and Hill Start Assist (HSA).

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Exterior tweaks include a new lower front bumper finished in perfectly-aligned carbon fibre, which houses a larger air intake feeding the engine and front brakes; the splitter, combined with the extended deck lid ‘flip,’ work in harmony to provide increased downforce at speed. A new rear bumper and side sills, to optically widen the car, are also on.

New 19-inch ‘V’ spoke wheel styles come fitted as standard, with a 10-spoke lightweight forged wheel available as an option, and these wear bespoke Bridgestone rubbers.

Two years after it made its introduction, Aston Martin Racing has given its Vantage GT4 racecar an update. The firm has reworked the car by enhancing the aerodynamics and increasing the car’s downforce. The 4.7 litre V8 has also been remapped to offer increased levels of power and torque.

The car now features a new front splitter, which increases downforce at the front of the car and improves channelling of cool air to the brakes and radiator. At the rear, the GT4 gains the V12 Vantage’s larger boot ‘flip’. This works together with a new carbon fibre diffuser and rear underfloor, which creates an area of low pressure under the rear of the car, to increase downforce.

The redesigned underfloor also channels more air through a new rear-mounted high capacity transmission oil cooler. In addition to the engine and aero upgrades, competitors can now choose to include a race-developed Bosch ABS and traction control system from Bosch Motorsport to enhance performance in both wet and dry conditions.

More than 80 Vantage GT4s have been built and sold globally since 2009, and the car has certainly been successful plying its trade in its GT4 competition class – it won the European GT4 Cup this year, as well as the GT4 class at the Dubai 24 Hours, the Nürburgring 24 Hours and the Spa 24 hours.

Gallery after the jump.
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The £140,000 Aston Martin Rapide not luxurious enough for you? Try the Luxe, a new higher trim level for Aston’s Austrian made “four-door sports car”.

The standard Rapide’s spec list is already very long, but the Luxe adds a choice of exclusive colour options, including Quantum Silver and Concours Blue, bespoke six-piece luggage set that matches the cabin, rear-seat DVD entertainment system with wireless headphones plus glass switchgear and key fob. Also new is the ventilation system, which allows for three temperature settings in the cabin.

The Rapide Luxe is priced around £157,445 (depending on options), which is a £17,000 premium over the standard model. It is powered by a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 with 470 hp and 600 Nm of torque. Pics after the jump.
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