Aston Martin Virage Volante

What‘s it? There was a period once the words ‘Virage’ and ‘Volante’ would cause car enthusiasts to recoil in horror. Especially if we’re being blunt but honest, the initial car that bore this name was probably Aston Martin’s lowest moment. One magazine at that time even went thus far on describe the car like a lemon. What’s it like? But which was a, indeed, an awful long time ago, since when Aston Martin is reborn and reinvigorated to some point where it will take the roof off a car also resolved like the new Virage without there being much of the compromise involved. Actually, using the hood down and also the sunshine in your face, the Volante might actually be the greater desirable model of the 2, what using the Virage’s new-found ambition like a wafting GT car that just so happens to possess supercar levels of performance at its disposal. Despite gaining 105kg inside the transformation from coupé to convertible (taking it to some somewhat portly 1890kg overall ) the Volante still has lots of attend call upon, thanks mainly to some 490bhp 6. 0-litre V12 beneath its long bonnet, plus a six-speed, paddle-shift automatic gearbox by which to deploy it. On an open road, neither the performance nor the driving experience in general feels notably differ from that from the excellent Virage. And there’s no notable shake evident with the steering column as well as seats, the 2 areas where you’d expect to detect the most important difference. The hood itself is trimmed having a double layer of Thinsulate material and ensures the Volante feels effectively as a coupé once the roof is closed. All you actually notice is really a whiff more wind noise compared to the fixed-head version and 32 litres less boot space, but otherwise it feels much such as the coupé upon the move. Should I buy one? Inevitably, the Volante drinks a bit more fuel compared to the coupé because it’s heavier. Assuming that you may afford the £10, 000 premium it demands during the closed car, though, this could possibly be the model to reach for. Upon the right road, inside the right weather, with the ideal type of attitude, you can well think that life doesn’t get far better compared to a Virage Volante. How times change, and just how far Aston Martin has come consequently. Aston Martin Virage VolantePrice : £160, 000 ; Top speed : 186mph ; 0-62mph : 4. 6sec ; Economy : 18. 8mpg (combined ) ; CO2 : 349g / km ; Kerb weight : 1890kg ; Engine : V12, 5935cc, petrol ; Power : 490bhp at 6500rpm ; Torque : 420lb ft at 5750rpm ; Gearbox : 6-spd automatic Aston Martin Virage Volante