Aston Martin Virage coupe 6.0 Review: Licence to thrill

What we like:

That crackle from the exhaust

effortless performance

jaw dropping looks

exquisite interior

that starter button

looks a million dollars but costs less than that

What we dislike:

Exhaust note can be louder

not as hardcore or engaging as you’d thing it’ll be

some visible Volvo/Ford switchgear

most will not be able to differentiate it from the DB9 or DBS

With the Virage’s interior, Aston Martin seems to have upped the ante in the quality and luxury departments. As one would expect, the cabin is lined with sumptuous leather and exquisite materials as well as the tasteful walnut wood trim on the dashboard. Drawing inspiration from luxury leather goods, a contrasting pinstripe flows down either side of the fascia as well as along the seats and doors. Aston Martin says that each Virage interior takes 70 man-hours of expert craftsmanship to put together to create the famous sophisticated Aston Martin interior.

In pure Aston Martin style, the parking brake lever is placed between the side sills and the driver’s seat while the gearbox is operated via a row of buttons placed high on the centre of the dash. Other notable design details include the Emotion Control Unit where the electronic key is inserted to fire up the big V12, the unique instruments which feature a rev counter and a 330km/h speedo that goes anti-clockwise. The ergonomics aren’t exactly perfect though – the switches to operate the stereo are a tad small, the analogue clock on the centre console is placed too low to read at a glance and the steering wheel can be a tad smaller. The eagle eyed will also point out that the Virage’s cabin is still using some Volvo switchgear like the controls for the electric windows that were sourced during the Ford days. Despite these bugbears though, the Virage’s interior feels exquisite, luxurious and special like an Aston Martin’s should.

The driver’s seat not only feels plush and comfortable but also offers enough lateral support when driving spiritedly. The Virage is a 2+2 so in theory, the rear seats two occupants. The reality though, is that you’d have to be very short or a kid to be able to sit at the rear. Moreover, the two token rear seats are separated by an overwhelmingly huge transmission tunnel in the middle.

At $770,000 without the COE, the Virage’s closest rivals will be the equally British Bentley Continental GT as well as topless models like the Ferrari California among others. The Virage certainly feels special inside and out, so much so that it feels like a million dollars.

At the end of the day, the Virage is not bonkers fast and is more of a GT rather than a hardcore supercar – there are similar cars out there that are more powerful and faster. But somehow there’s a certain charm about an Aston Martin that you’re immediately drawn to and the sense of occasion when driving one is just unparalleled. James Bond might have a licence to kill but the Virage certainly has the licence to thrill your senses and emotion.

Credits: Story and photos by Raymond Lai