This elite grand tourer combines the sportiness of the DBS and the luxury of the DB9 in an optimal package for the grand touring role. Though there wasn’t the largest of price gaps between the two aforementioned models, it made sense for Aston to cater to a very important class of consumers that were looking for high performance without sacrificing usability.

In order to achieve this jack of all trades status, Aston Martin had to equip the Virage with a very sophisticated variable setting suspension system. This Adaptive Damping System is very intuitive and can activate automatically based on the driving style. Conversely, the driver can also select and customize many individual settings to make sure that Virage is handling exactly the way that he/she desires. This can prove to be very helpful in the sense that the Virage is really an very capable performance car if it is pushed to do so, but during daily driving the car feels extremely composed and comfortable.

The Virage shares many features with the DB9 sibling. Perhaps the most obvious similarity is the interior. The cabin looks almost identical. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but for those looking for something drastically different from the other Aston models, be aware that this car shares much of its DNA with other Aston Martins. Similarly, the exterior of the car has the same problem. The overall shape is very similar to that of the DB9. The DBS is easier to tell apart, but it too is similar. Once again, this is not necessarily a problem because all Astons tend to look exceptionally good. For those who are looking for exclusivity in their exotic cars, these vehicles may not be the best choice.

Moving on to the performance end of things, the Virage will live right up to the expectation. With a 490 horsepower 6.0 liter V12 engine, the Virage can make the 60 mph sprint in 4.8 seconds. This acceleration time is not exactly what most would consider befitting of a $210,000 car, but it is not slow by any means. What helps create an argument in favor of the Virage is the 420 lb-ft of torque, which make the car feel very powerful in daily driving. Steering feel is excellent as usual, and all of the sensory accompaniments are present, especially the exhaust note.

At the end of the day, the Virage is a luxury grand tourer that has some very athletic DNA. Though its not a track star, it handles like a real pro, and it makes the driver feel as though he/she is driving something special. When you step up to this class of car, you would expect anything less. Looking at the competition from AMG and Maserati, the Virage does a very good job jumping to the head of the pack. This would be the car of choice among its rival, at least for most people.

More content on the 2012 Aston Martin Virage:

News: Aston Martin To Launch 2012 Virage

Video: 2012 Aston Martin Virage Photo Slideshow

Video: Aston Martin Virage 2012 At Auto Show