Which Aston Martin Virage Version Should You Buy?
The Aston Martin Virage catalogue covers two Cabrio generations: the first from 1988 to 2000 and the second from 2011 to 2012. Choosing between them is mainly a choice between two distinct specifications. The first generation offers naturally aspirated V-shaped 8-cylinder Gasoline engines, Manual and Automatic gearboxes, and outputs from 330 to 507 hp.
The Aston Martin Virage catalogue covers two Cabrio generations: the first from 1988 to 2000 and the second from 2011 to 2012. Choosing between them is mainly a choice between two distinct specifications. The first generation offers naturally aspirated V-shaped 8-cylinder Gasoline engines, Manual and Automatic gearboxes, and outputs from 330 to 507 hp. The second generation uses a naturally aspirated 5935 cm³ V-shaped 12-cylinder Gasoline engine producing 497 hp, paired exclusively with a 6-speed Automatic gearbox. Every listed Virage is RWD.
Aston Martin Virage generations compared
The first-generation Cabrio, produced from 1988 to 2000, has 13 catalogue modifications, with 12 displayed in the supplied data. Its exact version names repeat because the database contains several specifications under the same badges: 5.3 MT, 5.3 AT, 6.3 MT, 6.3 AT, 6.4 MT, and 6.4 AT. Buyers therefore need to compare power, displacement, gearbox, and weight rather than rely on the version name alone. Available outputs run from 330 to 507 hp, while gearbox choices span 3-, 4-, and 5-speed units.
The second-generation Cabrio, produced from 2011 to 2012, has 2 listed modifications, both named 5.9 AT and both rated at 497 hp. Their engine and performance figures are identical, but their kerb weights and front wheel sizes differ. One weighs 1890 kg and uses 245/35 R20 front wheels; the other weighs 1785 kg and uses 235/45 R20 front wheels. Both have 295/30 R20 rear wheels.
Aston Martin Virage engine and gearbox specs
Repeated names are distinguished below by their recorded output or, where power is identical, by another differing specification.
| Generation and exact version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, 5340 cm³ | 335 hp | 510 Nm | 5340 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, 5340 cm³ | 335 hp | 510 Nm | 5340 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| First generation 6.3 MT, 507 hp, 4-speed | 507 hp | not measured | 6300 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 6.3 AT, 507 hp, 5-speed | 507 hp | not measured | 6300 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 5-speed Automatic | RWD |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 330 hp | 330 hp | 475 Nm | 5341 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, 3-speed | 335 hp | 475 Nm | 5341 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 3-speed Automatic | RWD |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, 5341 cm³ | 335 hp | 475 Nm | 5341 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 6.4 MT | 507 hp | 651 Nm | 6347 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 6.4 AT | 507 hp | 651 Nm | 6347 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, tank not measured | 335 hp | 510 Nm | 5340 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, tank not measured | 335 hp | 510 Nm | 5340 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| First generation 6.3 MT, 507 hp, 5-speed | 507 hp | not measured | 6300 cm³ | Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| Second generation 5.9 AT, 1890 kg | 497 hp at 6500 rpm | 570 Nm at 5750 rpm | 5935 cm³ | Gasoline | 12, V-shaped | No | 6-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Second generation 5.9 AT, 1785 kg | 497 hp at 6500 rpm | 570 Nm at 5750 rpm | 5935 cm³ | Gasoline | 12, V-shaped | No | 6-speed Automatic | RWD |
The 507 hp first-generation engines deliver the highest listed output, exceeding the second-generation 5.9 AT by 10 hp. The 6.4 MT and 6.4 AT also provide the highest measured torque at 651 Nm, which is 81 Nm more than the second-generation versions and 176 Nm more than the measured 475 Nm 5.3 variants.
Calculated from the supplied displacement and power figures, the second-generation 5.9 AT produces about 83.7 hp per litre. The 6347 cm³ 6.4 MT and 6.4 AT produce about 79.9 hp per litre, while the 6300 cm³, 507 hp versions produce about 80.5 hp per litre. Among the 5341 cm³ specifications, output is about 61.8 hp per litre at 330 hp and about 62.7 hp per litre at 335 hp.
Aston Martin Virage performance and mpg
| Generation and exact version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, 5340 cm³ | 6.0 s | 250 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, 5340 cm³ | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 6.3 MT, 507 hp, 4-speed | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 6.3 AT, 507 hp, 5-speed | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 330 hp | 6.5 s | 259 km/h | 19.6 l/100 km | 13.8 l/100 km | 16.8 l/100 km |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, 3-speed | 6.8 s | 250 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, 5341 cm³ | 6.6 s | 259 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 6.4 MT | 5.8 s | 280 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 6.4 AT | 5.8 s | 280 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, tank not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, tank not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 6.3 MT, 507 hp, 5-speed | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation 5.9 AT, 1890 kg | 4.6 s | 295 km/h | 22.3 l/100 km | 10.8 l/100 km | 15.0 l/100 km |
| Second generation 5.9 AT, 1785 kg | 4.6 s | 295 km/h | 22.3 l/100 km | 10.8 l/100 km | 15.0 l/100 km |
On measured performance, either second-generation 5.9 AT is the clear choice: its 4.6-second acceleration time is 1.2 seconds quicker than the 6.4 MT and 6.4 AT, and its 295 km/h maximum is 15 km/h higher. It also has the lowest measured combined consumption, using 1.8 l/100 km less than the first-generation 5.3 MT rated at 330 hp. That comparison does not establish an advantage over first-generation versions whose consumption was not measured.
Aston Martin Virage weight, tank, wheels, and dimensions
No ground-clearance figure is measured for any listed version. The supplied data also contains no exterior length, width, or height measurements, so Aston Martin Virage dimensions cannot be compared here.
| Generation and exact version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, 5340 cm³ | 1790 kg | not measured | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, 5340 cm³ | not measured | not measured | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 6.3 MT, 507 hp, 4-speed | not measured | not measured | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 6.3 AT, 507 hp, 5-speed | not measured | not measured | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 330 hp | 1920 kg | 2265 kg | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, 3-speed | 1920 kg | 2265 kg | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, 5341 cm³ | 1920 kg | 2265 kg | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 6.4 MT | 1970 kg | not measured | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 6.4 AT | 1970 kg | not measured | not measured | 113 l | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 MT, 335 hp, tank not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 5.3 AT, 335 hp, tank not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation 6.3 MT, 507 hp, 5-speed | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation 5.9 AT, 1890 kg | 1890 kg | 2185 kg | not measured | 80 l | 245/35 R20 front, 295/30 R20 rear |
| Second generation 5.9 AT, 1785 kg | 1785 kg | 2185 kg | not measured | 80 l | 235/45 R20 front, 295/30 R20 rear |
Where kerb weight is measured, the 1785 kg second-generation 5.9 AT has the best calculated weight-to-power result at about 3.59 kg per hp. The 1890 kg 5.9 AT is about 3.80 kg per hp, and the 1970 kg 6.4 MT and 6.4 AT are about 3.89 kg per hp. The 1920 kg, 330 hp first-generation 5.3 MT is about 5.82 kg per hp, while the 1920 kg, 335 hp 5.3 versions are about 5.73 kg per hp.
The lighter second-generation 5.9 AT weighs 105 kg less than the other 5.9 AT despite sharing the same recorded output, torque, acceleration, maximum speed, gross weight, fuel consumption, and rear wheel size. Its measured gross-to-kerb difference is 400 kg, compared with 295 kg for the 1890 kg version. The listed first-generation 113 l tank is 33 l larger than the second generation’s 80 l tank, although consumption data is too incomplete to turn that difference into a dependable range comparison.
Which Aston Martin Virage version should you buy?
Choose the second-generation 5.9 AT, 1785 kg specification if measured performance and power-to-weight ratio take priority. It combines 497 hp, 570 Nm, a 4.6-second 0–100 km/h time, a 295 km/h maximum, and about 3.59 kg per hp. Against the 1890 kg 5.9 AT, it retains every recorded engine and performance figure while reducing kerb weight by 105 kg.
Choose the first-generation 6.4 MT if you want the strongest measured torque with a Manual gearbox. Its 507 hp output is 10 hp above the second-generation 5.9 AT, while its 651 Nm is 81 Nm higher. The 6.4 AT supplies the same 507 hp, 651 Nm, 5.8-second acceleration, and 280 km/h maximum through a 4-speed Automatic gearbox, so the choice between these two is principally Manual versus Automatic in the available data.
Among the measured first-generation 5.3 versions, the 335 hp 5.3 MT reaches 259 km/h and accelerates in 6.6 seconds. The 330 hp 5.3 MT also reaches 259 km/h but records 6.5 seconds, while the 335 hp 5.3 AT with the 3-speed Automatic takes 6.8 seconds and reaches 250 km/h. Those figures show why an exact badge alone is insufficient: two cars called 5.3 MT can differ in displacement, power, torque, acceleration, weight, and the completeness of their recorded specifications.
For a catalogue-based decision, the 1785 kg second-generation 5.9 AT is the most complete performance choice, the first-generation 6.4 MT is the strongest Manual choice, and the 6.4 AT offers the same measured output and performance with an Automatic gearbox. Price, reliability, problems, market availability, and comparisons with other Aston Martin models cannot be assessed from the supplied data and therefore should not determine the selection here.