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Virage and Derivatives (1988-2000)
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 The Vantage remained breathtaking from its introduction at the 1992 Birmingham Motor Show up until 1999 and the limited edition V600 Vantage Le Mans. The appearance of the Virage was transformed with muscular arches, a huge front air dam, bespoke rear lights like huge grapefruit and no less than six headlamps. But the biggest change was under the bonnet. Two huge Eaton superchargers transformed the already powerful V8 to produce 550 bhp - enough to push the Vantage to almost 190 mph.
With the optional V600 conversion (with power unsurprisingly up to 600 bhp) the two-ton leviathan could reach 200 mph. The very last 40 cars were built as the limited edition Le Mans to commemorate the famous Aston Martin victory in the 1959 classic.
During the late 1990's, there wasn't really any other supercar that was comparable to the Vantage. There have always been fast cars for two, but the Vantage had 'almost' proper seats in the back and a decent boot too. It may have been heavy and perhaps a little unsophisticated but it had immense power - a truly landmark Aston Martin.
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Apr 09, 2012
