You'd have to be a real Aston Martin aficionado to spot the differences between the DB9 coupe and the new Virage. Even Aston design chief Marek Reichman concedes the differences between the two cars are quite subtle.
In case you're wondering, the Virage gets crisp new front fenders, more muscular fascias front and rear, new sill extensions, and even new rear fenders -- DB9 units that are re-stamped in a secondary process to pump them out over the wider rear tires. Changes inside include new stitching on the leather seats and upgraded switchgear.

It's not obvious stuff. So why do it? "The Virage sits between the classic, elegant DB9 and the very overt and sporting DBS," says Reichman. "This is more edgy than the DB9, with more horsepower, but it is also more refined."
That sounds like a death sentence for the DB9, as most Aston buyers aren't the types to worry too deeply about finding more money for their new car. But maybe there's method in Aston's madness.

You see, the still-gorgeous DB9 has now been on the market almost eight years, and some 12,000 have been built. That's an enormous number for a company that built barely 10,000 cars in the 70 years after its founding in 1913, and the Virage, says Reichman, is designed to appeal to this big new pool of Aston enthusiasts, by attracting existing DB9 owners who want another car, but don't want to step up to a DBS.
So beyond the cosmetic tweaks, what else do they get?
Under the hood is Aston Martin's hand-built 6.0 litre V12 engine with 490hp and 420lb/ft of torque, mated to a six-speed Touchtronic II automatic transmission via a carbon fiber prop shaft. A 'Sport' button on the dash allows the driver to select sharper throttle response and faster gear changes, and hold each gear right up to the rev limiter.