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Following the ending of Virage production in 1994, the company only offered the Vantage and Volante cars until the range was augmented by the addition of the new V8 Coupe, introduced at the Geneva Show, 1996. At a casual glance, the car looks
just like a Vantage, to which is owes much; effectively a tamer version without the superchargers.
The car features Vantage style front and rear styling, together with a chrome mesh grill and surround plus a less overt front air dam incorporating two
round driving lamps.
Thus the absence of Vantage
width aches, the car is both more subtle and more elegant. The end result of the work was a better looking, better
performing update of the Virage. The 32 valve engine is a non-supercharged version of the Vantage unit producing 349bhp and 369lbft of torque give the car a
claimed maximum speed of 'over' 155mph and a 0 to 60 time of a mere 5.9 seconds. A four speed automatic transmission
was fitted as standard.
The six spoke OZ Saturn
alloy wheels have slimmer spokes than that of the Vantage and are shod
with Pirelli P zero 255/50 tyres although it is possible to see V8
coupes with the Vantage OZ 6 spoke wheels too. Indeed, it is
also quite possible to see Vantage matte black grilles fitted too.
Very few changes were made during the
production of the 101 cars. From chassis 79045, the door mirrors were
changed from those sourced from the Citroen CX to one from Jaguar.
From chassis 79080 (and including 74) the door handles changed to the
flush Mondeo type with integral keyhole and also the seats had electrical
controls mounted on the squab. |
(Virage) Limited Edition
