Ford's buying Aston Martin Lagonda in 1987 had no immediate effect on product definition. The Virage, which took the place of the DBS line, had been developed without the intervention of the American group. The DP2034 project was launched in 1986 by Victor Gauntlett, before the arrival of Ford. The new car had to be inscribed in the tradition of the previous models, retain their classic architecture and incorporate as many components as possible. The first prototype was developed in 1987 starting from a Lagonda sedan, shortened and transformed into a two-door coupé. The study of the style was launched during the tests. The new Virage line was born from the commitment of various designers, destined to remain in production from 1988 to 1996.