2010 Aston Martin Rapide first details
April 15, 2009 by George Skentzos
Aston Martin has released the first official details surrounding its upcoming four-door Rapide model which is scheduled to make its first public debut in late 2009.
The Rapide is not only the first true four-door production sports car from Aston Martin, but also arguably the only model so far to successfully merge the four-door coupe concept into one stunning package.
The high-powered grand tourer boasts four individual sports seats, offering generous accommodation and luggage space together with thrilling performance thanks to the inherited flexibility of Aston Martin’s front mid-engined layout.
Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr. Ulrich Bez said: “The Rapide will be the most elegant four-door sports car in the world. It completes the Aston Martin range conveying our established attributes of Power, Beauty and Soul.”
From the outset, the Rapide was designed with no aesthetic compromise although this proved to be a much simpler task than expected with Aston Martin’s design language translating seamlessly to the four door format.
Signature brand elements such as the ’swan wing’ doors – which rise upward as they swing open – provide easy access to the rear seats, whilst the iconic Aston Martin bodywork flows effortlessly to incorporate the two extra doors.
The Rapide is powered by an iteration of Aston Martin’s 6.0 litre V12 engine producing 350kW and 600Nm which has been hand built in Cologne, driving the rear wheels through a Touchtronic gearbox.
The car itself will be manufactured at a new production facility in Graz, Austria managed by the acclaimed vehicle manufacturer Magna Steyr and co-ordinated by a fully integrated Aston Martin team from the UK.
“Rapide will exceed expectations to deliver elegance and practicality in a form that will allow driving enjoyment and comfort beyond anything that exists today,” says Dr Ulrich Bez, “The Rapide will exist in a class all of its own, a true Aston Martin with the high performance and dynamic excellence that defines the brand, and a luxurious sporting grand tourer without equal.”
The last stages of endurance testing are now underway at the brand’s new Nürburgring Test Centre, with final sign-off expected later this year before a production car is debuted in September followed by customer deliveries in early 2010.
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the concept was awesome why is that theses coup makers have to give the cars a no boot.the only coup i really like is the cls
There was the Aston Martin Lagonda from the late 70’s/early 80’s but that wasn’t a true sports car, just a huge 4 door sedan.
Not a fan and i think its because of those wheels.
Have a look at the third picture and tell me if something doesnt look right. The wheels look like something my fully sick neighbour would put on his fully boosted 1997 Lancer.
england has a pretty cool supercar… america has a pretty awesome super car… how come everyones supercar is more powerfull then our w427?
Crouchy, the wheels probably look a hell of a lot better in the metal. I hated the DBS wheels in the first pictures but up close they look fantastic. Or you may just not like them.
How is this arguably the first successful four door coupe? Porsche Panamera? I know it’s not pretty but it is stunning and it has almost the same side on shape to this.
I liked the concept more. It flowed better. This doesn’t have enough of an arse on it. It needed the DB9’s. I also don’t think that white is it’s colour.
I also wish that there had been another engine choice. I don’t know if anybody else is getting the same vibe but a feel that there is something so very 2008 about having a V12. The new V8 from the Vantage would have been a fine second choice.
Apparently Aston Martin are now sayng that this car is NOT a competitor to the Porsche Panemera. Sounds like defeat to me.
The aston may look better (which is subjective) but the pamamera will kill it in every other way.
The only people who will by this are rich james bond wannabes, just like the rest of the aston range
Oh come on Shane, you’re being a bit hard there. Aston Martins are still fine cars. They’re kind of a cross between a Porsche and a Bentley. A cross between supercar and GT and that kind of embodies what Aston Martin is. I think you’ll find most people who own them own them because they look stunning. I know people who have them who have never even seen a Bond film.
But I do agree that the Panamera will be a better car. I’m sure they will have made it nimble somehow and it will handle better because it doesn’t have the four extra cylinders to haul around everywhere. And obviously it will have better grip due to AWD and the turbo model will have figures that surpass the Rapide.
So Crouchy you would turn your back on this on the grounds of its wheels. Strange person!
Super cool but not the first succesful one Alex, How about the Maserati Quatroporte, a fine car but admittedly not hte best but it did have four seats.
Cupid, the Quattroporte is a fantastic car (many think it is the best, just not the base one), especially in new GTS form (Top Gear said: “Ferrari always said that they will never build a four door car, they don’t need too”) but it isn’t a coupe. It’s just a super limousine. Still a competitor none the less and still gets glowing reviews saying that it’s just waiting for the Panamera and Rapide. Top Gear gave it 18/20 which is the highest they’ve ever given anything. That’s saying something.