- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
5.9i, 12 cyl.
- Engine Power
350kW, 600Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 14.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Aston Martin Rapide Review
Day one – Valencia, Spain.
Five years ago Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez, told the six-foot plus Aston Martin Director of Design Marek Reichmann, that he wanted him to build the most beautiful four-door sports car in the world.
That’s easier said than done, but if you know Ulrich Bez, you also know that he means what he says.
From what I have seen tonight in Valencia albeit briefly, that job is done.
While no one can deny that the accompanying shots of the Aston Martin Rapide clearly show the car to be stunningly beautiful, its only when you see it in the metal for the first time, do you realise that the competition may as well pack up their tools and go home.
If you have any concerns about the car’s proportions, banish those fears immediately and start thinking about what you can get rid of in your property and shares portfolio, to properly fund the acquisition of this piece of automotive art.
At every other Aston Martin launch I have ever been to, a nondescript minibus has been employed to transport the press to various functions. Not any more, the four-door, four-seat Rapide means a first class ride to any venue on the after hours schedule.
Admittedly, it was a only a 10 minute ride to the local tapas bar, but enough time to partly evaluate life in the back seat of an Aston Martin.
The rear seats are part part Recaro, part Aston Martin, and are infinitely more comfortable than I expected. I’ve heard the term ‘cosseted’ used to describe the experience, but I can assure you, that description falls short of the mark.
There’s a large rear window, which means passenger vision is better than many of today’s 4-door coupes, and there is plenty of leg and headroom for those up to 184 centimetres, or dare I reveal my height of a diminutive 176 centimetres. Taller folks can slip their feet under the front seats.
Luggage space won’t be an issue either, with what looked like ample load area for weekend trips or even airport pick-ups.
Tomorrow, I’ll be behind the wheel of the Rapide, and more than looking forward to exploiting the big V12 to its maximum road going potential, in the hills surrounding Valencia.
Stay tuned for another update tomorrow.