Ah, the sweet deluge of auto info has begun as more news of L.A. and Detroit debuts begin to leak. We told you last night about Aston Martin’s intention to debut the Rapide, a four-door version of the DB9 using the same car’s V/H architecture, in Detroit. The V/H platform architecture consists of a glued and riveted aluminum tub with a stiff backbone made of carbon fiber. It underpins all variations of the DB9 (Volante, DBR9 and DBRS9), the Vantage and now the Rapide, which has a 9.84-inch longer wheelbase than the DB9 and stretches nearly 16.5 feet from head to toe.
Top Gear, however, insists this is no Lagonda, but rather a true, modern Aston that gets an upgraded version of the DB9’s 6.0L V12 producing 480 bhp rather than 450 and carbon ceramic brakes to help haul down an extra 308 lbs. from speed. It’s a practical Aston with the heart of a LeMans runner, and it’s apparently coming to showrooms with a price around $250,000.
Tons more pics of the Rapide after the jump…
[Thanks Vincent!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason E. Rist @ Jan 4th 2006 8:53AM
Best. Sedan. Ever.
DJ @ Jan 4th 2006 9:28AM
Hmmm, does this look like a shot across Porsche's bow and it's upcoming Panamera???
All aluminum body and frame should give it a substantial weight advantage over the Panamera, 480HP versus the Porsche's projected 450HP is another notch in it's belt and finally, that blonde in the red dress, well folks, game over! Long live Aston Martin!!!
Dennis C. McGrath @ Jan 4th 2006 9:36AM
Is that V/H or LH architecture ... ?
MikeUF @ Jan 4th 2006 11:02AM
But at 250K a pop it also costs 2.5 times en estimated 100K for the Panamera...
DJ @ Jan 4th 2006 1:00PM
Actually, the Panamera's projected price is 100,000 Pounds, not Dollars. That would put it in the $165,000 to $180,000 range. Sure, it's less than the AM, but then again, the Bentley Flying Spur is double the price of it's stepsister, the VW Phaeton and the Bentley will probably outsell the VW next year.
WolfgangNC @ Jan 4th 2006 1:18PM
looks good; but tell me what the two rear doors are for? From what I see in the roofline and the interior pics of the backseat...yeah you might have 2 more inches of leg room because of the stretched chassi; but the headroom is about as good as the coupe, which means it's still no comfortable in the rear. In a two door car I can see the "who cares about the back seat" attitude (I personally hold this attitude); but when you slap on rear doors at least give the passagers in the rear some room.
MikeUF @ Jan 4th 2006 1:20PM
But in the US comparing VW with Bentley is apples and not even oranges. Bentley is elite while VW is what your teenager drives. On the other hand Aston Martin and Porsche are both elitist vehicles. And I would think the Panamera would have to sell closer to 100 US then 100 Pounds, considering it was designed to compete against the CLS500 which starts in the 80's.
Car-la @ Jan 5th 2006 6:46AM
"Best. Sedan. Ever."
'nuf said.
If just there weren't the price-tag.
Online Kitchenware @ Jan 5th 2006 6:02PM
Wow! A 4 door Aston Martin. I wonder when they will bring out a 4x4 off roader. The car looks very nice but i would rather have the girl in the red dress in the picture above.
Nonsmoking @ Jan 6th 2006 6:32AM
I hope that was a joke about the 4x4 AM offroader...
Frankly, the selling point of the Rapide will be that it is the most gorgeous looking 4-door ever. Clarkson managed to sit in the back, so there's obviously masses of room, which just moves the Rapide into a whole new league. Nothing else really compares. Quatroporte - cheap and ugly. Conti GT - too fat. 612 - cramped. Admittedly, the AM will cost far more than the first two, but it will soo be worth it.
Hope AM are going to remake the Virage/Vantage ... always had a crush on them ;)
Jack Yan @ Jan 7th 2006 11:47PM
Should still be a Lagonda.
daryel @ Jan 9th 2006 1:39PM
we've all been waiting for this spectatule car.this is probaley the best car aston martin will ever make.now because i'm an aston martin fan i'm going to find every pic oof this car and save them but never mind what i'm going to do lets see what aston martin will do next.
daryel @ Jan 9th 2006 1:45PM
we've all been waiting for this spectatule car.this is probaley the best car aston martin will ever make.now because i'm an aston martin fan i'm going to find every pic oof this car and save them but never mind what i'm going to do lets see what aston martin will do next.
Mark Bennett @ Jan 14th 2006 1:55PM
Once again Aston Martin lead where other supercar manfacturers can only follow. Its great to be British.
John @ Jan 16th 2006 3:49PM
I heard on the grapevine that Porsche's ego was last seen heading for a 2 week break in Majorca to recover.
Wow! I want one, no, I want all of them!
Do you reckon they'll make an estate version as well?
Daniel @ Jan 17th 2006 10:04AM
There are a couple of pictures on the net of the seats from the left hand side, and you can see what looks a little like an iPaq, and I am presuming this is the bluetooth control for the DVD etc. My point is; WHY, oh WHY, is it in the middle of the FRONT seats, out of reach of the people, in the back, who will be using it??!
Looks fantastic though.
If Aston ever get incredibly generous and decide they want to give one away, they know where they can find me!!!