Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Aston Martin
Aston Martin Rapide Concept sits pretty for the camera
by John Neff on Jun 15th 2006 at 2:32PM 
The Rapide Concept that debuted in Aston Martin's corner at the 2006 Detroit auto show is a stunner. It also could mean big business for Aston as a sedan, even one aimed at the über wealthy, is able to interest a far greater number of people than a high-powered sports coupe like the V8 Vantage and V12 Vanquish.
Aston Martin is still committed to getting the Rapide out on the road as fast as possible, with a launch date tentatively set for sometime in 2007. The pic you see here is a new shot taken of the Rapide Concept, not the production version. We'll likely see the production version next year in Detroit at the latest, but for now we'll feast our eyes on Aston's new set of Glamour Shots for the Rapide. Check out the rest at the link.
[Source: WorldCarFans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Giggles of Doom 2:47PM (6/15/2006)
gah, as pretty as they are, they all look nearly exactly the same. I'm all for branding, but this is crazy.
Reply
Phil 2:53PM (6/15/2006)
PULL OVER!!! I NEED TO PLAY CHESS!!! and also drink wine, cut some cigars.
Reply
villainy 3:14PM (6/15/2006)
Giggles: Not following all the Aston news as it hits at first I didn't think this was a new car! Took a few seconds to notice the rear doors. While I like the Aston styling I have to agree with you maybe they could change something other than the dimensions and number of doors/cylinders?
Reply
Allin 4:10PM (6/15/2006)
What difference does style differation make except in major metro areas. If there are more than a dozen in my area of 500,000 people I'll choke and die.
Reply
RG 4:34PM (6/15/2006)
I like Aston Martin but Giggles I was thinking the exact same thing. It looks basically like every other Aston out there. It's kind of like Lotus. Basically the same with some small cosmetic changes. The British sure have a way of milking the same thing over and over again.
Reply
Polo V 4:59PM (6/15/2006)
Porsche seems to be doing well with a very similar strategy. Other than the Cayenne they all share front ends, interiors, engines...
Reply
Ron 5:30PM (6/15/2006)
Gorgeous! The only view that's not quite right for me is the square on front view. Would it be reasonable to assume that it has one of those electrochromatic roofs?
It also looks like they have stuck to the decidedly non-ergonomic dash layout. But who cares if they stick a barking V12 in it ;)
Reply
naggs 6:00PM (6/15/2006)
is it me or do all new aston martin concepts look worse than the current line of production cars. they try to modernize it and and some chrome and its just not as good. i think they got it perfect with the current cars and the slight changes are all slightly not as perfect.
Reply
Haig 6:01PM (6/15/2006)
is it me, or does this remind you of the chevy ss concept?
Reply
Road Tester 6:58PM (6/15/2006)
Exactly what I've been longing for, a sedan with the silhouette of a coupe. This is much better than a Mercedes CLS.
Reply
Stoneman 11:10PM (6/15/2006)
Love it......but 4 doors? Man.... and Porsche is coming out with a 4-door beast too. Why oh why? What ever happened to a simple 2+2 ?
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
Roadtrip Weekend!
Reply
Phil 3:43AM (6/16/2006)
They still have the 2+2. This is just the "family sedan"...
Reply
CL2 9:20AM (6/16/2006)
It seems like Porsche always gets a break by all the auto journalist/editors. Their designs have basically been the same for years. Even at that, my young son always commented that a Porsche looked like a flattened VW Beetle. If Porsche gets a pass, so should all the other auto manufacturers, whether they build 150 cars/year or 500,000 cars/year.
Reply
Marcus Patterson 11:29PM (8/12/2006)
This has to be the most breathtaking Aston Martin ive ever seen. I mean jus look at it and compare it to all the others, Now dont get me wrong the DB7 an VS Vantage are beautiful, and the Vanquish is crem de la crem, But to take it to a four door sedan is sure genius, adding a look of stlye and refinement and all out luxury, but puting a spice of pure speed. Porsche has competion.
Reply
Sage 9:41PM (9/17/2006)
I'm sorry but these people are crazy! This is the most beautiful thing i've ever seen. If you don't think this is one of the hottest new cars to be released. You're insane! Who ever made the Lotus comment should be dragged somewhere and @#$%^&*** (use you're imagination ). I can't believe some of these comments. "Family sedan" Aaah! Jetson Family maybe. "Better than a CLS" If this is priced anywhere near a CLS. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THEM FAST ENOUGH !!!! "It's kind of like Lotus" I once jumped over a Lotus trying to stop a metermaid from giving my SL a ticket. Who ever made the Lotus comment should be- I'm sorry I've said that already. Aston Martin, if you're listening? Let me be the first to say who's not "milking the same thing over and over again". If at any time you are having trouble moving those horses. Let me hold one for a month! I'll feature it in one of my friends' future videos and then ship it around the country to various music and cinema events. Just one spin through my circle would generate at least a dozen SERIOUS inquiries and hundreds of " Hey!!! Where'd you get that " ???!!!!! Smells like an extra 7 figures in sales to me but I'm thinking more like 8. Sage 7/3/06
Reply
John 2:49PM (10/27/2006)
How would I describe the Rapide concept? Innovation? Creativity? A need to fit a market? Probably all of the above. But I will simply say, incredible!!! This concept is long overdue and I believe to have the potential to, in a way, reset Aston Martin. Adding the accomidation of two more doors, to what looks like a DB9, is a bold but, in my opinion, a necessary move. Providing more, but not to much, option for the high-end consumer has proven to be successful with other high-end brands. Some may argue that a four-door Aston Martin is a little out of profile. But Aston Martin constantly going head to head with the likes of Bentley, Rolls, and Jag, it's Currently Ford sibling, cannot always be an easy task. Providing what looks to be a sharp, elegant, and sporty high-end sedan, I believe will further Aston Martin's success at a faster rate.
Reply