Spy Shot: Aston Martin Rapide
With its Le Mans racing program soon to be bolstered by GT2 and LMP1 entries, and with sales of its ever-so-desirable GTs ever increasing, Aston Martin is preparing to add the four-door Rapide to its production line-up. And if this spy shot is any indication, things seem to be moving along nicely.
Aston was anticipated to decide by year's end where the Rapide would be built. Although the company just moved to a new facility in Gaydon, the automaker was reportedly in discussions with a number of smaller contractors – including Pininfarina, Karmann, Magna-Steyr and Valmet – over potentially outsourcing the Rapide's manufacturing. As we already know, these private coachbuilders are all in dire need of the contract.
Confirmation that Aston would build the Rapide was one of the first things its new owners did after acquiring the company from Ford, and we're looking forward to seeing the production version in the flesh after seeing this spy shot.
[Source: The Hollywood Extra]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mobius_1 9:17AM (1/15/2008)
There's another car to add to my "Fantasy Garage"
Reply
ugg.tryptophan 7:16PM (1/16/2008)
its the only car id have in mine
meshies 9:30AM (1/15/2008)
damn thats smoooooth
Reply
Will 9:40AM (1/15/2008)
Yeah, looks much more natural and sleek than the bulbous Panamera.
Mike 9:41AM (1/15/2008)
Sickest looking 4-door coupe yet...MB CLS included...
Reply
Chris 10:10AM (1/15/2008)
It's so hard to make out any of the details because of all that camo.
Reply
Jason 10:12AM (1/15/2008)
dodge intrepid?
Reply
Mike 10:46AM (1/15/2008)
smoke crack?
WillDaThrill 10:31AM (1/15/2008)
Still a sexy car, but not as hot with 2 more doors and a longer wheel base.
Reply
Eljay 11:08AM (1/15/2008)
I don't mean to sound synical,but Aston Martin designs are getting way too repetetive!
Reply
Sean Flanagan 11:25AM (1/15/2008)
I don't mind repetition when it looks like that!
Brooks 11:43AM (1/15/2008)
I always thought the Chrysler Concorde was ahead of its time.
Reply
mk 11:53AM (1/15/2008)
If you think this looks like a bloated, soft, wrong-wheel drive boat of a Dodge intrepid, you seriously need to get your eyes checked.
This is quite possibly the sexiest four door (maybe 5-door hatchback like the concept) EVER. Literally.
V12, rear wheel drive, possibly an F1-style automated transmission.
This makes the CLS, and Passat concept, and other sleek four-doors look like bricks.
It is not often that something comes this close to perfect for it's intended design.
If I could only have one car, but it could be any car, this would be in the top 3 possible choices for me, with it's national compatriot, the McLaren F1. Maserati's Quattroporte would probably be the third, because it is hard to beat a ferrari that you can bring three passengers along with you.
Reply
KnightRider 12:04PM (1/15/2008)
Porsche Panamera is coming too. Lets see how they compare.
Brooks 12:22PM (1/15/2008)
You seem to be saying that this doesn't *look* like an intrepid because it has a V12 and paddle shifters. Even for the internet, that's kind of a weird argument.
It's a pretty car. And it's certainly a mechanically wonderful car. But the extended C-pillar and flat taillight contour that wraps a bit around the side is very much like an Intrepid. Nobody would mistake the two, and this is much prettier, but there are clearly some similarities. Enough that several people are remarking on it, anyways. Maybe we're all just stupid and don't know that the Astin badge means it's impossible?
Brooks 12:25PM (1/15/2008)
You seem to be saying that this doesn't *look* like an intrepid because it has a V12 and paddle shifters. Even for the internet, that's kind of a weird argument.
It's a pretty car. And it's certainly a mechanically wonderful car. But the extended C-pillar and flat taillight contour that wraps a bit around the side is very much like an Intrepid. Nobody would mistake the two, and this is much prettier, but there are clearly some similarities. Enough that several people are remarking on it, anyways. Maybe we're all just stupid and don't know that the Astin badge means it's impossible?
mk 12:54PM (1/15/2008)
It doesn't look like an intrepid because it is an Aston Martin. And looks like an Aston Martin.
There aren't enough ">" signs to compare the Aston Martin to the old Dodge Intrepid. Seriously.
If you see this production mule, and cross-reference it with the concept car, and the track record of the other cars on this platform, (DB9, Vantage, and DBS) You KNOW that this car is going to embarrass every other four door car on the market, on sheer looks alone.
It is a kick-ass car under it's world-class supermodel skin because it is rear-wheel drive and will likely get an F1-style rear transaxle, and has a V12 under the hood.
This vehicle looks to be the complete package. A super-model with a sense of humor, a down-to-earth personality, a mischievous streak, and a doctorate degree.
Porsche Panamera spyshots, which have become progressively more un-camouflaged, has NOTHING on this car, besides perhaps price. The Quattroporte looks sleeker than the Panamera mules so far.
We'll see. But seeing a production Rapide mule so close to the form of the concept, which is logical considering Aston's other designs on the VH platform... I'm fairly confident that the AM is going to be the star of the top-line sport 4-doors.
Xcountryflyer 3:15PM (1/15/2008)
Beautiful!
Reply
ronnie 6:44AM (1/18/2008)
yah! its really beautiful!
I think I'm In love to Aston Martin.
http://cars.ozfreeonline.com
Reply