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]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mobius_1 @ Jan 15th 2008 9:17AM
There's another car to add to my "Fantasy Garage"
ugg.tryptophan @ Jan 16th 2008 7:16PM
its the only car id have in mine
meshies @ Jan 15th 2008 9:30AM
damn thats smoooooth
Will @ Jan 15th 2008 9:40AM
Yeah, looks much more natural and sleek than the bulbous Panamera.
Mike @ Jan 15th 2008 9:41AM
Sickest looking 4-door coupe yet...MB CLS included...
Chris @ Jan 15th 2008 10:10AM
It's so hard to make out any of the details because of all that camo.
Jason @ Jan 15th 2008 10:12AM
dodge intrepid?
Mike @ Jan 15th 2008 10:46AM
smoke crack?
WillDaThrill @ Jan 15th 2008 10:31AM
Still a sexy car, but not as hot with 2 more doors and a longer wheel base.
Eljay @ Jan 15th 2008 11:08AM
I don't mean to sound synical,but Aston Martin designs are getting way too repetetive!
Sean Flanagan @ Jan 15th 2008 11:25AM
I don't mind repetition when it looks like that!
Brooks @ Jan 15th 2008 11:43AM
I always thought the Chrysler Concorde was ahead of its time.
mk @ Jan 15th 2008 11:53AM
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.
KnightRider @ Jan 15th 2008 12:04PM
Porsche Panamera is coming too. Lets see how they compare.
Brooks @ Jan 15th 2008 12:22PM
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 @ Jan 15th 2008 12:25PM
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 @ Jan 15th 2008 12:54PM
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 @ Jan 15th 2008 3:15PM
Beautiful!
ronnie @ Jan 18th 2008 6:44AM
yah! its really beautiful!
I think I'm In love to Aston Martin.
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