click above to view both spy shots of the Aston Martin Rapide
The spy shot we showed you two days ago of an Aston Martin Rapide prototype being refueled at a gas station is actually one shot in a set of two, the other showing the four-door coupe's front end (above). We're amazed at how little has changed on the Rapide during its journey from concept to production car so far. Everything down to the flush door handles and 10 twin-spoke wheels appears to be identical. There's still a lot of time, however, between now and at least next year when the Rapide is expected to debut for the design to change. What we'd really like to see is the interior of this prototype, since the concept's interior was incredibly opulent and included an "emergency kit" containing two bottles of champagne, Aston Martin-branded drinking glasses, a cigar cutter and a chessboard in the boot. We doubt these items will make it to production, but perhaps Aston Martin will offer them as an Executive Lounge package.
[Source: WorldCarFans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MUSASHI66 @ Jan 17th 2008 4:46PM
Beautiful car, looks way better that the new Panamera.
Seoultrain @ Jan 17th 2008 5:00PM
This car makes even the Quattroporte look ugly.
The Panamera makes any car look good.
James @ Jan 17th 2008 5:20PM
It was test driven over a year ago I dont understand why their is a chess set in the boot though.
Here are some photos.
http://www.sybarites.org/2006/06/09/aston-martin-rapide-test-drived/
Mobius_1 @ Jan 17th 2008 10:19PM
Any Aston Martin makes any other car look ugly... This design is just so beautiful and fits all their cars perfectly
Ligor @ Jan 17th 2008 4:49PM
don't do it
the Aston Coupes have such a gracing look that this sedan just doen't cut it as an Aston even though it does look nice, just not Aston nice - maybe Jaguar
rsamela @ Jan 17th 2008 4:54PM
wow, looks like aston martin made a car that looks just like an aston martin, only longer.
Russell @ Jan 17th 2008 4:54PM
I think I just soiled myself.
Mark Ryan @ Jan 17th 2008 4:56PM
Looks a bit comical, like a stretch limo H2.
James @ Jan 17th 2008 4:56PM
I can't stand the name. (How the hell am I supposed to pronounce it? 'Ruh-peed?')
But that looks mighty nice. Thumbs up. Two of them. Maybe 4.
Craig @ Jan 17th 2008 6:30PM
For people without an american accent, saying Rapide is quite easy.
James @ Jan 17th 2008 7:35PM
Ummm... elitist much?
I didn't say I couldn't pronounce it. I said I didn't like it. Anyone can add an "e" to the end of a word and make a new one. I think the name could be more creative, but whatever.
Random Task @ Jan 17th 2008 9:42PM
Would it surprise you to find out that Rapide is not a made up word, and there are millions of people in the world who have no problem pronouncing it?
Brendan @ Jan 17th 2008 5:06PM
Kudos to Aston for designing a 4 door without compromising the DB9's beautiful lines
Xcountryflyer @ Jan 17th 2008 5:17PM
Beautiful 4 door "coupe". If the Panamera looks as bad as the test mules--they might as well kill it now like the Phaeton in the US.
I would assume its pronounced rah-peed.
MemphisNET @ Jan 17th 2008 6:05PM
I like it. Very nice lines. Is this a comletely new model or is it a platform stretch? If it's a stretch, why is it taking so long?
mk @ Jan 17th 2008 6:07PM
"Raa-Peed". of course derivative of 'rapid', of course meaning fast; (not sure which form is older language.) It is an old european nameplate for sports cars and motorcycles. I would have to look up which ones specifically.
I have no idea what the naysayers here are even talking about. This four-door looks every inch of an Aston Martin. Jaguar has NOTHING on this, and I tend to like jags, too.
S-type was a bit retro, the XJ sedan is traditional. This car is sex on four wheels.
This certainly is nowhere near the same ballpark as conspicuous as a crass stretched hummer limo.
Maserati is going to have to play catch up, Maybach is a bit different, and more about being driven around than actually driving it around, although people likely do drive their own Maybachs... And Porsche, as much as it pains me to say, looks like it might have missed the boat entirely on the Panamera, if the mules bear any resemblance to the production version.
And Paname---ra, is missing a syllable. It is supposed to be Panamericana, or Panamerica, after a long-tradition mexican endurance race, La Carrera Panamericana. They didn't butcher the Carrera, Cayman, Cayenne, I don't know why they butchered Panamericana, rather than simply choosing a different C-name that is easier to say.
Rapide is a better name than Panamera, anyway, and is almost sure to be a more sublime car, especially if it is treated to some of the niceties of the DBS development.
I wonder with Aston's entries in to all the GT racing series classes, if the Rapide will join touring car racing, like other 4-doors... that would be sweet. :D
Big Rocket @ Jan 17th 2008 6:20PM
Looks terrible, like someone used Photoshop to stretch a digital picture horizontally. The huge front overhang belongs in a different zip code than the rest of the car. Even if they keep the overall length of the car the same, but just move the front tires and the windshield forward, it could be a big improvement.
FSM @ Jan 18th 2008 8:16AM
i agree
LloydChiro @ Jan 17th 2008 6:21PM
I don't know, fellas. The nose on this thing is about 10 inches too long. It looks like Pontiac Trans-am front end. I'm sorry, but it just looks comical. Is this thing front wheel drive? How are you supposed to maneuver it through a parking lot? Will you smash through the barriers on mountain roads?
Sean Flanagan @ Jan 17th 2008 7:11PM
It looks like a mako shark had sex with a DB9. Beautiful extension of the AM design language into a sedan form. This might be more desirable than a DB9. Maybe.