Click above for high-res gallery of new Aston Martin Rapide spy shots
The latest four-door Aston Martin (remember the Lagonda?) has been spied lapping the famed Nurburgring in Germany, which is a far cry from the frozen lakes of Sweden where it had previously been caught testing. Spy photographers, however, have noticed something different with this Rapide prototype now that all the snow's been brushed off: a glass roof. The transparent canopy extends from the windshield all the way to the back hatch, which is some impressive acreage considering the length of this car's wheelbase. Wearing hardly any camouflage, it's apparent that the Rapide is progressing nicely from concept to production with nary a tweak to dull its sexy shape. It will likely be the first all-new car debuted under the brand's new ownership, though much of the development work was performed when it was still owned by Ford.
[Source: KGP Photography]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Adrian @ Apr 1st 2008 11:22AM
very cool
Fredro @ Apr 1st 2008 11:25AM
A 4-door Aston Martin? Is this another sick April Fool's joke?
;)
Dahk @ Apr 1st 2008 11:51AM
Errrrrr this has been known for a while lol.
Anyway, imo I don't really dig the front. Those lights look quite awkward in the front.
Other than that, I'm pretty excited about the car. It's about time Aston released something for those with a family!
Fredro @ Apr 2nd 2008 12:08PM
It was sarcasm, I'll forgive you for not catching it.
shit @ Apr 1st 2008 11:26AM
Am I the only one that has major problems with this car??
Will @ Apr 1st 2008 11:29AM
You do realize that with your name, no one will take you seriously, right?
It may not be as beautiful as the Aston coupes, but this thing still makes the Panamera look like a flounder.
StickShift @ Apr 1st 2008 11:34AM
Yes. This thing blows the doors off just about any other high end luxury sedan looks wise, including the Maserati Quattroporte.
In addition, Aston will probably make a killing off this thing, allowing them to improve their other products. To me at least, making a four door sedan is less untrue to its performance heritage than Porsche's money maker--the ugly and ungainly Cayenne.
Landy @ Apr 1st 2008 1:30PM
No! I share your problem that I can't afford to buy one...
shit @ Apr 4th 2008 1:01PM
Ok my name is just to describe what I'm writing about.. So get whatever personal problems you have out of the way. I'm talking about this car.
Its the overall shape of the car that is bothersome. Aston is just stretching the shape of their already existing cars which creates an unusual shaped mid section. The Fisker Karma doesn't have this problem.
As an automotive designer, I see problems with this cars aesthetic and thats all I'm trying to say. I don't doubt that this car will sell like hot cakes but it doesn't change the fact that its not up to the level I expected from Aston.
I wonder if Henry Fisker had anything to do with this design or not.
500 @ Apr 1st 2008 11:29AM
Hmmm, the glass roof appears to be fixed, and therefore pretty useless, much like the glass roof recently announced for the Mustang.
I much prefer the glass panoramic roofs Mercedes has on several of its models, which open.
SPG @ Apr 1st 2008 11:40AM
Modern cars hardly need anything to make them even heavier, like a glass roof.
But I can't help but loving them.
Torrent @ Apr 1st 2008 11:41AM
Very nice.
Mobius_1 @ Apr 1st 2008 11:49AM
What James Bond would drive when he becomes a chauffeur
retsel @ Apr 1st 2008 11:57AM
1. the glass roof is not fixed...
2. this in black is the hotness... (imagine picking ur kids up from school in this... lol... going to walmart and then going home...) lol...
3. i want to see a AM Crossover... 400HP, AWD, seats 5, $75,000
j. @ Apr 1st 2008 12:58PM
that would completely ruin the integrity of the brand but would be just too cool.....
Val @ Apr 1st 2008 1:34PM
God forbid! I hope this is another April joke, and thah no one at aston martinn hears about it.
Andy @ Apr 1st 2008 12:12PM
I'm surprised no one has commented on the lack of design creativity by AM. All of their vehicles look extremely similar with very little difference among the models.
mk @ Apr 1st 2008 1:08PM
Are you serious? What are they supposed to do? Make it UGLIER???
When you build the sexiest cars on the planet, like Aston Martin does, almost any deviation is a DOWNGRADE. If they mess with it, they'll only ruin it.
They are all on the same modular chassis, and hey are supposed to bear resemblance to each other. The DB9, DBS, and Rapide all use the same front and rear lights and grille. The silver paint on the front bumper makes them look different as a camouflage.
DB9 is the basis, DBS loses the rear seats and gains power, and the Rapide gains rear doors and rear leg room. Otherwise they are nearly just variant trim lines of all the same car. The V8 Vantage actually has less in common with the others, being smaller.
I am not sure where this thing about a glass roof being heavier... Granted, the glass or polycarbonate is heavier than the steel skin would be, but you also lose the insulation padding, and headliner, so I can't imagine it is all that much heavier. Although a moving panel does have a mechanism, where fixed glass roofs don't. Still, so many cars have moonroofs or full glass roofs anymore, it hardly seems like a giant problem.
This isn't a lotus, anyway, it is a ultra-premium luxury sport sedan. I think the V12 can handle moving a the weight of a glass roof, and it adds a significant nice touch.
Now, if they would put a fixed transparent roof on the V8 Vantage... THAT would be awesome. It wouldn't even need to open, just be clear. Or better yet, electrochomic, where a very small bit of electric current turns a liquid crystal layer opaque with a switch.
There is not a four door car on this planet that is sleeker and sexier than the Rapide, and if anyone has a problem with the car, tends to say more about themselves than the car. A crude handle is further evidence.
havoc @ Apr 1st 2008 12:38PM
imo, aston martin=hotttttttness.
it's just one of those things where no matter how many i see, i still ogle them. the rapide is a much better looking design than the porsche panamera.
j. @ Apr 1st 2008 12:57PM
why do they need to put camo on it? its not like its any different from the concept