http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/ Autoblog Comments for Spy Shots: Aston Martin Rapide spotted with glass roof http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 1st 2008 11:22AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/
;)]]>Apr 1st 2008 11:25AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/
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!]]>Apr 1st 2008 11:51AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 2nd 2008 12:08PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 1st 2008 11:26AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/
It may not be as beautiful as the Aston coupes, but this thing still makes the Panamera look like a flounder.]]>Apr 1st 2008 11:29AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/
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.]]>Apr 1st 2008 11:34AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 1st 2008 1:30PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/
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.]]>Apr 4th 2008 1:01PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/
I much prefer the glass panoramic roofs Mercedes has on several of its models, which open.]]>Apr 1st 2008 11:29AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/But I can't help but loving them.]]>Apr 1st 2008 11:40AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 1st 2008 11:41AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 1st 2008 11:49AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/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]]>Apr 1st 2008 11:57AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 1st 2008 12:58PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 1st 2008 1:34PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/Apr 1st 2008 12:12PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/
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.
]]>Apr 1st 2008 1:08PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/spy-shots-aston-martin-rapide-spotted-with-glass-roof/
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.
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