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Spy Shots: Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide 'Ring battle
To the 'Ring we go, and our companions today are -- in the apt words of World Car Fans -- "beauty and the beast." That would be the Aston Martin Rapide and the Porsche Panamera. We'll let you decide which one deserves which title. Follow the link and you'll find a large gallery of both cars in basic black, un-camo'ed and racing each other around the 'Ring to help cast your vote.
In practical considerations, the Panamera looks to have the Rapide beat in all kinds of ways. For instance, it should get better gas mileage if you get the V6 or V8, and it has more trunk space with 450 liters. Aston's cars have little trunk syndrome, and the Rapide probably won't really change that. But hey, who would buy a Panamera or Rapide for practical reasons? Either way, we won't really know the state of things until the 2009 Geneva Motor Show next March when they are officially introduced.
[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Torrent 7:34PM (8/22/2008)
Rapide by far has better proportions.
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paul 7:36PM (8/22/2008)
rapide = sexy
panamera = ugly just like the cayenne...
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AMcA 7:40PM (8/22/2008)
Big mistake, Porsche, to let that ugly cow be seen next to the Rapide.
The Rapide is definitely one of the sexiest cars on the planet, though I'm not sure who's going to drive it. I think it will be the wives and mistresses of obscenely rich men. Shame.
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the vegas style guy 7:45PM (8/22/2008)
Tiny problem. The Porsche is FUGLY!
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Crackberry Addict 7:45PM (8/22/2008)
i dont care what people say about the rapid saying that its just an aston coupe with four doors, that car is uber SEXY!
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Mi key 7:53PM (8/22/2008)
All I have to say is Porsche better BRING IT. The Rapide hands down is just gorgeous, if it performs as good as it looks, the Panamera is in big trouble.
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Jimbo 7:53PM (8/22/2008)
I never thought I'd say this, but the side shot makes the Panamera look Saab-ish.
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Mr.Oak 8:11PM (8/22/2008)
Beauty and the BEAST. What a turd/toad, either applies
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0mega 8:31PM (8/22/2008)
Rapide by FAR has the Beauty in the bag out of these two family-car monsters.
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LloydChiro 8:41PM (8/22/2008)
I actually don't think that Porsche is so bad looking. Still, for a big sedan, I'll take an Audi S8. Or, if I'm stopping at the Porsche dealership, I'll take a sportscar, please.
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Everett 8:46PM (8/22/2008)
No wonder Porsche never changes the 911...that was their last and only good design idea! (And don't tell me the Boxster and Cayman were breaking new ground for these guys...) This vehicle does not work on any level.
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Alex 8:47PM (8/22/2008)
Is the Panamera designed by the (former Saab man) Michael Mauer? I do see some hints of Saab on the Panamera.
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Dan 8:53PM (8/22/2008)
A poetic matchup of one of the best designs in history and one of the worst
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Franz 9:19PM (8/22/2008)
Rapide - Drool
Panamera - Barf
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Jon 9:23PM (8/22/2008)
"who would buy a Panamera or Rapide for practical reasons?"
Okay, why the 4-door, and why carry extra 2 passengers?
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Jon 9:32PM (8/22/2008)
"it should get better gas mileage if you get the V6 or V8"
do you think people that can afford the price tag would care about petrol prices?
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Jon 9:34PM (8/22/2008)
Why do Autoblog always crop images and make them so "tightly packed" when quoting from another site?
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Ray 9:51PM (8/22/2008)
Does it really matter which car beats what on the track? When you're spending anything over a hundred thousand the car better be sexy looking.
Aston Wins that one easily.
Kind of proves that the old basic 911 shape just doesn't work for everything.
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Michael 10:43PM (8/22/2008)
The Panamera and the Rapide are both excellent looking cars.
Have an open mind.
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catchmyshadow 11:06PM (8/22/2008)
the panamera of course will beat the AM on any track and i will wait till the rear camouflage comes off to judge it...
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