Spy Shots: Aston Martin Rapide spied again in the buff
With every automaker and their cousins coming up with their own take on the four-door coupe concept, the Aston Martin Rapide continues to sporadically rear its pretty head to show the rest of 'em how it's done.
The concept car, originally unveiled in 2006, cut a striking silhouette, and as the vehicle rumbles towards production it remains apparent that Aston Martin has no intention of losing any of the show car's pizzazz. The latest batch of spy shots, like those we've seen up until now, shows a test mule that retains the concept's glass roof, indicating that it could be a pleasant – though unfortunately top-heavy – standard feature. Speculation is that both V8 and V12 engine options, derived from the Vantage and DB9 respectively, will be offered to better compete with the varied powertrain options available in the Porsche Panamera. Expect to see the production Rapide revealed sometime later this year or early in 2010.
[Source: NextAutos]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Franz 11:51AM (1/22/2009)
Oh, so sexy.
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MachWon 1:09PM (1/22/2009)
What is it with Aston Martin and mile long overhangs?
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rocco 12:10PM (1/22/2009)
i like the panamera more
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CA 12:30PM (1/22/2009)
The rear looks awfully cramped, with that 1/2 sized door and sloping roof...
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Red 12:34PM (1/22/2009)
As attractive as this car is, it really doesn't move Aston Martin's design language forward from the original DB7...
...which really just proves how lame-duck the Panamera is because it's not even as attractive as a vehicle 15 years+ old. Porsche keeps trying to "fit" a vehicle to a design language decades old, but it doesn't really move the brand forward. Unfortunately, I can't think off the top of my head any vehicle that everyone universally loves, nor any vehicle that everyone universally wants to copy because it's refreshing. That's not because there are no new ideas. There are plenty. But manufacturers are either stuck in the past (Aston Martin/Porsche) or attempting to polarize people with "style" instead of "design" (Acura quickly comes to mind).
Not everyone likes Audi, but Audi has really created some beautiful vehicles. Not all (A3 and the enormous Q7 come to mind), but as a whole, the language is purposeful, graceful, clean and elegant. By comparison, the A7 is an acoustic whisper to the Estoque's death metal scream for attention, the pretty brunette to the average blonde. You immediately notice because your eye's so used to the blonde and everybody wants to be a blonde, the brunette stands out as "different". I don't love the A7, mind you, but I compared because they're supposed to be built on the same platform and I wanted to do apples-to-apples. Granted, Lamborghini has always been about shouting and they've done it well, but that's not my point.
I said all of that to say, the Rapide, even though it's based on an older design, really brings that design into it's own in four doors. It makes you appreciate just how tasteful and elegant the design was and how relevant it is now. I think they're trying way too hard with the current DBS and One-77 to create something "stylish" like an Ed Hardy shirt. I've always associated the Aston Martin name with a vehicle wearing a skin the equivalent of the Sistine Chapel; from any angle, thought-provoking, careful, methodical, none of which takes away from it's beauty.
Again, the Rapide is a reminder of that, moreso than the DBS and One-77 or any of the "four-door coupes" I can think of. That's not to say any of them are ugly. Just "stylish" versus beautifully done. Of course, these are my opinions and you all are free to disagree.
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Ligor 12:35PM (1/22/2009)
I'm so dissapointed that there is nothing new from the A-pillar forward
I am getting very bored of this design
i'd rather pink the CLS in AMG form
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Quan 12:38PM (1/22/2009)
This car doesn't look as attractive anymore as it did when I first saw it unveiled. The proportions just strike me as kind of odd. I still love the Vantage, DB9 and DBS though so it's all good.
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Torrent 1:09PM (1/22/2009)
WOW this car makes me want the Panamera. It looks exactly the same as every other Aston to date. It's a little boring, and the proportions make it look like an overweight pig. And the weird thing is- I love Aston Martin... The Rapide concept was pure sex, but this monstrosity......sad...
I'd take an XF-R or CTS-V over any other super-sedans.
Though the Quattroportte is awesome.....
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TurboPanzer 2:04PM (1/22/2009)
"WOW this car makes me want the Panamera."
I'm quite surprised you said that, Marvin.
But I have to agree, I'd much rather take the CTS-V, and with the left over cash I'd take that supercharger off and then turbo that sucker!!
Torrent 5:09PM (1/22/2009)
Marvin?
Torrent 5:10PM (1/22/2009)
I'm not that depressed.
TurboPanzer 6:09PM (1/22/2009)
I was calling you based on your avatar character. Although I've seen another poster called Torrent as well, which is quite baffling.
btw, I can't seem to login to my profile. I entered the same password I used to post, but it kept saying "Invalid Password. Please Try Again."
What am I doing wrong? Would you happen to know? Anybody?
Torrent 7:04PM (1/22/2009)
I have the same problem. It happened right after the Autoblog website redesign.
I have seen that other Torrent. he blows hard, but he hasn't been here for a while. 1 comment and he disappeared. He'd better be out learning about reading comprehension.
TurboPanzer 8:41PM (1/22/2009)
"He'd better be out learning about reading comprehension."
lol, or at least come up with a name that hasn't been used.
I seem to have found a solution to the avatar problem. The key is to work "around" it, by logging into the profile via one of those affiliated blogs (I used Engadget). Create a reply to any one of the blog-post in Engadget for example, and then click on your own avatar after the comment is added to reach the profile page. Then do the same thing you do here to log in, except that this time my password actually works over at Engadget. So finally I was able to change my password and avatar image. It's all good now.
:)
Torrent 8:48PM (1/22/2009)
Very clever, my man. Very clever.
TurboPanzer 9:29PM (1/22/2009)
Thanks man. Now go and find yourself a less depressing robot for your avatar. Wall-E comes to mind, or better yet a Terminator (all evil and stuff).
Like this one
http://www.reelmovienews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/terminator_robot.jpg
Just look at it. No one would want to mess with that thing. Terminators are not even capable of being depressed. :D
Torrent 11:29PM (1/22/2009)
You know what? I just might do that.
P.V. 1:46PM (1/22/2009)
I love the rear, but the front is not Aston enough and too shark-like. I'm not going to say I want the monstrosity called the Panamera more than this, but I feel like the sexy design elements from the concept and from other Astons haven't translated well onto this production model.
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TurboPanzer 2:02PM (1/22/2009)
Give me just the DB9/DBS yesthankyouseeyoulatertata.
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Richard 2:32PM (1/22/2009)
Hate to say this but...
The cut line of the rear door below the window and the sill between the black strip and the window bottom say "Volvo" to me.
But it is still much better, IMO, than the Poopamera.
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