It’s just been confirmed that the Rapide is now in final development and will be seen as final production late this year, with customer cars arriving in early 2010. So, what’s do we think about a more-door Aston?
Here’s a little exerpt from the info released to the press:
The Rapide will offer performance purity and the same level of sporting ability as all modern Aston Martins. Powered by a version of Aston Martin’s 6.0 litre V12 engine producing 470bhp and 600Nm of torque and, hand built at the company’s engine facility in Cologne, the Rapide’s rear wheels are driven through a highly responsive Touchtronic gearbox. Performance figures have yet to be revealed, although early indications are that the Rapide will offer class-leading performance and dynamics, alongside new levels of refinement and luxury.
The Rapide will be built at a new production facility in Graz, Austria managed by the acclaimed vehicle manufacturer Magna Steyr and co-ordinated by a fully integrated Aston Martin team from the UK. The new production facility is closely modelled on the Gaydon factory and will combine a sophisticated modern production line with the Aston Martin traditional hand-finishing skills, a proud blend of craft processes and attention to detail. The interior will further develop Aston Martin’s skilful use of genuine high quality materials, applied appropriately and effectively to ensure that form always follows function.
“Rapide will exceed expectations to deliver elegance and practicality in a form that will allow driving enjoyment and comfort beyond anything that exists today,” says Dr Ulrich Bez, “The Rapide will exist in a class all of its own, a true Aston Martin with the high performance and dynamic excellence that defines the brand, and a luxurious sporting grand tourer without equal.”
Sounds good – and Lambo are saying that the four-door Estoque is ‘just a concept’ don’t forget. What would be your preferred manner of moving kids/friends at speed and in style?
well for one, making the thing in Ahnold country rather than gaydon is good. and the Rapide looks – as every Aston (except, for me, the 90s Zagatto vantage… never liked that) does – absolutely gorgeous. Though if Lmbo make the Estoque, it’ll make for a heck of a choice between the two. I’ll just have to hope that if i get that Lotto win it’ll be enough that I can buy both.
Though I probably would wind up taking the Aston otherwise.
I think it looks amazing. ASton is really on a whole other level of sexy in their cars. i mean the DBS is just stunnng, and yes i almost cried when Bond flipped it in Casino Royale.
i want one.
Yes, get it done! How much do you want one, in black… mmmmm
Can’t wait – it’ll be nice to have a counterpoint to the glorious Quattroporte. Aston must be pretty certain of their market and position to launch such a thing at the moment, but then they rode the wave perfectly well whilst Ford were struggling so I’m sure Dr. Bez has made damn sure the Rapide will be superb.
Hey Tom:
I didnt know how to send a video to you, so I posted it here… The video is a Drag Race between a Renault F1 and a Ford GT…
The F1 driven by a Middle East rally champion who’s been in Clarkson videos and who is famous for having a huge car collecion.
Oh, yeah, he destroys the F1 car
“Performance figures have yet to be revealed, although early indications are that the Rapide will offer class-leading performance and dynamics, alongside new levels of refinement and luxury” = “Because nothing has gone horribly wrong yet, we’re going to assume, and tell you, that it’s the best of the best”.
Why not build it in the UK with the other Astons? I thought that now Dave Richards had bought the company, Aston was the biggest UK owned car maker?
I’m glad they edited the nose from the Concept so that it’s not just a longer DB9 anymore – that would rise suspicion to the idea that Aston is a one-trick-pony in design.
On top of that, it’s going to look like an Aston Martin, sound like an Aston Martin, be as comfortable as one, it should actually be pretty great.
But…
“Historically, the Jaguar that follows the Aston is ALWAYS the better car – all the way back to the 1950s” – J. May
I’ll hold out until the new XJR appears before I decide what to save up for. Prototypes have been spied, apparently it’s more coupe-ish and sport oriented, like the XF was to the S-Type. Mmm.
Mmmm, Aston, nice.
The Lambo-concept is nice too, but since there is no word on it making it to the real world, let’s compate the Aston with Porsche’s 4-seater pan-something-rather. Tough choice? No. Aston is more desireable.
Oh wow! I didn’t see this coming. I thought the Aston Rapide would go the same way as the Lambo’s Estoque… a sort of “never gonna happen!” type thing. Early 2010, wow. If Lamborghini did produce theirs then it would be tough to choose between the Estoque & the Rapide. I guess they would be out of an average persons price range, so price wouldn’t be an issue for the lawyers that could afford them… so I’d have to pick the Aston Martin. Sorry Lambo, but the Rapide just looks stunning!
So sack Gaydon workers and retrain Austrian employees to build Aston’s instead. Not good is it?
Amazing. I want one soooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooo… oh im a bit out of breath…oooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooo, oh well i think you get the picture…
It will be built in Germany/Austria. This has nothing to do anymore with tradition, values or emotion which has been vital for Aston Martin. For me this is NOT an Aston Martin.
WOW, wat a pretty car, yea i’d get one its damn sexy and its got a V12 and 4 doors, sign me up
Austrian or not, it’s very nice for dropping the children off at school
Now I just need a lot of money and some kids.
I really hope the Estoque makes production, though the current climate probably won’t allow it. Too bad, was looking forward to seeing it at the Lambo dealership near work.
its not as if you’d buy it to get to the super msrket ,is it!although it means some-one like me a ‘bit physically disabled’ will be abled to get in and out without an assistant. DB9 doors are too big and heavy for me to push open or reach and pull close. self c,osing boot would be great as stadard instead of me keep paying to have electric mod’ fitted afterwards. otherwise looks okand mother in law can get in and out with me being disturbed, thats a bonus. hi Linda you’re getting expensive darlin’.i’ll have a metallic green one chaps.. keep flashing the cammera’s..bye goldy
Dissapointing that it’s being made abroad.
“co-ordinated by a fully integrated Aston Martin team from the UK.”
It still British built, sort of. It’s just being done with Magna Steyr in Austria to make sure it doesn’t come over all, er, Aston Martin, and break down in a year or two. Or ten.
I’m sorry, the rapide is dead gorgeous, but for a four door saloon nothing is as good and as imposing a a quattroporte
To me, I just think they’re being lazy. All Aston Martins look practically the same. Look at the V12 Vanatge concept if you don’t believe me.
Think it shades the Quattroporte for style but if Lambo do make their saloon version that would be the one for me (assuming money fell from the sky like the rain is right now).
estoque please build the estoque
Can’t wait to see this go head to head with the Porsche Panamera
The back doors look sweet.
It so reminds me of the Porsche. Now it’s gonna be lambo’s turn
Saw the four door concept Aston Rapide at the London motor show two years ago.
It was so gorgeous I nursed a semi..
An Aston not made in England, just seems so wrong
why O why is this Aston not built in England? Invest in the people of this country who are mad about cars, not Fritz who is mad about cheese and skiing.
Are you listening Aston Martin? One of the main reasons why Aston’s are desirable because they’re British
I love Astons, and I love the idea, but this one just doesn’t work for me. If that back line fell away earlier before it the spoiler/rear-tip-bit, I’d like it, but it throws it out of proportion for me and it feels like I’m looking at an ugly Porsche or something. I’ll take the Estoque, but if they improve the shape of the Rapide, I’m interested.
its perfect, just crisp… I wouldn’t want to ruin this car by commenting it…
(Dr. Ulrich made it sound… godlike? Really?)
Aston, nice….
I love Aston Martins (Favourite – DB4 Zagato) but like 911′s they are all looking the same. Come on get more inventive…
It is lush am going to start saving now.
its soooooooooooooooooooooooo o beautiful i wnat one now now i say
I’ve wanted one since it was featured on the front of top gear magazine at announcement.
Such a stunningly beautiful thing I would have put an order in there and then if I could have!
Would be tired of waiting as this stage tbh though….
Some day I shall be able to turn to my partner and say “Shall we take the aston?”
How is it possible not to like this car? It has soul (like an Alfer or Lambo) it is practical, its fast it looks amazing, oh and the guys who’s screen name is “skippy” Astons do look similar but with different proportions, i 911 was always not the best looking car in the world, and now it looks, well terrible.
^ I so agree ^
How can you possibly call their designs repetitive? Indeed, I’ll replace ‘repetitive’ with ‘absolutely stunning’.
Looks great!
Can we have it with rear ‘suicide doors’ like those on the Mazda RX-8 to make it look like a coupe?
i would take the aston any day. in fact, i would take ANYTHING over a lambo. it is just too ostentatious (yeah, so are all supercars, but they go beyond that) and looks so strange that people won’t think you’re cool, they’ll think you snort cocaine after eating your cheerios.
i agree with henry
I think the Rapide is a great idea because all the Aston Martins are for old gits with loads of money but this one is for the whole family.
As I’m a 10 year old you’ll all think I’m wrong but so what
why does the back look like an insigina
Guess it’ll be a hatch back? Seem to remember heavy criticism of large 4 seaters (Renault, Rover etc..)being so in the past, I suppose that because it is an Aston it is now ok…..!?
Interesting. A real split of ‘looks fantastic’ and ‘looks like a photocopy’ comments so far. I’m firmly in the looks like a photocopy camp to say the least. I can understand Aston’s styling logic to an extent: when they penned the DB7 the world looked at it and universally agreed it was ‘stunning’. x amount of years down the line and Aston have ended up petrified of changing the formula (much like VW/Audi stylists have given up too, but that’s for another post).
Come on Aston, grow a pair!
Im sorry cameron this is a car that u can fit the family into, but its not necessarily a family car. This is more of a sports saloon, which is good because as cameron rightly stated u can fit the family in their but its gonna be fast and its gonna turn heads which ur average family car wont do unless ur the proud owner of somfin more prestige such as a Rolls Royce, Bentley or a Maybach. The thing is with the hole sports saloon idea is that Aston, Lambo and Porsche are all jumping on the bandwagon so to speak and pushing the limits which is interestin coz it gives their companies a new dimension to their current range of cars. The Aston will deffo be the most successful of the three though because the Porsche is ugly and the Lambo might not even happen and if it does it will be priced well over 100k. Also aston already know how to make a car with ride comfort and a certain amount interior quality. This will be interesting, I have to admit the Aston is a good looking car which is somfin Aston Martin are known for making.
jst to stand for the BMW M5!!!
as it is now 4 door…
thats cool i want one
I Think This Car Would Go Very Far I Mean For 1 It Looks Good And Well Its An Aston Martin SO Every one whants one.
Pretty bland, to be honest.
Along with all the “luxury brands”, I´m afraid we do lust after the brand more than the car itself. Were this car had a Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Ford or BMW badge, we will for sure think very differently.
All in all, it is a pretty bland and almost forgettable. Aston [or Iam Callum] did strike a home run with the DB7. On from there, nothing really remarkable has come from those guys.
yep im buying this… i dont care if takes me all my life! have to have it!
which reminds me… and a dbs and a vantage hell why not throw in a lambo while im at it!
I think it looks lovely and it will be good fun for a family man!!!
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