NEWS ARTICLE
Aston Martin Rapide Comin Soon
Aston Martin has unveiled the Rapide, which is now in the final stages of its development programme.The car will be given its public debut in late 2009, with the first customer cars due to be delivered in early 2010.
First revealed as the Aston Martin Rapide Concept at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006, the Rapide is one of the most eagerly awaited cars of the year. It is the first true four-door production sports car from Aston and has four full-sized seats, giving generous accommodation and luggage space.
Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr. Ulrich Bez said: The Rapide will be the most elegant four-door sports car in the world. It completes the Aston Martin range conveying our established attributes of Power, Beauty and Soul. In 2010 there will be an Aston Martin for every type of sports car customer regardless of the demands of their lifestyle. The Rapide is the most versatile, bringing a new benchmark of luxury and refinement to both driver and passenger.
Key features on the car include the 'swan wing' doors rising upwards and outwards as they swing open facilitating access to the two beautifully trimmed individual rear seats. The bodywork flows effortlessly from front to rear, where a kicked up tail and strong rear shoulders wrap around the wheel arches to create the classic Aston Martin silhouette, this envelopes the additional doors, seats for children or two adults on shorter journeys and functional luggage capacity.
Under the bonnet the car will have a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 470bhp and 600Nm of torque, it will be hand built at the company's engine facility in Cologne. 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.
Simon McBride