Spy Shots: Barely disguised Aston Martin Rapide

Posted Tue Jan 22 2008 5:28 PM by Siddharth Raja

More images of Aston Martin’s upcoming four-door Rapide saloon have surfaced, this time depicting the car as it undergoes some cold weather testing. Not much is known about the car apart from the fact that it will be based on Aston’s familiar VH architecture and share similar specifications to the current DB9. This means it will get a 6.0L V12 engine with around 480hp and there could possibly be an entry-level model as well with the 4.3L V8 engine from the Vantage.

Key differences between the production version and the concept include the thicker side mirrors, now mounted on the A-pillar, standard non-LED side indicators, and the conventional door handles. We’ll have to wait until the final production version arrives, late next year, to see how it all pans out.

By the time the new Rapide does arrive, the premium four-door coupe market will be starting to get a little crowded. Some of the cars it will have to compete with include the BMW GT, Porsche Panamera, Audi A7 and the car that started it all, the Mercedes-Benz CLS class. In the meantime, click here to see images of the almost identical Rapide Concept or head over to Edmunds to see the spy shots in full.

Reader Comments

Tue Jan 22 2008 11:14 PM
Alan says

I don't like the styling of it too much, it looks like a DB9 with middle section stretched to fit in another pair of doors. Well actually it literally is DB9 with extra doors. Aston needs some fresh ideas on car design, this to me seems to be the work of a company lacking in funding and need to build many variant off a single design. I much prefer the design of Panamera and BMW CS concept, much more original styling and less awkard proportion.
Thu Jan 31 2008 12:48 AM
DongBeng says

could the photo be a fake? im not a car specialist, but that picture could be a shot from the 007 movie
Sat Feb 9 2008 5:32 AM
Edward says

Dear Alan, what Aston Martin need is not funding, since the great automobile designs are the result of the individual magic each great designer has, which is a gift of God, irrespective of how much money is sunk into design centers, design committees, etc. Take a look at Jaguar. Ian Callum had millions from Ford, and what has he produced? Nothing new, nothing original, nothing magical. ThatÂ´s why Aston will soon start to sink without inspiring works of art.

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