Rich people just need to feel special don’t they. And despite the fact that one is probably the only one driving a regular Aston Martin Rapide down the highway at any given time, if the parking lot to the yacht club or polo match is filled with them, then it’s just not exclusive enough. In other words, the Rapide is no longer that special.
Ask yourself a couple of quick questions. Do I like sexy sports sedans? Do I find sweeping mountain vistas appealing? Does brilliant, high-end engineering resonate with my soul? Do the words Aston and Martin go together better than most any two words in my native tongue?
If you answered yes to any or all of the questions above, don’t waste any more time reading and skip to the video after the break. If not, I’m not sure I can convince you, but let me try anyway. The video combines some track footage with some windy, Italian Alps road footage and also gives a peek at the development process behind the Rapide.
And if you find nothing I said appealing, what exactly are you doing reading a car blog? [via MotorAuthority]
Aston Martin intends to run a mostly stock Rapide four-door in the Nürburgring 24 race next month. The Aston will get some mandatory safety equipment, racing slicks and suspension tuning, but will otherwise remain unchanged from the average Rapide. Apparently Aston got a little tired of taking home wins at the race.
Despite its potential disadvantages come race day, the Rapide looks rather glorious in its smooth, matte-black armor. Chalk one more victory up for the auto spies. [via AutoBlog]
There’s something absolutely enthralling about an all-out street battle between two venerable, high-end supermobiles. Even if the cars sport four doors, if they bear names like Porsche and Aston Martin, we want to see them race. Like two undefeated heavyweights going into the ring for the first time, each bears its own hefty reputation. But after battle, only one can come out victorious.
Last week, Aston Martin stuck a U.K price tag of 139, 950 pounds onto the Rapide sedan and now the company has released U.S. pricing. The Rapide will base at $199,950 in the States, perfect for those looking for a beautiful performance sedan that just can’t justify a full $200K. Those $199, 950 proud Washingtons will buy a 6.0-liter V12 luxury sedan stocking 470 horses and 443 lb-ft. Inside, drivers who opt for the simplest base model will still enjoy features like Bang & Olufsen audio and heated memory seats. The Rapide will go on sale in the spring, but is available for preorder now. [via Automotive News]
Aston Martin has announced that the 6.0-liter V-12 Rapide will start at £139,950 in the U.K.–about $235K, in line with expectations when it hit the scene at the Frankfurt Motor Show. All things considered, it’s a pretty steep price for the premium sedan, but you didn’t expect to buy into an Aston cheaply, did you?
Straight from the halls of the Frankfurt Motor Show comes the Aston Martin Rapide. First seen as a concept all the way back at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, the Rapide sedan, which is set for sale early next year, has been subtly tweaked but remains largely true to its concept form. Powering the car is a modded version of the DB9′s 6.0-liter V12 and six-speed ZF automatic transmission with the new Touchtronic 2 control with paddle shifts. The Rapide throws out 470 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque pushing it to a 5.3-second 0 to 62 and 188 mph top speed–not bad for a sedan that is meant for comfort and style more than all-out performance. Styling-wise, distinct Aston Martin touches like front and rear ‘swan-wing’ doors, LED taillights and dual exhaust tips combine for a dashing ride. Pricing has not been released, but is expected to be in the $200K range. [via Motor Authority]
