2012 Aston Martin Rapide

The Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door ultra-luxury sedan that borrows styling elements and mechanical components from the brand's elegant DB9 coupe. Though many of its rivals serve up more space for the rear passengers, the Rapide does offer enough room for four adults to go along with its exotic looks.

Like Aston's other models, the Rapide is built on the company's VH (Vertical/Horizontal) architecture -- the same that underpins the DB9. The Rapide also shares its twelve-cylinder powerplant from the DBS, DB9 and Vantage models.

Built by hand, the 6.0-liter V12 engine produces 470 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 443 pound-feet of peak torque at 5,000 rpm. A specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission allows the driver to change gears automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted magnesium paddles.

As one can see, the production version is very similar to the concept car, but does swap out quad-air intakes for upper and lower grilles. The rear of the car has strong family ties to other Aston Martin models, and sports 'smoked' rear taillights.

Continuing its series of firsts and oddities for the brand, the Rapide is the first ever Aston Martin built outside of the United Kingdom, thanks to a partnership up with Magna Steyr. Given a strong interest in the Rapide, Aston Martin says it will build between 1,000 and 2,000 units per year, up from an original estimate of 500 or less.

 

Thanks in part to the modest bump in power from the engine's previous applications, the four-door Rapide can sprint from zero-to-60 mph in under five seconds on its way to a top speed of 180 mph.

Luxurious, High-Tech Interior
Continuing the successful brand partnership between Bang & Olufsen and Aston Martin, the Rapide is fitted standard with the 1000 watt BeoSound Rapide - a bespoke sound system tailored specifically to the Rapide. It includes 15 speakers that have been optimally located throughout the cabin to deliver the audiophile-level sound quality.

Passengers and the Driver alike will enjoy a full grain leather interior, accented with walnut trim, an iridium silver finish for the outer center console, and a graphite inner center console finish. Screens consist of Organic Electroluminescent displays, along with LED map and ambient lighting. Standard features also include heated memory seats and Aston Martin's Adaptive Damping Sytem.

Options include cooled front and rear seats, a DVD entertainment system complete with a 6-disc player and two LCD screens, along with a myriad of interior finishes, such as: Eye Maple, Olive Ash Burl, Double Apex Alloy and matching wood door trim. Various other interior and exterior components can be customized as well, ranging from wheels, to brake caliper finish to Magnum silver rear lamp infills.

Key Competitors
Those in the market for a highly luxurious sedan with a bit of sporting flair can consider alternative to the Rapide such as the Porsche Panamera Turbo S, which features stupefying acceleration along with controversial styling, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, which offers up a spacious and pampering interior, and the value-priced (in comparison) Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S.

Basic Specs

Base Price

$207,895

Drivetrain	Rear Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)	4387
City (MPG)	TBD
Hwy (MPG)	TBD
Horsepower	470@6000
Torque (lb-ft)	443@5000
Wheelbase	117.7
Length (in.)	197.6
Width (in.)	75.9
Height (in.)	50.4