Aston Martin: Rapide News
#1
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Aston Martin: Rapide News
- Rapide is built on the same VH platform used by DB9 and AMV8
- The concept car is actually a fully running and working car, which hints hat this car could be quickly put into production
- It is powered by the same 6 litre V12 as in the DB9, and tipped to produce 450-480BHP
- Power driven through a rear mounted auto gearbox controlled by paddle shifts
- Estimated weight of 1900kg
- Compared to the DB9, the Rapide grows by 250mm in wheelbase, and 300mm in overall length to a full five metres.
- Designed over the past 6 months by a team lead by new head designer Marek Reichman
- CEO Ulrich Bez is not admitting any plans to build the car as yet
- Autocar speculate that this car could be ready by 2008, which is a full year ahead of the Panamera, and would be priced at around £160,000
- The concept car is actually a fully running and working car, which hints hat this car could be quickly put into production
- It is powered by the same 6 litre V12 as in the DB9, and tipped to produce 450-480BHP
- Power driven through a rear mounted auto gearbox controlled by paddle shifts
- Estimated weight of 1900kg
- Compared to the DB9, the Rapide grows by 250mm in wheelbase, and 300mm in overall length to a full five metres.
- Designed over the past 6 months by a team lead by new head designer Marek Reichman
- CEO Ulrich Bez is not admitting any plans to build the car as yet
- Autocar speculate that this car could be ready by 2008, which is a full year ahead of the Panamera, and would be priced at around £160,000
![](http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/3682/rap13xb.jpg)
Bigger pic:
http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/6780/rap6ip.jpg
#4
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Amazing. I love Aston Martin cars.
![Too Cool](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/toocool.gif)
#6
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NAIAS 2005, Aston Martin Rapide concept
http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/01/1.html
![](http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/01/stories/01/images/8/large.jpg)
![](http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/01/stories/01/images/7/large.jpg)
![](http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/01/stories/01/images/6/large.jpg)
![](http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/01/stories/01/images/4/large.jpg)
![](http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/01/stories/01/images/2/large.jpg)
![](http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/01/stories/01/images/1/large.jpg)
![](http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/01/stories/01/01large.jpg)
![](http://www.classicdriver.com/upload/images/_de/3283/img02.jpg)
The art of fourplay
Top Gear proudly presents an exclusive look at the new Aston Martin Rapide. It's the sexiest four-door we've seen
Good God. Is there no stopping this man? Downstairs, Aston Martin's third design chief in five years, Marek Reichman, has still to get all four doors on his new Rapide concept, Aston's fifth new car inside 12 months.
Meanwhile upstairs, Dr Ulrich Bez, Chairman and CEO, is already talking about the yet-to-be-seen convertible Vantages and the hot Vantages that are, like the Rapide, not far away from the showroom.
He's making a point, of course, Bez is always making a point about something. Right now it's all about Aston Martin's ground-breaking 'V/H architecture', or what the more proletarian car makers might call 'a platform'.
V/H, a glued and riveted extruded aluminium tub with a backbone of carbon fibre, is what the Rapide is all about.
At its most basic, the Rapide is a long-wheelbase DB9... but only in the same way a Vantage is a short wheelbase DB9. That is, in its heart and soul, not the same at all.
Top Gear proudly presents an exclusive look at the new Aston Martin Rapide. It's the sexiest four-door we've seen
Good God. Is there no stopping this man? Downstairs, Aston Martin's third design chief in five years, Marek Reichman, has still to get all four doors on his new Rapide concept, Aston's fifth new car inside 12 months.
Meanwhile upstairs, Dr Ulrich Bez, Chairman and CEO, is already talking about the yet-to-be-seen convertible Vantages and the hot Vantages that are, like the Rapide, not far away from the showroom.
He's making a point, of course, Bez is always making a point about something. Right now it's all about Aston Martin's ground-breaking 'V/H architecture', or what the more proletarian car makers might call 'a platform'.
V/H, a glued and riveted extruded aluminium tub with a backbone of carbon fibre, is what the Rapide is all about.
At its most basic, the Rapide is a long-wheelbase DB9... but only in the same way a Vantage is a short wheelbase DB9. That is, in its heart and soul, not the same at all.
#7
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^ Holy fark...! ![EEK!](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
LOVE IT. Porsche Panamera who?
![EEK!](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
LOVE IT. Porsche Panamera who?
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#12
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Originally Posted by bgsm1th
Rapide>Quatroporte>Bentley Flying Spur>Everything else...
![Werd](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/werd.gif)
#14
on to the next one...
Originally Posted by DownUnder
![Werd](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/werd.gif)
Neighbor has a Quatroporte, and although they are not my favorite sedan in the world, it is DAMN sexy.
#17
giggity giggity giggity
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WoWEEEEE!!! Sick!
Aston Martin Interiors>Any other interior
I love Aston Martin's tails too...soo awesome.
And at first glance I thought it was a really stretched coupe, but then holy shit! 4 doors! Awesomer!
Look at that sunroof too! I keep on finding more stuff.
Aston Martin Interiors>Any other interior
I love Aston Martin's tails too...soo awesome.
And at first glance I thought it was a really stretched coupe, but then holy shit! 4 doors! Awesomer!
Look at that sunroof too! I keep on finding more stuff.
Last edited by HQuakers; 01-03-2006 at 10:32 PM.
#19
Suzuka Master
Originally Posted by DownUnder
Wow, either that chic is over six feet tall or the car sits really low. Either way I'd take them all!![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#20
The sizzle in the Steak
![Drool](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/drool.gif)
#21
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Originally Posted by SpeedyV6
She would probably have to crouch into the fetal position to fit in the back seat. I don't see the point of 4 -door "coupes". :shakehead
#24
Senior Moderator
damn... way to show the rest of the world how its done... this car is gonna SELL.... however it does look like rear headroom/legroom may be an issue... might need an "L" model, lol.
and they didn't skimp on the engine!!!
and they didn't skimp on the engine!!!
![Bow](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/bow.gif)
#27
Suzuka Master
Originally Posted by Teh Jatt
god damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnn
![Banana](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/banana.gif)
![Bow](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/bow.gif)
![Boink](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/boink.gif)
![Drool](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/drool.gif)
![Id Hit It](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/idhitit.gif)
![Banana](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/banana.gif)
![](http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/01/stories/01/images/2/large.jpg)
As for the car it looks like little more than an upscale Jaguar with a rear 3/4 view that looks like a blend of the Dodge Charger / Dodge Viper / Jaguar XJ-8.
#28
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whooaaa.. easy there guys. they're only pictures.
#29
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For me, it looks too much like other Aston Martins. And that's a negative in my opinion. Like the current XJ looking too much like the previous gen. car.
#39
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by Ruski
I love it all except the metrosexual gear shifter.
And also how are you supposed to play chess in the trunk?
And also how are you supposed to play chess in the trunk?
you mean the cell phone? lol
#40
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Originally Posted by deandorsey
you mean the cell phone? lol