The first four-door V12 Rapide sports cars have begun leaving the Aston Martin Rapide Plant for delivery to eagerly awaiting customers.
First shown in 2006 in concept form at the Detroit Auto Show, the Rapide project received an immediate green light from Aston Martin’s new shareholders in mid-2007. Just over two years later, the company’s design and engineering teams have delivered a new car from the ground up.
The state of the art Austrian Rapide facility in Graz was custom built by Aston Martin’s specialist automotive partner, Magna Steyr, to ensure achievement of the same exacting standards set by the marque’s other models.
From the preparation of Rapide’s bonded aluminium body frame, to the painstaking six-stage painting process where nine coats of paint are applied making Aston Martin’s paint finish the best in class, to the trim shop where highly-skilled craftspeople shape and stitch 10 of the finest leather hides to create the Rapide’s magnificently upholstered interior, the AMRP is a centre of automotive excellence.
The elegant Rapide, functional yet luxurious, provides space for up to four adults combined with an engaging driving experience synonymous with all Aston Martins. A 301 litre luggage compartment affords generous space for belongings for all four passengers, creating an Aston Martin which can be enjoyed on any occasion, anytime, anywhere. At the heart of the Rapide lies an evocative engine providing effortless power and torque: a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 470 bhp (477 PS / 350 kW) with peak power being delivered at 6000 rpm and 600 Nm (443 lb.ft) peak torque at 5000 rpm. A specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission features as standard, allowing the driver to change gear automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted magnesium paddles.
The Rapide is on sale now via Aston Martin’s global dealership network.
