The "vertical/horizontal" (VH)platform, which the Rapide uses, extensively incorporates aluminium throughout the body, reducing weight. In 2012, Aston Martin ended its partnership with Magna Steyr and shifted production toGaydon, aWarwickshire village where the other VH platformed cars—including theDB9, theDBS, theVantage and thesecond-generation Vanquish—were produced. In 2015, Aston Martin debuted an electricconcept version, the RapideE. The production-ready model debuted in 2019 but was never series-produced.
Design work on the Aston Martin Rapide began in 2005 under the guidance ofMarek Reichman, whom Aston Martin appointed as lead design director in May. Before assuming his position, Reichman studied the characteristics of Aston Martin's cars and made several sketches for a four-door concept.Ulrich Bez,chief executive officer of Aston Martin, gave the brief to Reichman in the same month as his appointment, and work promptly commenced. Reichman, alongside a team ofclay modellers, developed the initial project within seven weeks. Between August and December, a team of twenty-six engineers, led by Reichman and the general manager of prototype operationsIan Calnan, built afull-scale prototype.[12][13][14]
Aston Martin opted to end its production arrangement with Magna Steyr in the middle of 2012, six years earlier than expected. Production temporarily halted in May 2011. Aston Martin, responding to declining demand for luxury saloons and aligning production with reduced sales, reduced annual output from 2,000 to 1,250 in June 2011.[22] In 2012, Aston Martin relocated production of the Rapide toGaydon, a village inWarwickshire, after receiving a £1.6million funding package from theBritish government'sRegional Growth Fund.[23] The funding was part of an agreement between the government and private industry to invest £200million in the economy.[24] The Rapide was produced in Gaydon until it was discontinued in 2020.[25]
The Rapide's "vertical/horizontal" (VH) platform makes extensive use of aluminium to reduce weight.[26][27] About sixtypercent of its chassis and powertrain—comprising the engine, transmission and much of the front section up to the windscreen—is carried over from theAston Martin DB9, which was the first car that used the VH platform.[28][29] The Rapide's chassis, bodywork and structure are constructed primarily ofextruded andcast aluminium,[14][30] while its roof is made ofpolycarbonate.[31] The Rapide featuresBridgestone Potenza S001tyres, sized 245/40ZR20 at the front and 295/35ZR20 at the rear.[32] As well as the DB9, the Rapide's platform is used by theDBS,[33]Vantage,[34]Virage[35] andVanquish.[36]
The Rapide will be the most elegant four-door sports car in the world[...] It completes the Aston Martin range while conveying our established attributes of power, beauty and soul.
The Rapide is considered both asaloon car[38][39] and a "four-doorcoupe".[40][41] Its rear window slopes and narrows towards the back and over the rear haunches to increase its sporty aesthetic. This design compromises rear head and shoulder room, and the rear doors are bulky at waist level.[14] Its rear flanks are wider than those of the DB9, thus smoothing the extended roof design. The rearwings[note 2] and a curvaceous design language prevent the car from being perceived as a stretched version of the DB9.[42]
The Rapide features a tilt-telescopingsteering wheel,bi-xenon headlamps,LEDtail-lights, leather and walnut trim with metallic accents, power front seats with memory, and cooling and heating systems. Connectivity features includeBluetooth,satellite radio and compatibility with USB and iPod.[43] Other standard features include a sixteen-speakerBang & Olufsen sound system with two tweeters that rise from the dashboard on activation of the system. The Rapide became the first Aston Martin model to replace theVolvo-sourced satellite navigation system with a bespokeGarmin unit.[44]
The "Rapide S" succeeded the Rapide in 2013.[51][52] The upgraded "AM11" V12 engine, as fitted to the RapideS, produces 410 kW (550 hp) and 620 N⋅m (457 lb⋅ft),[53][51] sufficient to give the car a 0–62 mph (100 km/h) of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 306 km/h (190 mph).[54][55][56] The car's fuel economy rating is 332 grams per kilometre (18.8 oz/mi).[57] The Rapide S received further revisions in August 2014.[56] These included the "AM29" V12 engine, producing 412 kW (553 hp) and 630 N⋅m (465 lb⋅ft), sufficient to give the car a 0–62 mph (100 km/h) of 4.2 seconds and an increased top speed of 327 km/h (203 mph), as well as an eight-speed Touchtronic III automatic transmission.[58][59]
In June 2018, Aston Martin unveiled the high-performance version of the Rapide named the "RapideAMR", replacing the Rapide S.[60] The upgraded 5.9-litre engine, as fitted to the Rapide AMR, produces 433 kW (580 hp) and 630 N⋅m (465 lb⋅ft).[61][62] The car includes standardMichelin Pilot Supersport tyres and 21-inchalloy wheels—the largest wheels fitted to an Aston Martin.[63][64] The Rapide AMR features acarbon ceramic braking system with six-pistoncallipers at the front and four-piston callipers at the rear, which incorporate 400 mm (16 in) and 360 mm (14 in)brake rotors at the front and rear, respectively.[65] The Rapide AMR can accelerate from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).[62]
In October 2015, Aston Martin revealed theconcept version of the Rapide E (also known as the RapidE), anelectrified version of the Rapide S.[66] At the2018 International Motor Show, the company confirmed that deliveries of the Rapide E were scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019.[67] Aston Martin debuted the electric version at the2019 Shanghai Auto Show.[68] The company intended to manufacture 155 units at itsSt Athan, Wales, production facility,[69] which would also produceLagonda's future electric vehicles.[70][71][72]Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) assisted in research and development and supplied the electric system.[70] In January 2020, the Rapide E programme was cancelled because of the reported upcoming introduction of theDBX; the Rapide E was designated as a "research project".[73][74]
The Rapide E was to have been powered by a 65 kilowatt-hours (230 MJ)lithium-ionbattery provided by HyperBat Limited, a joint venture between WAE and theUnipart manufacturing group, capable of 800-volt power transfers.[75][76] The battery pack was to house 5,600 lithium-ion electric cells,[77] along with two Integral Powertrainelectric motors at the rear,[76] driving the car through anXtrac transmission with alimited-slip differential.[78] A new suspension system was also planned to accommodate the Rapide E's increasedkerb weight.[76][79] The combined power output of the two electric motors was to be 449 kW (602 hp) with 949 N⋅m (700 lbf⋅ft) of torque. The Rapide E was projected to accelerate from 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in under four seconds with a top speed of 249 kilometres per hour (155 mph). Prototypes underwent testing at theNürburgring to ensure linear power delivery even under strenuous conditions.[76]
The projectedall-electric range for the Rapide E was about 322 kilometres (200 mi) according to the standards of theWorldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure, with the ability to charge up to 297 kilometres (185 mi) of range per hour on a 400-volt, 50-kilowatt charger.[67][77] The Rapide E featured low-drag wheels and low-resistancePirelli P Zero tyres.[76]
The Rapide was criticised for its tight rear seating.
Reviewers and automotive publishers mostly praised the Rapide's exterior and interior, many describing it as "one of the most beautiful cars" or even the "most beautiful car in the world".[21][80][81][82] A journalist from the newspaperAustralian Financial Review described the Rapide as "the prettiest sedan money can buy",[83] and a review from the automotive insurance companyRAC Limited contended that the car's design may alone be enough to influence a buyer's decision. They also stated that although its rear cabin was not spacious, the Rapide would transport four "with elegance" as long as occupants were not tall.[84]
The magazineWhat Car? praised the Rapide's V12 engine, noting that it was one of the largest engines on sale but described the eight-speed transmission as "less impressive". They also highlighted concerns about the car's handling, finding that "the Rapide [was] unsettled by ruts and bumps at all speeds, while [the] firmer Sport mode simply makes things even more uncomfortable". They also pointed out that the car's large dimensions affected its handling, stating that "despite having nicely precise steering, the Rapide does not feel particularly agile". They complained that its large wheels generated road noise, although wind noise was effectively suppressed.[85]
A Rapide was entered in the2010 24 Hours of Nürburgring.[86] It finished second in the SP 8 class and thirty-fourth overall.[87] A Rapide S was entered in the2013 edition;[88] powered by a new technology introduced byAlset GmbH, its hybrid–hydrogen system enables the car to use hydrogen and petrol individually or simultaneously in itsinternal combustion engine.[89] This Rapide S was the first car to race the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with hydrogen fuel.[90]
The car that ran at the 2010 24 Hours of Nürburgring
The car with the hybrid hydrogen system that ran at the 2013 24 Hours of Nürburgring
^ Aston Martin has previously produced two four-door cars—theLagonda Rapide and theAston Martin Lagonda. The Lagonda Rapide was introduced in 1961[4] but production ceased in 1966 after just fifty-five units had been manufactured.[5] The Aston Martin Lagonda was introduced in 1974,[6] and production continued until 1990, by which point 645 units had been produced.[7][8] The 2010 Rapide is the first series produced four-door vehicle from the company.[9][10][11]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
