The new Aston Martin Rapide

The new Aston Martin Rapide
The World’s Most Elegant 4 door Sports Car.

The 63rd Frankfurt Motorshow has seen the introduction of a milestone in the history of Aston Martin. With the launch of the new Rapide, this is the first time the iconic wings have graced a 4 door car. Encompassing all the attributes of Power, Beauty and Soul, the elegant Rapide provides sports car performance and handling with comfort, refinement and entertainment.

At the heart of Rapide beats 470bhp from the 6.0 V12 engine familiar to DB9 drivers. This in turn is mated to a 6 speed Touchtronic automatic gearbox that will allow greater driver input via 2 magnesium “paddles” mounted to the steering column, just a finger-tip away. Performance, as with any Aston Martin, is a given with 60 mph flashing past from standstill in just 5.1 seconds.

The effortless way in which it does this is a relatively fuss-free affair for those inside, whether they are listening to the stand Bang & Olufsen 1000W BeoSound Rapide audio system, or enjoying the optional rear entertainment system via 2 LCD screens mounted in the rear of the front seats. This can control either the 6 disc DVD multichanger, a games console, or audio playback through individual headsets.

At the touch of a button, the 2 individual rear seat backs can be folded to increase the already ample luggage capacity by 449 litres to a total of 750 litres. Along with the removable bulkhead, this can be ideal for skis or extra luggage to be carried. For customers with smaller children, Rapide will feature ISOFIX for both rear seats as standard. No less than 8 airbags are distributed around the cabin which ensure that occupants are fully protected. Hydraulic Brake Assist which is fitted as standard, aid the driver in an emergency situation to reduce stopping distances even further.

The Adaptive Damping System that is fitted as standard, allows the driver greater control, whilst constantly adapting to road conditions and providing a comfortable environment for passengers.

The Aston Martin Rapide is due to be start being delivered in Spring 2010 at a price of around £150,000.