Rapide

With Rapide, Aston Martin set out to create the world’s most beautiful four-door sports car. Design work was undertaken at Aston Martin’s Design Studio, a bespoke creative workspace at the company headquarters in Gaydon,Warwickshire, UK. The result was Rapide Concept, revealed to the world at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006. The vision was then translated faithfully into the production Rapide.

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No Compromise

As well as Aston Martin's first production four door car, Rapide is an exceptional performance car, as implied by the low, sleek and elegant bodywork. The track-honed chassis is equally at home on winding backroads, soaring mountain ascents or high-speed continental carriageways.

Rapide’s rear environment had been intelligently packaged to create a space where passengers feel a part of the driving experience with clear views to the front and sides. Comfort and support was supplied in the form of two hand trimmed individual seats and a personal face-level heating and air conditioning system. Aiding the practicalities of everyday use, the luggage compartment featured a movable bulkhead to permit access from the rear cabin while the rear seats folded flat at the touch of a button to create a flat loading space increasing the luggage compartment from 317 litres to 886 litres.

Fusing Form and Function

Rapide encapsulated core values of Power, Beauty and Soul; four ‘swan wing’ doors provided access to cosseting sports seats, both front and rear, bestowing occupants with ample accommodation.

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Specifications

Engine:

5935cc V12, All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 470 BHP @ 6000 RPM

Brakes:

Front: Dual-cast brake discs, 390 mm diameter with six-piston calipers Rear: Dual-cast brake discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston calipers

Top Speed:

184 mph

Transmission:

Rear mid-mounted, ‘Touchtronic 2’, six-speed gearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control system

Suspension:

Front: Independent double wishbones incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers

0 – 60 mph:

5.0 sec