Following its official launch earlier this year, Aston Martin has announced pricing for its highly anticipated Rapide model. The Rapide will list from $199,950 in the United States, with standard features set to include a Bang & Olufsen Beosound audio system, heated memory seats and Aston Martin’s Adaptive Damping Sytem.
The Rapide debuted at the Frankfurt auto show in September, three years after Aston Martin first previewed the ultra-luxury sedan in concept form.
It goes without saying the car will compete with vehicles like the Porsche Panamera. But the Aston will likely be one of the most expensive and exclusive luxury sports sedans on the market.
The Rapide features a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 470 horsepower with peak power being delivered at 6,000 rpm and 443 pound-feet of peak torque at 5,000 rpm. A specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission allows the driver to change gear automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted magnesium paddles.
As one can see, the production version is very similar to the concept car, but does swap out quad-air intakes for upper and lower grilles. The rear of the car has strong family ties to other Aston Martin models, and sports ’smoked’ rear taillights.
As reportedly recently, the Rapide will be the first ever Aston Martin built outside of the United Kingdom, thanks to a partnership up with Magna Steyr.
Given a strong interest in the Rapide, Aston Martin says it will build between 1,000 and 2,000 units per year, up from an original estimate of 500 or less.
Like Aston’s other models, the Rapide is built on the company’s VH (Vertical/Horizontal) architecture — the same that underpins the DB9. The Rapide will also borrow its twelve-cylinder powerplant from the DB9, although power will be increased from 450 horsepower to 470. With that power routed through a six-speed transmission — featuring Aston Martin’s Touchtronic control — the Rapide should make the sprint from zero to 60 mph in under five seconds, on its way to a top speed of 180 mph.
Deliveries of the Aston Martin Rapide will begin in spring 2010.
12/07, 9:49 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I still think the 2 door version is the prefect look for this body. 4 doors just makes it look too similar to what would happen if you grabbed the ends of the 2 door and pulled it, stretching it to this model!
12/07, 10:20 AM
posted by:
howsmydriving
It’s stupid.
12/07, 10:42 AM
posted by:
acoom
It’s the most beautiful sedan I’ve ever seen.
12/07, 10:43 AM
posted by:
bigp
i love it and if i had the money it would be minez. before the cls i always wanted i four door coupe because there was none on the market and now they are flooding the set. i think it could use more power, nothing less than 500 hp. but Aston is making money so i guess they know what they are doing.
12/07, 10:50 AM
posted by:
NMOFGMs Daddy
damn! you can fit SIX pieces of luggage in its trunk! that’s one more than a A6 Avant!!
12/07, 11:06 AM
posted by:
scratchy
boring , dated, expensive and it’s an Aston so it will probably be unreliable too. stupid BMW did the 5GT instead of making a 4 door coupe that can compete with the Panamera.
12/07, 11:10 AM
posted by:
And The Winner Is…
Unlike the Panamera, this is absolutely gorgeous. Now if I only had $199,950…
12/07, 11:27 AM
posted by:
RICERisNICER
I’ll agree, I saw a Panamera for the first time yesterday and it’s so ugly; the only thing I found stunning was the size of the brakes. However who in the world wants to spend this much?
12/07, 11:28 AM
posted by:
pavlindrom
If you had $199,950, you’d need more to have proper security at home.
12/07, 11:48 AM
posted by:
aesir
The Panamera has been kind of growing on me the more I see it in person. I saw a metallic brown one the other day. It looked really nice.
12/07, 11:57 AM
posted by:
Ashes to Ashes_Dust to Dust
Two-door exotics never seem to translate well to four-door haulers.
12/07, 12:04 PM
posted by:
And The Winner Is…
Actually, if I did have $199,950, and I bought this, I would not need proper home security as this would actually BE my home…
12/07, 12:09 PM
posted by:
sctdiverdown
Just saw the ONLY one in the country Saturday at a special invite in NYC ……..REALLY interesting
car …….sitting in the back you feel you are in limo of some sorts. Really different.
The car is soooooo long. I think it should be priced cheaper – but then again so should
many other things ………
The trunk is very useful, plenty of headroom in the back, if you are 6 ft or shorter.
But If you are anything that resembles “fat” – good luck getting into those narrow back seats
The car is beautiful ……all seats are very comfy, interior is like a DB9 / Vantage
The best car from Aston imho for the money is still the Vantage V12 …….they are bringing some
into the states next year – they first they have to modify it to meet USA safety standards.
12/07, 12:40 PM
posted by:
A4
Well I’m glad they managed to keep it well under $200,000.
12/07, 12:47 PM
posted by:
jmayhew
Well it’s official: the Panamera and Rapide are no longer direct competitors.
Next person to compare the two like apples to apples deserves a slap to the mouth.
12/07, 1:38 PM
posted by:
scratchy
@ jmayhew , they may not be direct competitors in the US , but they are in Europe, with few extras on the Panamera turbo you get to the price of the Rapide easily.
12/07, 2:37 PM
posted by:
ayrtonJ
Sexy like all Astons, but that’s one of the biggest C-pillars ever. Good luck switching lanes or parallel parking.
12/07, 3:14 PM
posted by:
NMOFGMs Daddy
The S65 AMG will easily biitch slap either one of these two clowns, just saying.
12/07, 4:02 PM
posted by:
A4
^ there are tons of cars that will bitch slap ANY Aston Martin. Until you look at them. Thats the point.
12/07, 4:08 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
WAY better than the Panamera but a CLS and CC still look better to me. At $200,000, I think they are making a mistake. That is too expensive for what you get. I think it needs to be priced alongside the Panamera Turbo at roughly $140,000 or $150,000. Both are equal in performance, luxury, status, and panache. This is a 4-door Vantage and a Vantage starts at $120,000.
The Panamera is a 4-door 911 with a V8. A Carerra with 400hp (385hp with S models) starts at $90,000 and the Panamera starts at $90,000 as well. The 911 Turbo AND Panamera Turbo both start at $130,000.
$200,000 is FAR too aggressive for this car.
12/07, 4:08 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
The S65 WILL NOT bitch slap this car. It may be faster in a straight but through in ONE turn and the MB is done. The S65AMG is a HUGE ASS car. It is not a sports car in any way.
12/07, 4:45 PM
posted by:
NMOFGMs Daddy
A4 I was comparing with the following criteria: 4 door, V-12, $200K. So not too many other cars will fall into the slot.
I agree the Aston is hot, but the big AMG is BADASS. Simple BADASS.
12/07, 4:46 PM
posted by:
NMOFGMs Daddy
simply BADASS.
my bad…………ass
12/08, 6:38 AM
posted by:
scratchy
i’lll take the upcoming 570hp Audi RS7 over the lame Aston.
12/08, 12:59 PM
posted by:
sctdiverdown
You’ll never get a brand new 2010 Vantage for $120,000 …….try “starting” around $143,000 for the coupe which always comes with options ……
01/22, 10:17 PM
posted by:
Rob Delisa
For $199,999 do you get the floor mats or do you have to pay extra for those. If you’re in the market for an Aston Martin, I guess you can afford it.
I’ll stick the Aston Martin Model Cars that sit on your collectors shelf. They are a little more in my price range.
http://modelcarscale.com/popular-car-models/aston-martin