Rapide Official: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide

[ree]

Aston Martin Rapide Configuration:

Aston Martin Configurator : Rapide, Germany

 

[HighestOfHigh]

There are two things that make my world go ‘round: beautiful, intelligent women and proper sports cars. I use the term ‘proper’ very loosely. Mostly because I wouldn’t kick a 2.7-liter rear-engine Porsche 911 Carerra RS out of bed, nor would a mid-engined Lancia Delta S4 be my last choice in a fabled game of sports car dodgeball. To put it lightly, I don’t discriminate too wildly when it comes to pleasurable experiences.

But let’s get back to powerplants. I like my cylinders like I like my donuts—in packs of twelve. The greatest modern V12s have notoriously come out of Europe. Whether they be from Maranello, Sant’Agata, Munich, or Gaydon; it doesn’t matter much. They’re all glorious to hear whap, whap, whapping on a crisp autumn morning, but even more so, piloting a vehicle equipped with the svelte powerplant has proven, on more than one occasion, to be an ample replacement to a peaty 15-year scotch, a Montecristo Churchill cigar, and a warm fire.

Our fearless leader knows this feeling as he recently spent some quality time with the newly-released Rapide—Aston Martin’s V-12-powered super saloon. In his exceptional first-drive review, Marty spoke in depth about the DB9 limousine’s dynamics, something I won’t cover here, but it’s obvious this family-hauler can hang with the best of them. What I have covered is the Rapide’s design. Many of you may think—and at first glance you’d almost be correct—that this is merely a DB9 with a pair of doors tacked on. But in fact, the engineers and designers in Gaydon worked tirelessly to take the design initiated by Ian Callum and finished by Henrik Fisker to all-new proportions, stretching it over a 2,989mm wheelbase.

Those of you with the liquidity to purchase superfluous 470-horsepower hyper saloons should get down on your hands and knees to thank these English chaps for giving you a beautiful alternative to the ungainly Porsche Panamera. Those of you still taking your change to the Coinstar machine, take a gander at our gallery in which I’ve laid out the significant details and subtle styling cues that set the Rapide apart from its younger two-door siblings.

- http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1042579_2010-aston-martin-rapide-design-dissection

 

[ree]

One of the test cars…look how they love their cars. Probably they tested, how not to park an AM…

 

[Bartek S.]

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[Cashmere]

Aston Martin to cut Rapide production back
Slow sales account for the production cut to match demand

Aston Martin is planning to produce fewer Aston Martin Rapide saloons in order to match output to sales. Production is scheduled to drop to around 25 cars per week — around 1250 a year. That’s just over half of the 2000 cars originally envisaged in 2007/08.

Some sources even suggest that production is about to fall to 10 per week as Aston adjusts output, although the company is adamant it won’t drop that far.
Production of the Aston Martin Rapide was even halted in May. Immediately after the weekend of the Royal Wedding, an e-mail was circulated to contractors that no more components would be needed for the month. “There was little production because the factory was on shutdown,” said Aston.

Last week the company announced that it would end an eight-year production deal with Magna Steyr in Austria in the middle of 2012, six years earlier than expected. “We’ve served our notice period of one year, as per our contract,” said Aston. Aston won’t comment on the terms of the contract, although sources suggests that it might cost the company as much as £10 million to buy itself out of the Magna Steyr deal.

A number of factors have changed since Rapide assembly was contracted out, most notably the slowing of the luxury car market. Aston’s sales have just about halved since the financial crash in September 2008. But in 2007/08, when the Rapide was being planned, the Gaydon factory in Warwickshire was close to maximum capacity.

Source AUTOCAR

 

[Merc1]

Upgrade the engines!!!!! Rapide costs too much compared to the ugly, but overperformer Panamera. No way this car's sales should be slowing down now when everyone else is experiencing a boom.


M

 

[LaArtist]

^Hah yes blame it on the financial crisis..
maybe its time to stop basing everything the last decade or more on the Vanquish design..

Serves them right..for making boring designed cars..

 

[donkeykong]

A guy in my condo has one,it's boring all the way through.

 

[WBarnes]

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[bmwz4coupe]

Never liked this car.....

 

[sako97]

Man, the Rapide was a huge flop. The 2006 concept was so stunning back in the day, but the production version is meh overall - design execution is off, interior is less roomy than a coffin, and tech is circa 2005.

 

[Yaz]

I've been seeing more of them on the road lately, still not a fan though.

 

[WBarnes]

I've been seeing more of them on the road lately, still not a f...

Probably a good used buy.

 

[Giannis]

Man, the Rapide was a huge flop. The 2006 concept was so...

It does look immensely good, though!