Aston Martin Rapide

[Ant]

An Aston Martin sedan. Who would have thought. As expected, very fast and luxurious. Quite pretty as well.

Engine: 60º V12
Displacement: 5,935 cc
Aspiration: Natural
Power: 470 bhp (350.5 kW) @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 442.5 lb·ft @ 5,000 rpm
Configuration: Front-engined, rear-wheel drive
Weight: 1,950 kilo (4,300 lbs)
0 - 60 mph: 5.1 seconds
Top speed: 188 mph (302.49 km/h)

[divadiva]

Sub zero - just love Astons

If it had a blue and white propeller on the front it would get slated on here. Don't be taken in by the badge. They've ruined what was a beautiful car. It's now far too long and the proportions are out. If you want a 4 seater Aston whats wrong with the vanquish?

Uncool

[daveypark]

+1 There's one at the office next to ours; ugly. Shame.

[Ben_NZ]

Originally Posted by v6hughes

If it had a blue and white propeller on the front it would get slated on here.

1. The badge does have significant bearing on whether a car is cool or not.
2. If BMW made that car, it would have popular diesel variants and the marketing brochure would mention Hofmeister Kink, reducing the car's coolness.
3. While Aston have tried to disguise the car's extra length, this can't succeed 100% and that fact is highlighted by the car being otherwise identical to all Aston's other models. Makes it more obvious that it's a DB9Vantaquish with a stretched limo conversion. I therefore only gave it 'cool'.

[Morgan166]

Sub zero.

It is obvious that a lot of work has gone into making the Rapide look like a proper Aston, which I feel they have succeeded in doing.

If you want to get an idea of just how hard it is to pull off a trick like that, just look at the horror that is the Porsche Panamera. I expect Porsche's R&D budget was bigger than Aston's too.

[73GTVJim]

This is a hard one to call.

Astons are inherently cool but this isn't quite right. The interior looks great but the externals are OK without being spot on. Luxo-barges aren't cool by nature either - hence the tough call.

Thing is, it isn't as desirable looking or as cool looking as a Maser QP whether it is quicker or more expensive or whatever notwithstanding.

I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and vote cool.

[Gaz]

What Jim said, word for word, thats what i was trying to put across when i saw the poll last night but couldnt think of the words

Oh and i say uncool rather than cool. Just because its not a Coupe/Roadster, which an Aston should be

[filipharvey]

I saw along the coast a few weeks ago. Nice car

But why name it after a Skoda?




On a side note though, are Aston turning into Porsche? They only seem to have one design.

Originally Posted by filipharvey

I saw along the coast a few weeks ago. Nice car

But why name it after a Skoda?




On a side note though, are Aston turning into Porsche? They only seem to have one design.

The Skoda was pronounced Rapide but was spelled Rapid.

[10,500RPM]

I think it is cool but the optional watch key is seriously uncool

[filipharvey]

Originally Posted by keithyboy

The Skoda was pronounced Rapide but was spelled Rapid.

You could split an atom!

[Skell18]

Respect but not cool, footballers have tarnished the image of Aston too much for it to be cool

[Ben_NZ]

Originally Posted by 10,500RPM

..the optional watch key is seriously uncool

But very James Bond! The reason it's uncool is because someone will ask you how much it cost and you'll have to say £21,850...
Otherwise, those should be an option on every Aston!

A cool car, no question.

To quote Clarkson, "If I was to liken the whole global car industry to the human body.... Aston Martin is the face". And what a gorgeous face it is.

Not as sleek as the two-door. The DB9 does it better. But as a four-seat proposition, not a bad way to move a family.

Grace and pace.

gorgeous...sub zero

[bacon]

It should be cool.....but it isnt.

[wayne-dear]

Seen one recently, bloody gorgeous, sub zero..

[Skell18]

Originally Posted by bacon

It should be cool.....but it isnt.

[alfatastic]

Originally Posted by filipharvey

I saw along the coast a few weeks ago. Nice car

But why name it after a Skoda?

Think they are going retro, look up Lagonda Rapide, produced in the early 1960's

[filipharvey]

Now that was hideous!
I quite liked the wedge of the later Lagonda though.

[steveisfrowning]

Aston's jumped the shark a while back.

Fancy a Cygnet?

[Gaz]

not at £50k or whatever it costs

[steveisfrowning]

"We are moving in a changing world. It is time for an Aston Martin tailor fit for the city. Elegant and distinctive, individual and practical, the Aston Martin Cygnet is the luxury solution to urban mobility."

no, really

[steveisfrowning]

"It is a car without compromise, just like every other Aston Martin" says Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

No compromises then.