Though it takes its name from the Lagonda Rapide of the 1960s, the Aston Martin Rapide‘s mix of four doors, speed, and luxury is entirely modern–and still very new. Few changes have come to the Rapide’s specification over its three-year run thus far, except very recently, with the addition of a new Rapide S model. Beginning with the 2014 Aston… …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection
Tag Archives: Aston Martin Rapide
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First Drive: 2014 Aston Martin Rapide S [w/video]
Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Aston Martin, First Drives
Fresh Styling, More Power And New Confidence
Three years ago, almost to the day, we slid behind the wheel of the all-new Aston Martin Rapide for the very first time.
After unabashedly calling it “the world’s best-looking four-door sedan” – a statement that is as accurate today as it was in 2010 – we piloted the Aston Martin on a meandering route from Miami to our final destination in Palm Beach.
Our conclusion, at the end of a very long day, was that British automaker had built a peerless sedan cleverly disguised as a coupe, and it offered more accommodation and utility than anything else in the automaker’s two-door lineup. With that as its primary mission objective, it excelled. However, in terms of overall performance, our realization was that it fell short.
Enter the Aston Martin Rapide S, a thoroughly refreshed sedan that appears, at first glance, to have addressed our very frustrated concern.
Continue reading 2014 Aston Martin Rapide S [w/video]
2014 Aston Martin Rapide S [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
Geneva: Bertone Jet 2+2 is a family-style Aston Martin Rapide
By Zach Bowman
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Leave it to Bertone to take a stab at improving the look of the Aston Martin Rapide. The coachbuilder may have done just that with its Jet 2+2 shooting brake unveiled here at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Using the sexy Aston four-door as a basis, the coachbuilder worked the Aston’s rear quarters and lifted the roof into a proper hatch, resulting in a machine with plenty of cargo space out back (though rear seat room doesn’t appear to be much better than the production sedan). An LED span joins the vehicle’s two taillights, and the design looks far more cohesive than the original renderings led us to believe.
An unnamed collector commissioned the one-off build, and Bertone is using the longroof to mark the 60th anniversary of the company’s first partnership with Aston Martin. We couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate the date. The stock 6.0-liter V12 remains unsullied, cranking out 476 horsepower, though Bertone has given the interior a once-over with unique wood, glazed aluminum and two leather colors specified by the individual who commissioned the car. Check out the full press release below for more information.
Continue reading Bertone Jet 2+2 is a family-style Aston Martin Rapide
Bertone Jet 2+2 is a family-style Aston Martin Rapide originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
Geneva: Aston Martin enhances Rapide with new S model
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We’ve never really thought of the Aston Martin Rapide as being an old car in need of an update, but since the gorgeous sedan has, in fact, been around since 2010, we suppose a tidy freshening is in order. Here at the Geneva Motor Show, Aston is showing off the new Rapide S, which adds minor styling tweaks and a bit more oomph to the rakish four-door package. But don’t be fooled, the S isn’t just a trim-and-tape up-do – it wholly replaces the outgoing Rapide.
That’s fine with us, since the new car improves upon an already exceptional package. The big sedan’s V12 gets a power injection to the tune of 80 horsepower and 14 pound-feet of torque, bringing the totals up to 550 and 457, respectively. This means the Rapide S can hit 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds compared to the outgoing car’s 5.1, on its way to a top speed of 190 mph. Woosh.
Visual changes for the new S model include a reworked front fascia with a one-piece grille, new 20-inch wheels, a slightly redesigned rear fascia, and a carbon fiber exterior pack that adds a bit of design differentiation to some of the car’s outside details. Pricing hasn’t been announced just yet, but expect this Aston to come in around the $200,000 mark. Scroll down for the full details in the press blast.
Continue reading Aston Martin enhances Rapide with new S model
Aston Martin enhances Rapide with new S model originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
Report: Bertone bringing one-off Aston Martin Rapide shooting brake to Geneva
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Way back in 2004 Bertone created a one-off concept called the Bertone Jet 2, a shooting brake based on the Aston Martin Vanquish. For this year’s Geneva Motor Show the Italian styling house is doing it again, but this time it has used the Rapide to create the Jet 2+2. Employing a model whose lines were more readily made for shooting brake adaptation has resulted in a vehicle that we find far better looking than its predecessor.
There’s a 470-horsepower V12 under the hood, a bespoke interior with two-tone leather, a stretched and heightened rear quarter for more headroom and luggage room, and fold-flat rear seats. An LED strip connects the taillights across the wide tailgate.
An unnamed client commissioned the build, and it also happens to be another candle on Aston Martin‘s centenary birthday cake as well as commemoration of the sixty years since Bertone and Aston Martin first worked together. It will take the floor in Geneva along with the Rapide S.
Bertone bringing one-off Aston Martin Rapide shooting brake to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
2014 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Somewhere above cars like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series—and perhaps better-matched in terms of prestige with the Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera, or Aston Martin Rapide—stands the Continental Flying Spur. For an echelon of the rich, famous, or prosperous who want to appear so, without immaturity, it’s a… …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection