Aston Martin Rapide

[Twin Turbo]

http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/6780/rap6ip.jpg

At first I thought Autocar was just showing a Photoshop special, but this the real deal. OK, OK, so it's a 4-door DB9........but it's also the best looking 4-door in the world!

No word on production, but as the concept is a runner I can't seeing it being too far off.

[paulhol]

Aston Martin quite clearly can't design anything else. It's probably the best design base out at the moment, but they're starting to push their luck in my eyes.

[beedub]

paul i cant agree with you more mate, its starting to get very repetative and boring, all the cars are the same, bar a few details.

[rico]

Maybe they're going the Porsche route and giving the same design (ala 911) but with different engines and slight body changes to give the client their ultimate spec.

[R988]

I agree, thats going way too far. They are pushing that design too much, it cheapens the brand really, I'd prefer they made a four door thats something new maybe sharing parts/platform with a new Jaguar XJ but with the Aston V12 instead of a supercharged V8.

[eccles]

mmm, wonder if there'll be a 4X4 version for school runs.

[LuS1fer]

As Porsche found out with sevral concepts a few years back, it's almost impossible to design an elegant 4 door coupe. I suspect AM's own Lagonda (the 4 door V8 not the Thunderturd one)was the best ever.

[lightningghost]

I'm guessing this has a longer wheelbase than the 2dr. I don't like it much. IMO it loses all its grand tourer-ness and DB9ness with 2 more doors. It looks a lot less sporty and more like a briefcase, like the Maserati Quattroporte. Imagine if TVR fitted 2 more doors to their cars. Even on the Cerbera it would completely lose all its feel of an enthusiasts' car.

[Twin Turbo]

Blimey, I must be the only one that likes it then

I'm a coupe man myself, but as 4-doors go, this really can't be bettered in my opinion.

[Petrol_noggin]

for taking the kids to school...

[Twin Turbo]

I like the front, the side's OK but the rear is a no no.

I prefer Bertone's original...

www.astonmartins.com/db4_5_6_s/bertone_jet.htm

[carl_w]

Surely it must be time for the return of an Aston Martin Shooting Brake?

As for being impossible to design a nice-looking 4-door coupe, Alfa seemed to manage OK with the 156.

[kingb]

i agree about pushing the single look but it give a sense of togetherness for the entire fleet and when looking like that is no bad thing. And, if you ignore other current astons its simply awsome looking. really posh and high class looking

[Plotloss]

Twin Turbo said:

Blimey, I must be the only one that likes it then

No, you're not.

It's glorious, utterly glorious.

A true gentlemans express. Matched pair of boxlock ejectors in the boot, a hip flask brimmed with Sloe Gin and a shoot 500 miles away and a Rapide to get there. Now that would be a lovely weekend.

Rapide family car, V8 fun car.

Smashing.

[Twin Turbo]

Thankyou Plotloss......thought perhaps I needed a trip to SpecSavers....seems not

[shadytree]

Plotloss said:

Rapide family car, V8 fun car. Smashing.

>> Edited by shadytree on Monday 2nd January 10:30

[Twin Turbo]

Well, the old one was a v8, this one's a V12.

But at least he know's a beautiful car when he sees one

[Plotloss]

Well I rather meant that a nice brace would be a Rapide for the family and a V8 Vantage for myself...

[Twin Turbo]

Aha, sorry. Silly me

Well, the Rapide's certainly booked a place in my fanstasy garage where it'll snuggle up next to the DB9 amoungst others

[williamp]

Cant see it happeneing, myself. For a number of reasons (namely that Aston have never mentioned it before, and the underfloor structure on the DB9 would have to be radically altered to fit in two extra seats. The DB9 has a large torque-tube, and this would have to be altered.

Interetsingly, though that they are using a Lagonda name- the company quietly dropped the Lagonda name in the late 90s. I wonder if Aston (or Ford) have plans for Lagonda. I hope so...