Aston Martin Rapide S: Review

Is an 80-odd horsepower boost enough to put the rapid into Rapide?

You might have guessed, if you’ve been following our ’ring Liveblog, that we’ve become rather fond of ‘our’ Rapide S over the last few days. And you’d be right.

There are many reasons, which we’ll deal with shortly, but first, what makes the S an S? Well, chiefly, it now gets the same AM11 6.0-litre V12 we’ve already seen in the Vanquish, here with 558hp and 457lb ft – 81hp and 20lb ft more than the old one, in other words. The new engine’s positioned 19mm lower than before in order to improve turn-in, and the DSC and adaptive damping systems have been fiddled with, too, the latter now getting three modes. There’s also a new face, endowed with that big, slatty grille that Aston says has had to come about as a result of pedestrian safety regulations, plus a reprofiled tail with a peakier spoiler.

The new engine’s a peach. And it delivers the most exciting part of the Rapide S: its noise. Whether you’ve prodded the ‘Sport’ button to sharpen up the exhaust note and throttle response or not, opening it up unleashes a filthy V12 holler; a meaty, guttural undertone, overlaid with a raw vibrato and softened with just a hint of fluff that degenerates into a spitting, gurgling slur each time you call for another ratio. There isn’t the low-down punch of, say, an R8 V10, but the trade-off is a fantastic surge that just gets better and better the longer you hold each gear. The gearbox is a slight let-down, mind; an older ZF six-speeder, its changes are as glossy and smooth as you’d want in auto mode, but flick through with the paddles and things get a little sluggish compared to more modern offerings. The change from second and third, too, drops you down below the power band when you’re on a charge, and you occasionally find yourself flicking between the two to try and find a sweet spot. It isn’t the end of the world, but it does niggle.

New grille controversial, but there for a reason

There are a couple of niggles inside, too; namely, the usual Aston complaint of old Ford switchgear, and a busy centre console that takes time to learn intuitively. But the quality of the rest makes these foibles forgivable. Chunky billet aluminium; supple leather, neatly stitched; crystal-effect buttons that glow softly at night – it just feels like an incredibly special place to be. Likewise the rear, with sculpted buckets and a console that gives passengers their own climate control and entertainment. Big enough, though? Well, it isn’t huge inside, but we found both front and rear to be cosy, rather than cramped; others might not be so kind.

But then, Aston will point out that this isn’t Flying Spur-esque limo; it’s a four-door sports car. And the way the VH-derived chassis feels is true to that. It rides well, given its remit – it’s firm in standard mode, but not sharp, and perfectly comfortable; like a pebble wrapped in neoprene. That said, anyone looking for a cossetting waftiness won’t find it here. But then again, anyone looking for that is probably looking at the wrong car.

Big pipes make a supreme noise

The Rapide S really impresses the minute you hit a corner, though. Before we go into any detail, a couple of facts. This car is just over five metres long and weighs a whisker shy of two tonnes. And yet it dives in eagerly, the nose responding instantly to the steering; that weight is hard to sense as it transfers from side to side, and there are thudding great reserves of grip which give you enormous confidence. Likewise the delicious amount of feel served up through steering and chassis. Even in the suspension’s standard mode it’s fantastic; ‘Sport’ mode (distinct from the ‘Sport’ button for the throttle and exhaust, we should point out) only heightens things further, and ‘Track’ mode adds a layer of body control on smooth tarmac that almost completely disguises the car’s weight. This isn’t quite a car that shrinks around you, though, to quote from the motoring hack’s book of cliches. You never entirely lose sight of its size, especially on smaller, finicky B-roads.

Is the Rapide S really a four-door sports car, as Aston paints it? Yes. It manages to fill the twin roles of luxurious four-seat cruiser and beefy sports coupe convincingly. But is it also the answer to a question nobody’s asking? After all, those who want a fast, involving coupe might be more likely to go for a slinkier two-door, while those who need four seats and four doors might prefer something with better rear access, more rear space and, potentially, more waft.

But don’t let those doubts give you the impression that the Rapide S isn’t a great car. It has its faults, but its merits vastly outweigh them. It’s bloody quick, it’s endlessly desirable, and the noise it makes gives you butterflies. Regardless of whether it’s what people are looking for, we’re enormously glad it exists.

ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE S
Engine: 5,935cc V12
Transmission: 6-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 558@6,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 457@5,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.9sec
Top speed: 190mph (predicted)
Weight: 1,990kg
MPG: 19.9mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 332g/km
Price: £146,035 (£165,580 as tested)

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Gorbyrev

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