In this edition, we shall be taking our car freaks into the world of a stunning sheet metal called the Aston Martin Rapide. It may be new to many, but industry followers might be wondering what all the fuss is about this luxury car.
Aston Martin Rapide is not for starters, as well, its craftsmanship makes the sticker price seems somewhat justified. In classic automotive terms, and like the DB9, the Rapide is more of a grand touring car than a sports car.
Customers familiar with vehicle segmentation will say that Aston Martin Rapide may be after all be showing up late to the four-door “coupe” party that has been raging for a few years now when the likes of Mercedes-Benz CLS-class, which arguably arrived first to the bash, is about to enter its second generation.
But others would testify to its uniqueness; hinging their argument on the basis of the fact that the Rapide is “the only four-door sports car in the world.” Their point of reasoning is that the Rapide is a sports car first and a sedan second, unlike other cars in the segment, that have all had their styling and dynamics compromised in the name of rear-seat accommodations or comfort.
Mechanically, the engine and transmission are straight from the DB9. The power plant is a 5.9-liter V-12 making 470 hp, and it mates via a carbon-fiber driveshaft to a transaxle version of the ZF 6HP six-speed automatic.
Like the DB9 and the rest of the Aston Martin lineup, the Rapide is based on the extruded-aluminum VH architecture. Lessons learned throughout the development of other Astons have made the Rapide’s chassis the stiffest. The suspension is largely the same, with beefed-up wheel hubs and lower control arms in front.
On the road, this is one car that unleashes the fury and just like the exterior, the sound of the V-12 engine version has an effect on the psyche that pushes logic and reason to the back of the driver’s mind. This is actually a common occurrence with any V-12 engine, but the Aston’s lets out a particularly deep and raspy exhaust note at idle.
The steering is correspondingly light and the Rapide changes direction rapidly. There are none of the pondering side-to-side motions that you might experience while cornering in a more luxury-oriented sedan.
Simply put, it’s a beautiful car from almost every angle, and the subtle creases on the hood and along the sides invite you to run your hands along the bodywork. It’s a two-box design, with the cabin blending seamlessly into the rear hatchback.
The front seats are almost at the middle of the car’s length, which totals 197.6 inches, 12.2 longer than the DB9. The frameless windows are made from double-laminated glass, the front and rear side windows meet at the outside of the B-pillar for a seamless appearance. All four doors open in what Aston Martin calls a “swan wing” motion, rotating slightly up as they move outward.
In terms of space, there are deep map pockets in the doors, an iPhone-sized pocket on the front seatback, and a large center bin that holds the remote and headphones for the optional rear-seat entertainment system.
Switching the two-mode-adjustable drive button into their firmer setting tightens up the ride motions further, but the smooth roads around Valencia didn’t allow us to really gauge any analogous loss of ride quality. In drive mode, the transmission seeks high gears at all times.
Despite the following highlights, the car also comes with its own shortcomings. Rapide’s shortcomings start with the center stack, another carry-over item from the DB9. The navigation system lacks the high-resolution display and extra features that most other modern luxury cars have.
