Aston Martin Rapide – First official image – again!

As we’ve said before, the Aston Martin Rapide has been so long coming it feels like it’s already here. But it’s not, despite the spy pictures of the Rapide we’ve seen, and now comes the first official picture – apparently. We’ve seen an ‘official’ Aston Martin Rapide image before, but this looks more convincing, even though it is obviously a rendering.

Believe it or not, the Rapide is still not officially due until the Autumn, but when it launches it will end up going head to head with the Porsche Panamera, which is also due to launch this April at the Shanghai Motor Show. But not entirely.

Aston Martin Rapide - First official image

Unlike the Porsche Saloon, which will start at around £60k, this saloon from Aston will set you back more like £145k. Big difference, but then the Rapide is a hand-made car, and far more beautiful than anything Porsche produces.

The Rapide is based on the DB9 underpinnings, but with the wheelbase stretched to give a 5 metre long car. The roof has been raised compared to the DB9, with a nice panoramic roof to bathe the interior in light. Under the bonnet you will get Aston’s V12 6.0 litre lump, estimated to deliver around 480bhp in the Rapide, and shifts by a 6 speed auto ‘box.

What is actually more interesting, given we already know most of the spec, is that the Rapide does look a little different to the spy shots we’ve seen. We expected a car that looked like a stretched version of the DB9. In fact, to us, it looks more like a stretched V8 Vantage. Not that that is a bad thing, just a little unexpected. But this will still be the best looking car in its sector. That’s a given – it is an Aston Martin, after all.

By Cars UK