Aston Martin Rapide ‘S’ spied

Aston Martin Rapide S - at a rather steep £200k, we expect

It took AM slightly longer to get the Aston Martin Rapide from concept to production than the career of the Spice Girls, although the final product is a bit more appealing. Well, depending on circumstances.

But now, just a year since the Rapide became a production model, Aston Martin are gearing up to bring us a Rapide with a bit more grunt – the Aston Martin Rapide S.

So what can we expect the Rapide S – pictured above, lightly camougflaged and out testing – to bring that the already appealing Rapide doesn’t?

Well, it won’t be more space. Aston Martin – so far – seem to have no intention of stretching the Rapide to give us a LWB Rapide which could offer the sort of space the Panamera does. No, this is a Rapide with a bit more oomph.

Aston Martin are fitting the Rapide S with the tweaked and fettled V12 from the DBS. That means 510bhp and a 0-60mph much closer to 4.5 seconds than the current – slightly lethargic – 5.1 seconds.

To help handle the extra power Aston Martin are likely to fit ceramic brakes to the ‘S’ and give it a suspension setup much closer to the DBS.

Which all sounds rather appealing. But it will also mean a big hike in price, probably pushing the Rapide S up above the £180k DBS. In fact, it could very well be a £200k car.

Which is about £100k more than the still faster Porsche Panamera Turbo, and £50k more even than the – quicker and better built – Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed.

We love Aston Martin, but it is getting difficult to see where the money is on the current offerings, although the drop dead gorgeous looks of an Aston Martin do make price a secondary consideration.

But there are limits.

By Cars UK