Modern Classic: Aston Martin Rapide
The Aston Martin Rapide was launched in 2010 and was replaced in 2020 by the DBX. Photos: Aston Martin
When I lived in Singapore some close friends bought one of the first Aston Martin Rapides in 2011. At well over a million Singapore dollars, it initially was the only one on the road in the Lion City.
It was my first exposure to both Aston Martin and the unusual Rapide but since my encounter in Singapore, I had taken an interest in Aston Martins, but always found them dated.
This all changed under Doctor Andy Palmer, the former CEO of Aston Martin, who I once met in New Zealand when we witnessed the birth of the gorgeous DB11.
I was smitten by it and for two years I was an owner of a First Edition one in New Zealand, which was my first “supercar”! My car was even used at the New Zealand launch of the DB11 that Doctor Palmer attended.
Aston Martin wanted a competitor for the Porsche Panamera when it created the Rapide.
Fast forward, and Aston is now better on track in 2021 and with a new CEO, Tobias Moers, and we have delectable models such as the DBX SUV hitting the shores. And it’s the DBX, which I recently saw at Parihoa as part of a New Zealand commercial filming, that marks the successor to the 2010 to 2020 Rapide, which itself replaced the four-door Lagonda which became extinct in 1990.
So with that lead-in, let’s look at the unusual Rapide. It started as a concept car at the North American Motor Show in 2006 and appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009.
Aston Martin had based it on the DB9 but wanted a car that could compete with the Porsche Panamera in being able to take four passengers, via four doors.
The Aston Martin Rapide four-seater has limited legroom in the rear.
The idea produced an unusual but distinct five-metre sedan which had a trunk that functioned as a hatchback. It’s styling, with its flared wheel arches and sculptured roof, made it uncomfortable in the rear for passengers and it had little boot space. It’s most cool feature was single unit side windows which gave it very much a coupe feel.
The motoring press, overall, felt the Rapide was flawed, especially in comparison to the Panamera but, looking back, it was a daring effort and is a classic to celebrate. Initially, it launched with a 5.9-litre V12 with 351kW and this was upgraded with a 2014 facelift to a 410kW engine. It had a top speed of 300km/h.
The Rapide was five metre sedan which had a trunk that functioned as a hatchback.
Plans had been afoot to develop an electric version of the Rapide. It would have had a 65kwH battery and been good for over 450kW, however plans were scrapped and we now wait to see if an electric DBX appears in coming years.
The pick of the 10-year production run is the “AMR”, which had a hotted-up version of the V12 engine putting out 444kW and 21-inch wheels. It came decked out hood to tail in carbon fibre and had huge ceramic brakes. This is the one if you want the best of the shape.
TradeMe reveals seven Rapides heavily depreciated from their original sales prices. I would go for something like this one with exceptionally low kilometres and and NZ-new.
The Aston Martin Rapide started off with a a 5.9-litre V12 with 351kW engine.
