Car Of The Week: Aston Martin Rapide S

Continuing our new series introduced last week, this week we have picked our car from the arsenal of Aston Martin, the brand which is frequently associated with Bond films and is known to produce some of the awe-inspiring cars. So, this week’s pick is Aston Martin Rapide S, the car which is tagged as the most beautiful four-door sports car by the company. So, let us know a bit more about this beauty from the house of British automaker.

Interesting Facts

Aston Martin Rapide S Hydrogen Hybrid is the first four-door sports car to achieve zero-emissions lap in an international motor race at the Zurich Nurburgring in Germany. The particular model is powered by a 6.0-litre V12 twin-turbocharged prototype which is developed by renewable energy experts Alset Global. The Hybrid Hydrogen system is made up of a hydrogen fuel rail, storage tanks, and bespoke engine management system.

 

Brief History

 

Rapide started making its name in the four-door luxury sports car segment as early as 1962 when the British automaker introduced Lagonda Rapide. Its successor was introduced after 15 years with Lagonda tagging and it took 20 years to introduce the successor of the iconic car. It was in 2010 when Aston Martin re- introduced Rapide with a production target of 2000 per year in Austria. But, the sales did not match the production target and company reduced the production number to 1250 per year. After realizing the fact that Rapide is not able to match the competition, the company introduced Rapide S in the year 2013. The car received its first facelift in 2014 and since then, this four-door sports car has gained a significant response from the customers across the globe.

 

Brief Review

Rapide S is a combination of power, beauty, and soul which clearly reflects the essence of Aston Martin. The three-dimensional radiator grille, sleek eye shaped headlamps with LED daytime running lights and the company’s insignia on the bonnet, together gives a captivating look. The sleek silhouette is coupled to the sporty rear that completes the sports car avatar in a different style.

It is not only the exterior looks that will give you a mesmerizing feel but, interiors are equally amazing. The four-door sports car offers enough room for four with a luxurious environment and the highest level of refinement. Different elements of the car are worked by hand to achieve, a finish which was not seen before on any sports car.

The power mill of Rapide S is a massive 60-litre V12, 48 valves engine that delivers a whopping power output of 552 hp and peak torque of 630 Nm. The responsiveness and agility of the car are further granted through a Touchtronic III ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. This car tagged as the most beautiful four-door sports car clocks 100 kmph mark from naught in less than 5.0 seconds.

 

Market Reputation

 

The Rapide badging did not make a strong impact in the sports car segment but, after getting the S treatment in 2013, this four-door sports car started catching pace in terms of sales figure. Aston Martin Rapide S became popular among the people who like to have an adrenaline rush in the lap of luxury. We cannot say that Rapide S has become a hot seller for the company but, it is doing respectable business in different markets.

 

Our Take

 

For the ones who are looking to get a combination of sheer luxury and performance wrapped in extravagant styling, Aston Martin Rapide S is a perfect choice. Though the car is competent enough to give customers all the required features in the respective segment, the car’s higher price than its key competitors like Porsche Panamera and range-topping AMG built Merc pushes the customers to consider other options unless they are die-hard fans of the brand.

 So, this was the last post from CarBay in 2016. Hope we get to see a lot of new launches and some great innovations in the coming year. We wish you and your family a Happy New Year.