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Video: Aston Martin Rapide spied in Kuwait
Before its official debut this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the four door Aston Martin Rapide has been caught on the roads of the oil rich country, Kuwait. The Rapide will be powered by the 6.0 Liter V12 lifted directly from the Aston Martin DB9 and will make the exact same 470 HP and 443 lb-ft of torque as Jams Bond’s sports car of choice.
Aston Martin Rapide caught in white
 
After being caught wearing a black while sitting in a parking lot, the Aston Martin Rapide has been caught in the nude, and let us tell you that it looks even better in white! We will most definitely see the car in a more official setting, when the four door Aston Martin makes its debut in Frankfurt this September. When it does hit the Auto Show circuit, the Rapide will be powered by the same 6.0 Liter V12 from the DB9, the power plant will still make the exact same 470 HP and 443 lb-ft of torque as in the DB badged Aston Martin. The engine will be connected to one of Aston’s Touchtronic automated manual transmission, which provides all of the easy to use features of an ordinary automatic transmission with race car inspired paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. You can expect to see James Bond taking the kids to football practice in an upcoming 007 feature, with the bad guys driving a Porsche Panamera as they battle for four door sports car supremacy. Aston Martin Rapide caught undisguised
Even if the English coachbuilder, Aston Martin, has started to pull back the curtain concealing their answer to Maerati’s Quattroporte. The Rapide sport sedan will not make its official debut until September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and go on sale early in 2010. Thanks to a very lucky Aston Martin enthusiast who caught the car completely undisguised in between test runs for sharing their discovery with us. Not much has been revealed about Aston’s new sport saloon, but one thing is for sure, compared to the other new arrival on the four door GT car market, Porsche’s Panamera, the Rapide wins our vote for most style. The Rapide will be powered by the same 6.0 Liter V12 from the DB9, despite the extra pair of doors, the power plant will still make the exact same 470 HP and 443 lb-ft of torque as in the DB badged Aston Martin. The engine will be connected to one of Aston’s Touchtronic automated manual transmission, which provides all of the easy to use features of an ordinary automatic transmission with racecar inspired paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. Aston Martin Rapide will only get the V12 engine
Ever sine it appeared over three years ago, there have been rumors of Aston Martin’s Rapide receiving V8 and hybrid versions, but as the sedan nears production, Aston is getting wise. The Rapide has always looked like a four-door DB9/DBS, and even Aston is pitching it for its DB9 customers who want a little more room; so now it’s not even going to bother giving the Rapide any other engine than the one from its coupe look-alikes. Marcel Beci, General Manager for Aston’s European operationstold Autotelegraaf, "There are no plans for the Rapide with a V8 engine. We build the Rapide with an engine, the V12 from the DB9." Beci would not confirm the power of the V12, but the 6.0-liter unit makes 470 hp in the DB9. We should expect at least that much power (the same engine makes 510 hp in the DBS) when the production car makes its first appearance in August at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Aston Martin Rapide caught testing at the Nurburgring
 After showing off the One-77 mockups, V12 Vantage, DBS Volante and Lagonda concept all in Geneva, Aston Martin had us forgetting about the Rapide. Maybe Aston hoped everyone was distracted long enough that it could take the sedan out to its Nurburgring test facilities for a little undisguised fun. Unfortunately from Aston, and fortunate for us, a spy photographer was there to catch the run around the ring. Although its not great surprise, the Rapide carries more than a passing resemblance to the DB9 and DBS, which will also share a chassis with the sedan. The Rapide will also likely share the 6.0-liter V12 with its coupe siblings. It should have at least 450 hp when the car hits the streets in 2010.
Aston Martin Rapide production version images leaked
AutoCar seems to have the jump on everyone, and has revealed today the first “official” images of the production version of the Aston Martin Rapide. The look of the car is a little toned down from the concept car, but still carries a lot of the spirit, and is definitely unmistakably Aston. The super-sedan will use its DB9 sibling for much of its mechanics. The Rapide will use a stretched version of the DB9’s platform and also its utilize the 6.0-liter V12 making between 480 - 500 hp. AutoCar puts the price at £140,000 (about $200,000 at direct current rates), which if true, puts the Rapide between the DB9 and the DBS in Aston’s lineup.
More on the Aston Martin Rapide
We’re still eagerly awaiting the Aston Martin Rapide, but before we see a production car, many questions still have to be answered. Here are some (but nowhere near all) answers. Production will begin next summer in Austria. The car will be made by the manufacturer Magna because Aston cannot currently does not have the capacity to build the sedan at its English home in Gayton. The car will keep its glass roof from the concept, but will possibly offer a long wheelbase version for more legroom (just like the BMW offering the Li on the 7-Series or Jaguar offering Vanden Plas for the XJ). We still expect the the car to borrow the 6.0-liter V12 from the DB9, possibly upgraded to 500 hp. What still remains a big mystery is the price. The range has could have the Rapide go for as little as the high $100,000 figures, or if rumors about Aston Martin going upmarket are true, the price could be as high as $400,000. We’re hoping that the decision to have Magna build the cars means the Rapide will have sufficient production numbers to keep the price (relatively) affordable.
2010 Aston Martin Rapide spotted almost uncovered
 It’s not a big surprise spy photographers caught the Aston Martin Rapide out testing almost uncovered. Aston should be about ready to release the car on the world at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and then have it in consumer hands by the end of the year. Just like the official renderings of the 2010 Rapide, this Aston looks like a DBS plus two doors. When we finally get our hands on this Porsche Panamera fighter, we expect a 6.0-liter V12 making 500 hp V12. This should be good for 0 to 60 mph times of under 5 seconds and a top speed above 180 mph.
2010 Aston Martin Rapide - another official rendering
Last month we saw an official rendering of the Aston Martin Rapide, and now Aston is back in the rendering game to reveal the back half of the Porsche Panamera and Lamborghini Estoque.  Aston’s sedan should be powered by a 6.0-liter 500 hp V12. When we last heard news about the Rapide, CAR reported pricing between £130,000-£150,000 (about $193,000-$223,000 at direct current rates) when it arrives in about a year. This would be a welcomed price compared to the rumors that Aston Martin is trying to go upmarket and make the Rapide cost as much as $400,000. Aston Martin Rapide official rendering
 Usually it’s the automotive press who makes the renderings of future cars, but this time Aston Martin made a rendering for the press. According to CAR Magazine, Aston dropped off an early Christmas gift and gave them its rendering of what the production Rapide will look like. There isn’t much of a difference from the concept. Minor things have changed such as the three-piece lower grille is now solid, the door mirrors are bigger, and there is a more pronounced crease for the doorline. Aston’s sedan should be powered by a 6.0-liter 500 hp V12. CAR is reporting that the Rapide should cost between £130,000-£150,000 (about $200,000-$230,000 at direct current rates) when it arrives in about a year. This would be a welcomed price compared to the rumors that Aston Martin is trying to go upmarket and make the Rapide cost as much as $400,000.
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