Introduced in 2010, the Aston Martin Rapide isn't exactly fresh. Despite this, the British are in no hurry to replace the sedan, as no prototypes were spotted on public roads. However, Aston Martin just gave the Rapide the AMR treatment, thus creating its most extreme four-door sedan.

Previewed by a concept car displayed at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the Rapide AMR made it into production with very few changes. Aston Martin describes it as a vehicle that's "capable of comfortably transporting a team of race drivers to a circuit on the other side of a continent and then tackling the track when they get there," and needless to say, the sedan looks pretty cool in the AMR suit. As usual, the sedan also gained extra horsepower and will be built in limited numbers. Let's find out more about that in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Aston Martin Rapide AMR.

Aston Martin Rapide AMR Exterior

The production Rapide AMR is indeed very similar to the concept car. Up front, we can see the same aggressive front grille. Taken off the Vantage AMR Pro, it's larger than usual and sports a black honeycomb grille. The bumper was revised to include a big carbon-fiber piece at the bottom, including the splitter and accent stripe, as well as round daytime running lights inspired by the company's recent Zagato models.

The engine hood remains unchanged as far as shape and size go, but it gained larger cooling vents and an accent stripe. It's also made from carbon-fiber to save more weight. Onto the sides, we can see new strakes on the front fenders and redesigned side skirts with an accent stripe. The standard wheels were ditched in favor of 21-inch rims, a first for an Aston Martin. The wheels are finished in black and feature an intricate, multi-spoke design and mask large, green-painted brake calipers.

Around back, the sedan gained a carbon-fiber spoiler atop the deck lid, as well as an aggressive, carbon-fiber diffuser. The latter features accent stripes and includes a quad exhaust pipe layout. Aston Martin says that the AMR’s aerodynamics have been tuned to reduce lift while retaining a neutral balance.

Unlike the concept car, the production sedan is available in three design schemes. The Standard and Silhouette trims can be had in one of four colors, including Mariana Blue, Scintilla Silver, Lighting Silver, and Onyx Black. The difference is made when it comes to accent stripes. While Standard adds ARM Lime cues, the Silhouette deletes the accents and comes with a full-length contrasting stripe in either China Grey or Clubsport White. Finally, the Signature model pairs Stirling Green paint with Lime accents and a Lime stripe, as seen on the presentation car and the concept. This livery is inspired by the full-fledged AMR race cars.

Aston Martin Rapide AMR Interior

The interior of the Rapide AMR is also heavily based on the concept car. Both the center stack and console are made from carbon-fiber, while the seats are trimmed in Alcantara, a first for the Rapide. The seats are also different from the standard units, as the latter has been replaced with bucket seats with integrated headrests. They also feature subtle "AMR" logos and AMR Lime or Galena Silver contrast stitching and stripes.

A brand-new steering wheel based on the One-77 supercar is now offered as an option. Other unique features include an AMR inspection plate and carbon-fiber door sills with "AMR" lettering. In addition, customers have access to the company's bespoke Q division, so further personalization is possible.

Aston Martin Rapide AMR Performance

The AMR package isn’t just about the visuals. The upgrade adds a bit of oomph and makes the Rapide AMR the most powerful sedan to wear the Aston Martin badge. Motivation comes from the very familiar 6.0-liter V-12 engine, but while I initially thought that the naturally aspirated mill will be tuned to 592 horsepower and 465 pound-feet like the Zagato versions, the unit is a bit more powerful than that.

Specifically, Aston Martin increased output to 595 horsepower, a 43-horsepower increase over the regular Rapide. Torque remains unchanged at 465 pound-feet, a mild eight-pound-foot increase. Upgrades that add the extra oomph include larger inlet manifolds for enhanced airflow and an evolution of the cooling system used on the Vanquish S.

The sprint to 60 mph from a standing start takes 4.2 seconds in the AMR, two tenths quicker than the regular sedan. Top speed also increased from 203 to 205 mph.

Along with the power update, the Rapide AMR also gained a revised suspension that puts the car 0.4 inches closer to the ground. The three-stage dampers of the standard Rapide are still in the car, but they've been re-engineered for enhanced agility and dynamics.

The wheels are now wrapped in Michelin Super Sport tires, while stopping power comes from carbon-ceramic brakes as standard. The discs measure 15.7 inches up front and 14.1 inches to the rear. This is the first time when a Rapide gets carbon-ceramic brakes this big.

Aston Martin Rapide AMR Pricing

The Rapide AMR starts from $240,000 in the U.S., which accounts for a $32,000 premium over the regular sedan. That's a sizable increase, but it's far from surprising given the comprehensive upgrades and the fact that only 210 units will be built. The Rapide AMR will be available globally with the exception of China and Russia. Pricing will start from £194,950 in the U.K. and €229,950 in Germany. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Aston Martin Rapide AMR Competition

Porsche Panamera Turbo

Redesigned in 2017, the Porsche Panamera is among the most potent coupe-styled sedans available out there. Now sporting more 911-inspired features than ever, the second-generation Panamera is more luxurious on the inside too, with the higher trims more than capable to give the Rapide a run for its money. Unlike the Aston Martin, the Panamera is available with various drivetrains, including fuel-efficient V-6 engines and even a diesel and a hybrid. But if you're looking for performance, the Panamera Turbo is your best bet. Powered by a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 engine, this sedan comes with 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque on tap. Although inferior to the Rapide AMR in terms of horsepower, the Panamera Turbo is significantly quicker, needing only 3.6 seconds to hit 62 mph from a standing start. Its top speed is inferior though at "only" 190 mph. The Panamera also has pricing on its side, with the Turbo model retailing from $150,000 in the U.S.

Read our full review of the 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo.

Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe

Fresh for the 2019 model year, the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe blends styling features from both the AMG GT and the CLS in a spiced-up four-door coupe that's supposed to compete against the Rapide and the Panamera. Although it's interior is heavily based on the CLS, and it doesn't stand out in the lineup, it does come with acres of leather and Alcantara, as well as aluminum and carbon-fiber trim. The sporty steering wheel speaks volumes of its skill at the race track. The base model is no match for the Rapide AMR at only 450 horsepower and 568 pound-feet, but it's almost as quick with a 0-to-60 mph sprint of 4.4 seconds. More power comes from the GT63 trim, powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that's good for 577 horses and 553 pound-feet. In this setup, the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe needs only 3.3 clicks to hit 60 mph. Finally, the range-topping GT63 S model, which comes with 630 horsepower and 627 pound-feet, gets there in only 3.1 seconds. Top speed is inferior though at 195 mph. Pricing is not yet available, but the base model could retail from around $140,000, while the V-8 version could cost around $160,000 before options.

Read our full story on the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe.

Conclusion

With the fate of the Rapide rather uncertain -- there's been talk about Aston Martin killing off the sedan -- it's good to see that the British firm is including it in the AMR program. At least it's getting a proper sending into the history books. On the flipside, as attractive as it may be with the new features and the uprated engine, the Rapide AMR doesn't stand a chance against the Panamera Turbo and the V-8 versions of the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. But needless to say, it's an interesting vehicle for Aston Martin enthusiasts and limited-edition collectors.

References

Read our full review on the 2017 Aston Martin Rapide.

Read our full review on the 2017 Aston Martin Rapide AMR Concept.

Read more Aston Martin news.