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Aston Martin’s first four-door sports car, the Rapide, has been snapped exclusively by Autocar in our studio. The car is set to star at the Frankfurt motor show having been first shown as a concept in 2006.

Fitted with a hand-built 6-litre V12 the Rapide’s 470 bhp peak power is delivered at 6000 rpm and 443 lb ft peak torque at 5000 rpm.

See the high-res Aston Rapide gallery picture galleryRead the full article

If they ever close Guatanamo detention camp and need a place for torture they could do worse than the back seat of a four door Aston Martin, plus sensory deprivation. 

What a shockingly dull piece of styling this is.  Aston seems to think it achieved some sort of design perfection with the DB9, as Porsche does with the 911. 

In both cases they are wrong, but at least the Panamera is funny. 

It does look like the rest of the aston range but who cares when they all look so drop dead sexy!

What's up with all these new 4 door sports cars? AMG E-class not good enough for some?

Those rear seats look horrible and hard to sit on. Gimmie a big comfy E-class ANYDAY!

Love Astons?  Buy a DB9.  Occasionally need a full four seater? then with some of the savings you made buying a DB9 over the Rapide, buy a Skoda Superb.

Love Porsches? buy a Cayman S.  Occasionally need a full four seater? (etc)...

 

Hate to say it, but I actually agree with Topkat on this.

This is certainly the most resolved of all the current 4 seat supercards that are being introduced, but surely if you are a millionaire you keep your DB9/Continental GT to go to the golf club and ferry the footballers wife and kids around in a Range Rover?

There is just not enough room in the back of these vehicles to tempt the limo/wedding car market!

CLS 63 crushes this, save yourself a bucket of money and buy a Merc.

The DB9 design is starting to get boring now, Aston Martin need to design somthing new to keep there car fresh. They already used the DB9 template with the DBS and now this and the v8 vantage.. I would save myself a hell of a lot of money and buy a S320 cdi Merc, will be a better car to drive and to live with

 

Well I must be slightly strange, as I like it, have not got the funds to buy one, but can live in hope.

Certainly better looking than the Porsche version, and whilst a new Range Rover can carry four / five in comfort and style, there is just something about having an Aston. Most buyers will have other suitable cars for carrying people as well, its most unlikely to be their only form of transport!!

 

I'll take one in black. Right now.

Lost something in translation between concept and production...maybe it's the colour of this blue one but it looks surprisingly dumpy, and the grille looks naff. shame!

michael knight:

Lost something in translation between concept and production...

Definately. It looked stunning before. This just looks dull. 

Maybe its the wheels and/or lighting?