First Rapide leaving the Aston Martin assembly line

The first four-door Rapide sports cars are leaving the Aston Martin Rapide Plant (AMRP). After months of wait the customers will finally have the chance to get their Rapide, in what should become a new chapter of Aston Martin’s modern era.

The Rapide received a warm reception from customers and the media and over the next weeks it will reach Aston Martin’s 125 showrooms in 34 countries.

In 2006 the Rapide was presented as a concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show. After a successful debut it received green light from Aston Martin’s new shareholders in mid-2007 after the sale of the brand by the Ford Motor Company. Over the last two years Aston Martin’s design and engineering teams have worked on the Rapide to deliver a new car from the ground up.

Together with its partner Magna Steyr Aston Martin has also created a state of the art facility to handle the Rapide the same standards set by the marque’s model line-up at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The result is a combination between the very latest technology with time-honoured craftsmanship.

The AMRP was created to become a centre of automotive excellence. From the preparation of Rapide’s bonded aluminium body frame, to the painstaking six-stage painting process where nine coats of paint are applied making Aston Martin’s paint finish the best in class and to the trim shop where highly-skilled craftspeople shape and stitch 10 of the finest leather hides to create the Rapide’s magnificently upholstered interior. Every detail was thought carefully to keep the quality that Aston Martin’s customers are used to.

The production vehicle was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009. The Aston Martin received worldwide approval thanks to its performance, high levels of craftsmanship and elegant design.

The Rapide is a luxurious and functional vehicle that offers enough space for up to four adults. The luggage compartment is also another feature of the Rapide. The 301 litre of available space gives the Rapide enough room for four passengers’ belongings, creating an Aston Martin that can be enjoyed on any occasion, anytime, anywhere.

A hand-built 6.0-litre V12 engine powers the Aston Martin Rapide. It delivers effortlessly an output of 477 PS, at 6,000 rpm, and peak torque of 600 Nm at 5000 rpm. The engine is combined with a specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission, which allows the driver to change gear automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted magnesium paddles.

The Aston Martin Rapide is now available for sale through the brand’s global dealership network.