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Following rave reviews of the Rapide concept, AM announced in 2007
that the Rapide would make production by late in 2009. In the
intervening two years, the Rapide was frequently spotted testing both
on the roads around Gaydon and on the Nürburgring; videos were posted
on the web by many people. What is of great interest is that the
Rapide is the first Aston production to be built outside of the UK. A
deal was made by AM with Magna Steyr to build the Rapide in a
specialist facility in Graz, Austria, based on Gaydon and known as the
Aston Martin Rapide Plant (AMRP). The AMRP is capable of producing
around 2000 Rapide annually.
By early 2009, AM made available some new photographs that show what
the Rapide production car will actually look like. It had certainly
evolved from the concept, no longer just a stretched DB9, the Rapide
had developed a look of it's very own. Indeed the Rapide didn't share
any panels with the DB9 whatsoever. The headlights were larger than
the DB9 extending further back along the wings and had V8 Vantage
style integral LED indicators. A crease line extended along the doors
beginning at the side strakes in a fashion seen on the V8 Vantage.
The production ready Rapide was eventually unveiled in September 2009
at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show with production starting shortly
afterwards. Early production cars appeared at dealers during launch
events in the early spring 2010 with customers taking delivery of cars
from April 2010. The Rapide was the first 4 door Aston Martin since
the William Towns styled AM Lagonda which ceased production in 1989.
Although not badged as a Lagonda, the Rapide is certainly a true
descendant of both the DB4 based Lagonda Rapide of the 1960's and V8
powered wedge Lagonda from the 1970's and 80's.
Some photos on this page were taken at the Geneva Salon 2010 and show
the car in the new paint finish of Silver Blonde. Others show a US
demonstrator in Morning Frost White at the 2010 AMOC Lime Rock
meeting. |
