Tag Archives: Rapide
4 Things We Should Expect From The 2019 Aston Martin Rapide AMR
The Aston Martin Rapide just got the AMR treatment, making it the most extreme four-door sedan in the market since its introduction in 2010. The Aston Martin Rapide AMR was first displayed as a concept car at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, but it is now produced with very few changes except that it gained extra horsepower.
Exterior
The production car is very similar to the concept car. There’s the same aggressive front grille with its larger-than-usual sports black honeycomb design. The bumper was revised and now includes a big carbon-fiber piece at the bottom. As far as the shape and size go, the engine remains the same but it now has larger cooling vents and accent stripes.
On the sides, the standard wheels have been replaced by 21-inch rims, which are finished in black and has a multi-spoke design and large, green-painted brake calipers.
Interior
Based on the concept car, the Rapide AMR is wrapped in carbon fiber and Alcantara leather. This is a first for Rapide. The seats have been replaced with bucket seats with integrated headrests, and have subtle “AMR” logos and AMR Lime or Galena Silver contrast stitching and stripes.
There’s a brand-new steering wheel, which is the same with the One-77 supercar. This is an option for the Rapide AMR. There are other features, including an AMR inspection plate and carbon-fiber door sills with “AMR” lettering.
Powertrain
The Rapide AMR just became the most powerful sedan in the Aston Martin lineup. The 6.0-liter V-12 engine can now produce 595 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The horsepower has an increase of 43 horses from the regular Rapide. The new AMR-treated Rapide also has larger inlet manifolds, which would benefit the need for enhanced airflow. The car can go 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds while top speed is at 203 to 205 mph.
Pricing
The Rapide AMR has a starting price of $240,000 in the U.S. That’s a $32,000 premium from the regular sedan but given the comprehensive upgrades and treatments, that price update should be okay. There will only be 210 units built worldwide, but it won’t be available to the Chinese and Russian market.
4 Things To Expect From The 2019 Aston Martin Rapide AMR
The Rapide is badly in need of a fresh upgrade or update from Aston Martin, but it looks like the luxury carmaker is focused on anything but that. Whether or not Aston Martin is actually working on a new Rapide remains to be a mystery, but what we’ve heard is that it’s getting a high-performance version, thanks to the AMR division.
Here’s what we think the Aston Martin Rapide AMR will look like:
1. Exterior
There will be carbon-fiber bumper inserts and large splitter on the revised bumper. This is what was seen on a test car spotted near the Nurburgring track. The revised bumper has AMR written over it with round foglamps, vented hood, and a revised grille. The side view is a mixture of AMR and standard production features. The side skirts are seen on the test car were similar to the concept model, but missing are the carbon-fiber mirror caps, the black fender strakes, and the black door handles.
Highlights of the rear end include an aero flip on the decklid, a revised bumper that’s not yet painted, and a new, more aggressive diffuser.
2. Interior
Expect the AMR version of the Rapide to carry the same design and features as the standard Rapide, except that there will be a few highlights—Dark Knight Alcantara on the dashboard, the seats, and the steering wheel, sports carbon-fiber seats, and a carbon-fiber center stack and console.
The sedan’s seats, dashboard, and door panels should have contrast stitching, depending on the exterior detailing of the Rapide. It should have bespoke graphics for its infotainment screen and instrument cluster.
3. Drivetrain
The Rapide AMR is set to be the most powerful version of this model. It should get the same naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V-12 machine that can produce 592 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. That’s a 40-horsepower jump from the regular Rapide. It should be able to reach 62 mph in just 4.3 seconds and top speed will be a whopping 210 mph.
4. Prices
The Rapide S is priced at $207,775 in the US. It’s safe to assume that the starting price for the Rapide AMR would be $250,000 before options.
Photos
Here are the spy shots of the Aston Martin Rapide AMR from autoevolution:
2016 Lagonda Taraf Made for the Rich and the Famous
Aston Martin has hand-built this $1-million Lagonda Taraf sedan that targets eccentric multi-billionaires who are willing to shell out that much money on a car that is less than the Mercedes-Maybach S600.
If you can remember the Aston Martin DB9 coupe and the Rapide sedan, then you will be familiar with the aluminum-intensive VH architecture where the 2016 Lagonda Taraf is built from. Basically, it’s the Rapide with a 7.9-inch wheelbase stretch and more formal roofline with carbon-fiber body panels.
The engine is a 540-hp version of the 6.0-liter V-12 that was used back in 1999 during the Ford-era of the Aston Martin. True to its roots, the V-12 is still built in the bespoke facility at Ford’s Niehl engine plant in Cologne, Germany. The engine is connected through a torque tube to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission mounted between the rear wheels.
As a result, the engine can peak at 6,650 rpm and has a peak torque of 465 lb/ft at 5,500 rpm. Since this is basically a DB9 and Rapide combined, the Taraf feels like an Aston Martin stretch limo. Drive wise, it doesn’t have that ultra-luxury feel that should come with a $1-million price tag.
Instead, the steering feels too lively while the engine’s too vocal. Also, the ride’s too firm and there’s too much road noise when driving. Coincidentally, the big Lagonda is an easier drive on the road than the Taraf. This is a surprise since the Lagonda tends to feel bulky and heavy.
The powertrain in the Taraf isn’t as impressive as when it was used in the DB9, but it still has that elastic, almost turbine-like surge of power reminiscent of the V-12. When handled, you can fill that the Taraf has a good grip with minimal roll and long wheelbase damps fore-aft pitching.
The interior, on the other hand, is typical Aston Martin. It has near-illegible instruments, console-mounted push-button transmission controls, and the Rube Goldberg infotainment interface. There’s also an HDD satnav system and 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen BeoSound audio system.