RE: Aston's Rapide shows its metal
Wednesday 11th January 2006
Aston's Rapide shows its metal
New pics show Gaydon's four-seat GT
With the hustle, bustle and downright scrummage this week at the Detroit Motor Show around the Aston Martin Rapide, the company's new four-seat evolution of the much-feted DB9, it's been pretty tough for PH's snappers to get close enough to the car to take some decent shots. But here it is, in all its glory at the car's launch. Thanks are due to Nauman Farooq for his efforts.
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And here are the official photos from Aston Martin itself. Follow the links below for PH's story of the car's launch with all the technical details.
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Discussion
Rich...
it looks like I'm out-numbered as far as liking it BUT, looking at the photos again, it's weird how two shots from almost the same angle can make the car look quite different.
This one (the 'amateur' shot) I think makes the lines look perfectly ok (even if the car is long)
However, the official Aston one:
makes the lines look very odd and nowhere near as good.
This one (the 'amateur' shot) I think makes the lines look perfectly ok (even if the car is long)
However, the official Aston one:
makes the lines look very odd and nowhere near as good.
Regarding looks, you have to compare it to other four doors though, not just the db9 and other coupes.
In this context e.g. compared to the 4 dour maserati and M5 I think it looks much better.
But granted the db9 makes it look ungainly, but what four door do you know that looks better than it's coupe counter part though?
Here's a list that certainly don't:
Lancia Beta
Nissan Skyline
Peugeot 406
Jaguar XJ6
and so on....
In this context e.g. compared to the 4 dour maserati and M5 I think it looks much better.
But granted the db9 makes it look ungainly, but what four door do you know that looks better than it's coupe counter part though?
Here's a list that certainly don't:
Lancia Beta
Nissan Skyline
Peugeot 406
Jaguar XJ6
and so on....
Rich... 
I think the major failure is the very poor apparent ingress/egress to the back seats. The rear doors aren't long enough to accomodate someone over 35cm tall.
If you need a sedan to drag a family around, then this car isn't going to be very practical. If you don't need one, then why bother?
If you need a sedan to drag a family around, then this car isn't going to be very practical. If you don't need one, then why bother?
I am the only one who thinks Aston is getting a bit staid? Since the DB7 there's been no real stylistic innovations. I mean they're all beautiful cars, particularly the AMV8, but do any of you remember that episode of Top Gear where they had the Vanquish, DB9 and V8 in the studio together, they're all clones of each other! Dunno, but it seems that Aston's taking the easy street here... Having said that i'm sure it'll be a great driver's car and it definately looks better than that CLS thing!
runnersp...yes, you're right...but when you've got perfection why mess???
Me? I like it - IMHO you don't compare to the DB9, compare to the M5 / Quattroporte / CLS / Flying Spur / Panamera / XJR
...in whose company it looks rather good!
Yes, the wheelbase DOES look too long (but is it really any longer than Flying Spur or CLS...it's just a sleeker design), and the rear-headroom won't be class-leading (but I don't think it'll be as cramped in there as people think), but overall it IS a very nice design...and if you want a fast 4-door 4-seat car with style, presence and handling, which would you rather from the above list, assuming you have £100k+???
Me? I like it - IMHO you don't compare to the DB9, compare to the M5 / Quattroporte / CLS / Flying Spur / Panamera / XJR
...in whose company it looks rather good!
Yes, the wheelbase DOES look too long (but is it really any longer than Flying Spur or CLS...it's just a sleeker design), and the rear-headroom won't be class-leading (but I don't think it'll be as cramped in there as people think), but overall it IS a very nice design...and if you want a fast 4-door 4-seat car with style, presence and handling, which would you rather from the above list, assuming you have £100k+???
havoc said:
if you want a fast 4-door 4-seat car with style, presence and handling, which would you rather from the above list, assuming you have £100k+???
Me, I'd take the Quattroporte, but then again i've always been in for the oddball choice, plus its italian... Other than that then the Rapide is probably going to be the class of the field.
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