ASTON Martin Rapide

• Source: Agencies
• [15:40 April 27 2009]
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ASTON Martin has announced that its highly anticipated Rapide has moved into the final stages of its development programme, on course for a public debut later this year, with the first customer cars due to be delivered in early 2010.

First revealed as a concept at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006, the Rapide is set to join a new brand of four-door sports tourers, with the Porsche Panamera debuting this week in Shanghai. As the luxury marques first true four-door production sports car, the new model is said to encapsulate the core values of the brand within an elegant, high-powered sports grand tourer, with four full-sized seats, and generous accommodation and luggage space .

The signature elements of Aston's design language translate to the four-door format, with key features such as the "swan wing" doors facilitating access to the two individual rear seats.

The Rapide will be powered by a version of the company's 6.0l V12 engine producing 350kW and 600Nm of torque. Built by hand at its engine facility in Cologne, the rear wheels are driven through a highly responsive Touchtronic gearbox. Performance figures have yet to be revealed.