Frankfurt news: Aston Martin Rapide
The Rapide concept was unveiled all the way back in 2006 at Detroit, so we'd be lying if we said this was a sensational debut, but it's still nice to finally have the five-door Aston here in production guise.
What's all the fuss about?
The Rapide is only the second of a new breed of 'supersaloons' to emerge in production form (that's despite it actually being a hatchback). Following the Porsche Panamera, the Rapide offers a racier alternative to the luxury barge or premium SUV for deep-pocketed family buyers. It is expected Lamborghini will follow with something similar when the Estoque concept becomes a reality at a later date. Then Ferrari, perhaps?
Anything that stands out?
Nobody is claiming this is a full-blown luxury saloon - a pair of properly proportioned adults will find life in the back of the Rapide slightly difficult after a while - but an Aston with proper chairs in the back is something to get excited about. And it's got TVs in the front seats and a 301-litre boot, stretching to 750 with the seats down.
It might not break the design mould, but it will certainly please its driver: there's a 6.0-litre V12 under the bonnet generating 470bhp and driving the rear wheels. The 'swan wing' doors are a nice touch too: they swing slightly upwards to avoid scraping the bottom on low things.
When can I buy one?
From early next year, but you can order one now and it will be built at Aston's Graz factory in Austria, a place you can visit and have a team of experts guide you through the 2.5 million possible trim, paint and options combinations available. That's the type of thing someone spending circa-£150,000 on a saloon might expect.
Frankfurt news: Aston Martin Rapide pictures
