ASTON MARTIN Rapide Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The first 4-door car Aston had produced after so many years, the Rapide was based on the Aston Martin DB9.

If you’re wondering why no coupes were released until 2010, the answer is simple. Ford owned Aston Martin and Jaguar, so they had to differentiate them somehow, as the vehicles they produced were pretty much the same, besides the exterior design and interior details.

However, when Ford was forced to sell Aston Martin due to financial reasons, things changed.

Compared to the DB9, the Rapide got an extra set of doors and a longer and wider wheelbase.

Known as brilliant touring cars, the excellent ride comfort and the punchy engine were hard to be beaten by any other car in the segment.

Fitted with a 6.0-liter V12 engine, the Rapide hid no less than 470 hp under its hood. On a sprint to 100 kph, the Rapide needed only 5 seconds.

Designed to be exclusivist, the Rapide was highly customisable in terms of both exterior and interior colors and accents.

Standard featured included 20-inch alloys, an adjustable suspension, bi-xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, automatic climate control, heated front and rear seats, leather upholstery, Bluetooth connectivity, a navigation system, a premium Band & Olufsen audio system and an USB audio jack.

Specific to coupes, the rear seats were not highly usable and probably better to be used for luggages than people.

However, nobody would buy a Rapide for the interior or the trunk space, but for the smoothness of the ride and the powerful engine that made it so fun and sophisticated.