Aston Martin Rapide driven
We get behind the wheel of new four-door supercar - is this Aston's best ever car?
Possibly for the first time ever, our review of a new V12 engined supercar starts with the back seats. Butwhat else would you expect? As the firm’s first saloon in more than 30years, Aston Martin’s Rapide marks many new milestones, but the firstquestion to answer concerns the leather-trimmed chairs in the rear.
Accessedthrough trademark “scissor” hinged doors – they lift up slightly asthey swing open – the seats are mounted low to the floor, and whenviewed in profile, are no more than two inches thick.Getting inis not without its challenges, and if you are more than six feet tallyou will struggle to swing gracefully through the narrow door apertureand down into the bucket shaped squab.
Once settled, however, the Aston springs its first genuine surprise. The seats are comfortable, and spacious. At six foot three inches tall, I comfortably fitted behind our Aston test car’s chauffer.
There’sno doubting that there’s plenty of luxury on offer too. A largetransmission tunnel in the rear also provides a control panel fromwhich drivers can adjust the heated and cooled seats, and control the£139,500 car’s only optional extra – rear DVD screens.
On theroad, the ride feels firm but is never harsh. Body roll is wellcontrolled, and thanks to those race style front seats, which tapertoward the headrest, you get an incredible view of the road ahead.
Things promise to get even better behind the wheel.With an update of the firm’s bonded aluminium chassis, a newrear-subframe and revised suspension and brakes, the car’s 6.0-litreV12 engine offers 470bhp and a 0-62mph sprint of 5.3 seconds. Adaptivedampers, like those fitted to the DB9 coupé offer standard and stiffersport settings, and 20 inch alloy wheels at the front and rear promisemasses of grip.
But on top of the new chassis – and radicalinterior layout, there’s a third Rapide revelation… In that the car isactually built in a factory in Austria – and not at the firm’s GaydonHQ in the UK. Based on our test car, we would argue that this is thebest quality car Aston Martin has ever built.
But despite all ofthese radical changes Aston is keen to point out that the Rapide, likeall of the makers other cars in at its heart a sportscar.
The Rapide’s looks certainly help reinforce this. With a new face, the car evolves Aston’s well established design philosophy. Atthe front, there are new lights, and a “double deck” front grille.Smart vernts in the bonnet add a sporty touch, while chrome detailing,and carefully judged additions to the car’s smooth flanks help drawyour eye downward, making the Aston look like it rides even lower tothe road than it does.
From behind the wheel, the sportcarmessage is reinforced further still. The cabin layout shares much ofits look and feel with the DB9 – with dash-mounted buttons to selectforward and reverse gears. Steering wheel mounted paddlesallow drivers to cycle through ratios, while the firm’s jewel likeinstrument panel includes both digital and analogue displays.
Theengine is started by pushing a sapphire tipped “key” into thedashboard. The V12 engine spins quickly and smoothly before burstinginto life. Power delivery is smooth and even, with power building smoothly as the revs climb to the near 7,000rpm redline.
Poweris fed to the rear wheels and there’s a limited slip differential toimprove traction in tight turns. Impressively the steering is pin pointaccurate, and there is bags of feedback through the hydraulic powersteering system. But perhaps most impressive of all is the car’srefinement. Whisper quiet while crusing on the motorway, the car ridessmoothly over even the roughest road surfaces.
Brakes – weightsaving dual cast aluminium and iron items – offer impressive stoppingpower, as well as consistent performance under heavy use.
Addedtogether, all of this doesn’t just create a saloon that drives like asportscar, but helps set a new benchmark for Aston Martin’s cars. Thenew Rapide isn’t just a great four-seater, it’s the best car thecompany builds.
FIVE STARS
First opinion
After the V12 Vantage, we didn’t think Aston couldbuild a more exciting car to drive, but in the refined Rapide, the firmhas scored a direct hit. Easily the most accomplished driver’s car inthe makers range it also delivers impressive refinement andperformance. We were impressed by the practicality too, but this car’sknockout punch is the way in which it combines these two very differentcharacteristics in such a seamless fashion. Aston’s small but expertband of engineers should be proud of themselves.
