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Competition-spec Aston Martin Rapide for the Nürburgring 24-Hour race – Click above for high-res image gallery

Aston Martin announced its intent to race a lightly modified Rapide at this year’s Nürburgring 24-hour race, and what has to happen before that? Testing. Here is the black beauty with slicks and perspex windows caught measuring its mettle on that very track before doing the real thing in May.

The marque has taken class wins the last two years with its Vantage coupes, but it would still make for quite the hubbub if it pulls off the same in a 4-door hatch. All of a sudden, matte black as a production color really doesn’t seem so bad. Have a look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Spy Shots: Competition-spec Aston Martin Rapide spotted testing on ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin to field near-stock Rapide at Nürburgring 24

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Aston Martin Rapide Nürburgring racer – Click above for high-res image

Round-the-clock endurance races typically demand the participation of three or even four-man teams, taking shifts as the sun rises and falls on the circuit. The car they’re driving, though, doesn’t usually have the capacity to carry the entire team. But as if to emphasize once again the true sporting nature of its latest product, Aston Martin will be taking on the competition this year at the Nürburgring 24 in a damn-near-bone-stock Rapide.

In addition to its innumerable victories in Le Mans-class racing, Aston has had great success at the ‘Ring in the SP8 category, which it has won the past two years running. In fact last year, a V12 Vantage took the class win and placed 21st overall in the race, outshining a wide array of dedicated race machinery.

Like the V12 Vantage (which will also run this year’s event) the Rapide endurance racer will run with very few modifications, limited largely to the removal of interior trim, the addition of some mandatory safety equipment, and racing slicks mounted to a readjusted suspension. That’s about it. Aston chief Dr. Ulrich Bez will once again lead the team of factory drivers, and we’ll be watching on May 15-16 to see if the four-door can make it three-for-three. Full details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin to field near-stock Rapide at Nürburgring 24

Aston Martin to field near-stock Rapide at Nürburgring 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Aston Martin Rapide – Click above for high-res image gallery

The world’s best-looking four-door sedan beckoned us from Miami. Enticed, we boarded a jet and paid the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide a visit. Our task was to shuttle Aston Martin’s first four-sedan up the coast to Palm Beach – someone had to do it. Of course, we took the circuitous route and spent the day blissfully putting her through the paces as we leisurely motored our way north.

Why did the British automaker design a sedan – and what is hiding under its skin? What is it like to drive? How are those rear-seat accommodations? Most importantly, how does the Rapide measure up to the Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte? The answers and more after the jump…

Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is always ready for its close-up

First Drive: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is always ready for its close-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin Rapide shows its true colors

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2011 Aston Martin Rapide in Hardly Green – Click above for high-res image gallery

You might remember that we already posted quite a few photos of the Aston Martin Rapide, but apparently the British automaker thought that wasn’t enough. Dozens of new photos have been released of this fabulous four-door showing just about every detail and angle.

The photos also display the Rapide in a variety of colors. Feeling feisty? Check out the Rapide in Magma Red. Want something classically British? Go for Hardly Green. And if you’re in the mood for something more subdued, the Quantum Silver or Silver Blonde will surely do. You can view each of the colors in the high-res galleries below.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin Rapide shows its true colors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #156

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Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Editor Chris Paukert has apparently been bitten by the podcasting bug, and he once again joins Shunk and Roth for Episode #156 of the Autoblog Podcast. We dive right in to reminiscence about the recently finished Los Angeles Auto Show. Moving on from there, we talk about Audi’s new A7 Sportback and its extreme gorgeousness, as well as the new A8 and all its massive awesomeness. Speaking of awesomeness, Shunk thinks that the $199,950 Aston Martin Rapide is one very attractive four-place supercar. Going to the other end of the spectrum, rumors about Volkswagen’s upcoming Jetta replacement gets some head scratches from us before we moved on to prognosticating about a unibody Dodge Dakota replacement. We wrap up a chewy hour-and-forty-five minutes by addressing some of your questions and calling it a night.

Don’t forget to check out our colleagues at Joystiq and Engadget, and let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #156

Autoblog Podcast #156 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Rapide to start at $199,950 in the U.S.

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Aston Martin Rapide – Click above for high-res image gallery

A couple of days after announcing U.K. pricing for the the new Rapide, Aston Martin has now also priced the North American version of its slinky four-door. When Aston starts deliveries of its newest model next spring, U.S. customers will have to pony up a minimum of $199,950. Aston Martin dealers will doubtless provide clients with the opportunity to substantially elevate that price tag via costly personalization options. After all, when you’re dropping that kind of coin, you don’t want to see yourself coming and going all the time.

The Rapide will be the first Aston Martin produced outside of Great Britain once cars start rolling off the line in Graz, Austria. The special factory was set up in cooperation with Magna Steyr prior to the global financial collapse, back when the Gaydon factory that makes the other Astons was running at full capacity. In these post-meltdown days, the decision about where to produce the car may have been very different. If you have the means, your local dealer is taking orders now. Official press release available after the jump.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin Rapide to start at $199,950 in the U.S.

Aston Martin Rapide to start at $199,950 in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK

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Aston Martin Rapide – Click above for high-res image gallery

Aston Martin has finally hung a price tag on its long-awaited four door, the Rapide, in its U.K. home market. As you might reasonably expect, it won’t come cheap, starting at £139,950 or about $233,000 USD. Given pricing disparities between international markets, that’s not necessarily an indication of what the Rapide will command Stateside, but we note that the Rapide costs nearly twice what Porsche asks for its base Panamera – and over £40K ($66k USD) more than even the impossibly quick Panamera Turbo. Though the cars weren’t exactly designed as competitors, there’s little doubt that the two four-passenger sloping-roof models will be cross-shopped by interested parties, along with other quick luxocrats like the Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

For that £139,950 price tag, though, buyers will be getting a largely handmade and finely-crafted automobile powered by a 470-horsepower V12 engine. For what it’s worth, that’s 30 horses less than the Panamera Turbo, but it’s wrapped in less divisive sheetmetal and it’ll undoubtedly be far more exclusive.

Initial Rapide deliveries in Great Britain are expected to begin in the spring of 2010, but if you’re interested in having an example of your very own, you’d best queue up now. Check out the updated gallery with new high-res images of the 2011 Aston Martin Rapide below, and the official press release is after the jump.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK

Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin Rapide is ready for its close-up

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Aston Martin Rapide – Click above for high-res image gallery

It isn’t every day that Aston Martin comes out with a new car. And this isn’t one of them, because the production version of the Rapide four-door saloon came out over a month ago already. But considering that the British sportscar-maker got by – just fine, thank you very much – on what essentially boiled down to a two-car line-up for several years, we’ll gladly run with it a little longer. Because there are few cars on the road that are as sumptuously crafted or lustily styled as an Aston. And this is their first sedan in decades. So take a deep breath, poor yourself a dry martini, click on the thumbnails below, and take a stroll through the mega gallery of high-resolution images that Aston has released purely for your viewing enjoyment. We particularly like this one, which shows the high-dollar super saloon being used as an actual family car.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin Rapide is ready for its close-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Rapide – Click above to watch the video after the jump

After seeing the production Aston Martin Rapide at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, we’re pretty sure it’s one of the most attractive sedans ever produced. And now that we’ve seen the sleek looking sedan in motion, we’re 100 percent sure the Rapide is a winner.

Aston Martin has released a simply stunning video of the Rapide in various stages of development, from the skid pad to the Nurburgring, kicking off with a 50 second montage with just enough Rapide to keep us interested, then another 30 seconds in the garage. From there, the Rapide heads over to Germany for some hot-lapping, then the video crescendos at the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy for some powertrain development. Hit the jump to view the video for yourself, you’ll be happy you took the three minutes out of your day.

Continue reading VIDEO: Aston Martin releases new Rapide video chronicling development

VIDEO: Aston Martin releases new Rapide video chronicling development originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Rapide – click above image for hi-res gallery

First of all, does Aston Martin really need a Facebook page? Really? Is the brand actually helped by comments like this, “Aston Martins…the most sexy sports car ever manufactured;)sooo sexy even sexier in red!” We’re guessing no. Then again, Aston’s relentless pursuit of James Bond marketing hoopla (remember, in Fleming’s books, 007 typically drove Bentleys) does show that they like their cars in the public eye. Plus, social networking is the new black PR. And unlike a certain Honda, it seems that most Facebookers like the way that Aston Martins look.

Case in point: Aston has just dropped eleven pics of the long-anticipated four-door Rapide onto its Facebook profile. Granted, these are the same production pics we got with the press materials in Frankfurt, but still. Now they’re on Facebook, which we guess is the natural progression of things. Also, any of you find anything about the pictures a little off-putting? Like how the family in them just ain’t that British looking? In fact, they appear kinda more like a Scandinavian dream. Something’s just… off. Thanks to Christopher for the tip!

[Source: Facebook]

Aston Martin Rapide shows off its pretty self on Facebook originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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