If there’s a more exotic looking four-door on the planet, please let us know. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
The Rapide S’ 6.0-litre V12 is especially sonorous, although its more Roger Taylor’s I’m In Love With My Car than Freddie’s Bicycle Race. The sound is exhilarating, but everything else about this four-door sport coupe is completely over the top, so having a soundtrack to match is only fitting.
Just look at it. From one end to the other the Rapide is as long, low and lean as four-doors
Stunning lines from front to back. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
The original Rapide’s V12 made a not insignificant 470 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque resulting in a 5.3-second sprint from standstill to 100km/h and a top speed of 303 km/h (188.5 mph), but this was nevertheless bumped up to a much more satisfying 550 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque as part of the just noted
Elegant multi-spoke alloys join Aston’s classic front fender engine vent, resulting in wonderfully unique design details. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
At least as important, the new model made big gains in drivability thanks to smoother
The Rapide S’ minimalist taillights look as if they’re pulled right from the DB9. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Last year’s updates were all about the interior. Like this 2017 model, nothing notable was changed outside or below the skin, but the cabin received a completely new centre stack design. Its row of carryover circular gear selector buttons up top and big billet aluminum knobs just below should make repeat customers feel right at home while dazzling newcomers not yet familiar with such high levels of authenticity, but the replacement of the previous car’s myriad tiny buttons
Four butterfly doors open up to a comfortable, spacious interior. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Of note, the new centre stack was first applied to the Vanquish, and other than the entirely redesigned DB11’s interior is now brand-wide. Likewise, Aston’s much improved AMi III infotainment display continues to power upwards from the dash top upon startup, resulting in an amply sized 6.5-inch screen with wonderfully crisp, clear resolution and bright, colourful graphics. It takes care of the usual functions, from providing a very helpful backup camera with active guidelines to allowing route guidance from a particularly accurate Garmin-supplied navigation system,
The Rapide S’ leather-lined interior is over-the-top decadent. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
For those unfamiliar, V12s produce the best audio. Don’t get me wrong, as I love the rough and rumble growl of a well-toned American V8 and thrill at the sound of an overstressed inline-four or six getting wound out for all its worth, but they don’t come close to a sporting V12 at full song. I’ve driven plenty on offer, and must admit to enjoying the guttural throatiness of a Lamborghini almost as much as the higher pitched Ferrari’s shriek, but still there’s nothing quite like the calculated
We’ll be paying extra for mechanical gauges like these in the future. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
With so much torque available, takeoff from standstill is always short and very sweet, while each pull on the rightmost leather and metal finished paddle comes across as if the injected fuel is some sort of epinephrine shot to the heart. Achieving its claimed sprint times isn’t difficult, but take note that Aston bucks the current all-wheel drive trend by powering the rear wheels only, so respect must be taken if planning to unleash traction and stability controls. Likewise, the Rapide’s mostly epoxy resin bonded aluminum underpinnings make for a relatively lightweight 1,990-kilo (4,387-lb) curb weight considering all the luxury onboard, but
These digital horsepower and torque meters are plenty of fun. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Where the Rapide S is smoother and more refined than its two-door chassis donor is in the transmission, its Sport mode providing even greater response yet never harshness. The steering system and adaptive suspension combination is impressive too, its sharp sporting edge always ready for quick reaction yet still protective from the types of potentially jarring pavement imperfections that can cross paths during daily driving.
I
Aston added this more elegant centre stack last year. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
I recently mused about a similarly analogue set of gauges in another exotic coupe, questioning if one day we’ll be stepping up to pay considerably more for mechanical dials like we now do for sophisticated wristwatch complications, despite quartz being more reliable, durable and precise. Fully configurable colour TFT
The front seats are ideally supportive and plenty comfortable. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
There’s so much else to love about the Rapide S. The beautifully stitched leatherwork inside is otherworldly, the quality of all materials is beyond most anything else in its class, the attention to handcrafted detail is even better than some
Rear seat passengers will feel as pampered as those up front, although space isn’t quite as generous. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Someone of my five-foot-eight stature or slightly taller shouldn’t have a problem climbing in or getting comfortable, but it was never meant to replace your S-Class Pullman. Hence the reasoning behind a more fully proportioned Lagonda sport-luxury sedan, destined to replace the Rapide within a couple of years. Until that car arrives, consider the Rapide S an ultra-cool way to pick the kids up from school, even allowing longer cargo placed alongside when one of the rear seatbacks
This impressive rear console provides plenty of premium features like heated and cooled seats and climate controls. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Speaking of future product, I referenced Red Bull’s F1 team earlier due to the two organizations’ collaborative work on the Valkyrie supercar, but less is known of Aston’s all-electric RapidE. It was originally a concept developed in conjunction with an even more legendary F1 team’s engineering division, Williams, with full-scale production planned for right about now. Unfortunately the production partner, China’s LeEco, pulled out due to financial problems resulting from its work with floundering EV car builder Faraday Future, so instead Williams will help produce a small 155-unit run arriving in 2019. This should coincide with the launch
The cargo compartment is finished to perfection and quite accommodating. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Such steps are arguably important for the greenification of the world, but the thought of never hearing this V12’s song again are just too sad to contemplate. I’d recommend you put one of these into your road-going collection before it’s too late. This particular car’s $278,625 asking price includes everything but taxes, which will no doubt seem very fair after a few minutes behind the wheel. Nothing else with four doors feels quite as exotic, and few cars are as exclusive.
©(Copyright Canadian Auto Press)