Finally, we can now show you pictures of a completely uncovered Aston Martin Rapide, thanks to photographer Simon Gregg. Gregg submitted the photos to the good folks at CAR Online, who quickly posted the pics online.
Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman once said, "We wanted to make the most beautiful four-door sports car in the world." The British automaker seems to have come very close to achieving their goal.
Although the car is not expected to be introduced to the public until September's Frankfurt Motor Show, these photos show a car that will be stiff competition with rival Porsche. The $89,000 to $132,600 Porsche Panamera luxury sports car was recently introduced to the public with a 3.6 liter six cylinder generating 300 hp, a 400 horsepower 4.8 liter V8 engine, and a 500 hp turbocharged V8.
Aston Martin Rapide caught undisguised in parking lot
Geneva Motor Show 2009 Preview: Aston Martin DBS Volante the ultimate in alfresco 12-cylinder motoring
Thanks to the embargo-breaking crew at World Car Fans, we can finally give up the details on the 2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante. The drop-top version of Bond's uber-Aston features a fabric roof that can be retracted in 14 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph and supposedly looks just as good with the top up as the top down. Motivation is provided by the same 6.0-liter V12 found in the standard DBS, putting out 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque to a rear-mounted six-speed manual or "Touchtronic" sequential gearbox. The run to 62 mph is dispatched in a scant 4.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 191 mph. Aston says it was able to keep the weight down (the DBS Volante tips the scales at 3,990 pounds) through the use of a lightweight roof mechanism, along with a carbon fiber hood, front splitter and trunk lid. The standard carbon ceramic brakes – pulled directly from the fixed-roof DBS – reduce unsprung weight at all four corners and provide the neck-punishing stopping power you'd expect. We'll get our first look of the DBS Volante at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but in the meantime, get all the details in the press release below the fold.
Aston Martin Vantage get power upgrade
So you bought an Aston Martin V8 Vantage with a 4.3 litre engine, not knowing the company would soon offer a stronger 4.7 litre engine down the line. And now you're feeling a bit inadequate. Well, good news for you.
Owners of a 4.3 Vantage are getting a new performance option. AM is making available a 20 horsepower upgrade to the engine in the form of a retro-fit induction system based on a similar unit in the DBS.
This system has two switching airbox-valves which open up at 5,500rpm to give an increase in air intake to the engine. To keep combustion under control, the engine ECU has been reprogrammed to improve ignition timing. These changes let the car better utilize high octane fuel, getting better overall performance.
