Published on : 02 September 20193 min reading time

At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin presented two new models, the Aston Martin Virage Coupe and the Aston Martin Virage Volante, equipped with a 6-litre V12 engine that develops 497 hp and a 6-speed Touchtronic II robotised transmission.

A four-door sports car, the Rapid redefines the concept of sports GT and positions itself as the British brand’s new showcase.

Recognizable at first sight, the Rapid takes on its additional doors. It represents a major innovation in the brand’s history and thus makes it possible to perpetuate its values with a new public. An exceptional sports coupé combining elegance and innovation, the Rapid is a versatile vehicle, an invitation to travel where emotion, comfort and passion are one.

It is said that the heart of a sports car is its engine; the Rapid does not deviate from this rule and is powered by the mythical 6.0L Aston Martin V12 engine. This all-alloy engine, equipped with 48 valves, has a displacement of 5935 cc. Each unit is assembled by hand at the Aston Martin factory in Cologne, Germany. Tuned and developed to provide both excellent performance and high level refinement, this block delivers a maximum power of 477 horsepower.

It allows the Rapid to reach 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 303 km/h.

These performances are to be compared with the work carried out by the engineers in order to propose an engine allowing a sustained pace as well as an instantaneous acceleration thanks to a relatively large torque (from 600 Nm to 5000 rpm). Power is transmitted to the rear wheels through a Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission, a six-speed gearbox positioned in the central rear position, offering driving comfort in Drive mode and striking responsiveness in Touchtronic Sport mode.

The power output is simply breath-taking, with the available energy reserve allowing the driver to continue to accelerate at any initial speed.

To achieve its results, the Rapid had to undergo an extensive two-year test program, during which it covered thousands of kilometres on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany. Intensive trials in hot and cold Siberian weather have been conducted in Sweden, Kuwait, the United States, Italy, Austria and Spain.

The Rapid not only embodies automotive elegance, but also the fluidity of its shapes reveals its extreme aerodynamic efficiency.

The integration of the rear spoiler into the tailgate increases stability at high speeds and contributes to the car’s handling on long journeys. Its road-optimised chassis is equally at home on winding roads, on steeper mountain passes or on fast roads.

The Rapid was entirely designed by the Aston Martin design studios in Gaydon, where an entire workshop was dedicated to it. Even if it is a four-door vehicle, the brand’s style is immediately recognizable. Its refined line and shapes reveal the attention and passion that the designers have put into its design.

The Rapid has a unique feature, the front and rear door windows are joined without intermediate pillars, which gives the car a seamless profile, similar to that of a two-door coupé.