Price as Tested: $199,500
Aston Martin is known for super sports cars, most notably the DB series cars that have been featured in James Bond movies. The first car, a DB5, appeared in the 1964 film Goldfinger, and the more recent Aston Martin DBS scorched the screen in 2008's Quantum of Solace.
After building two-doors for 97 years, Aston Martin is taking its first stab at a four-door, with the 2011 Rapide. Recently, I had the opportunity to drive the Rapide at the only local dealer that carries this British brand, Lake Forest Sportscars in
Beauty and performance have always been hallmarks of the Aston Martin brand, and the Rapide is no exception. Though it has four doors, the Rapide is no less of a sports car than its DB9 and Vantage siblings. The rear doors are seamlessly integrated into the design and the look is nothing less than elegant. That's in stark contrast to another new entry in the four-door sports car market, the Porsche Panamera, which looks like a 911 with a glandular problem.
The differences between these two cars become readily apparent when you climb into the back seat. The Panamera has a roomy second row that could fit an NBA small forward, but the Rapide's rear seat is best left for children, and limber ones at that. The problem is Aston refused to forego structural stiffness in the name of comfort. Structural body elements limit the size of the rear door openings, meaning adults have to wiggle their way in.
While the front doesn't have the same issue, drivers still step down into the seats due to pronounced door sills that rise about five inches above the floor. Once inside, I found that the driver's footwell feels cramped and that rear visibility is limited due to thick rear pillars and a small rear window set at a sharp angle. In this instance, Aston chose beauty over practicality. So what if you can't see that well out of it, it looks cool!
The rear hatch area has a similar problem. The hatchback design allows for some useful rear cargo space, but the rear floor is two tiered, limiting its practicality. The raised portion of the floor is a boxed section that adds structural stiffness but robs cargo space. Still, you can probably fit a set of golf clubs back there, but probably not two.
Once seated behind the wheel, you also notice the quality of the interior, all of which was built by hand, not robots like most mainstream brands. The materials are of the highest quality, too, with soft leather, real wood and aluminum, and a synthetic suede called alcantara covering the surfaces. Want to know why this car costs $200K, the interior quality is a big part of it.
Another reason why this car commands such a premium is the built-in performance. All those compromises Aston wasn't willing to make in structural stiffness make it handle like a Aston's other highly capable sports cars. The overall feel is firm and responsive. The steering feel is heavy and diredt, the cornering attitude is flat, and road manners are planted and stable. I didn't get a chance to drive the Rapide on a racetrack or through twisty roads, but I'd love to and I'm sure it would be a joy.
Again, however, Aston didn't really consider comfort. The adjustable suspension feels stiff in the base setting and stiffer yet in sport mode. This is a great car to drive on smooth roads, but you'd probably grow weary of it after a few experiences with
Performance can also be found under the hood. The Rapide comes with a 4.7-liter V8 that produces 470 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The engine emits an authoritative purr that lets you know if means business. Step on it, and the Rapide will launch from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. While that is certainly fast, it's no faster than a new Mustang or Camaro V8, and those cars cost much, much less.
In the final analysis, the Rapide makes no apologies for what it is and doesn't compromise looks for those two extra doors. This is a true four-door sports car and a beautiful one at that.
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