2010 Aston Martin Rapide Review

2010 Aston Martin Rapide

Aston Martin's Rapide for 2010, is a 4-door sedan, is a first; the British-carmaker known for its luxury sports cars, has not offered a similar car since the Lagonda in the 1980s. The carmaker, desiring a change-up for its four-door sports cars, put different parts from its lineup into the Rapide. The Rapide hosts a V-12 motor with 470 horsepower joined to the DB9's six-speed tranny. It also hosts the same front doors, engine hood, door handles, and control arms in the DB9 as well.The Rapide waltzes into the four-door car segment and it's a competitor of the Mercedes Benz CLS and the Porsche Panamera. Unfortunately, it hosts more compromises than its competition when it comes to passenger space. Still, passengers in the rear seating area can still ride in considerable comfort.The Rapide is a 4-passenger car with rear cocooning seats divided by a long center console that flows from the vehicle's front to the vehicle's rear for a seamless integration. The car's blacked-out B-pillar exterior rests under the vehicle's side glass generating the illusion of a single piece.

2010 Aston Martin Rapide

 

Bodystyles: Sedan
Engines: 6.0L V-12
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Models: Rapide

The Rapide name is back after a long absence reaching back to Lagonda in the early 1960s. Will the Rapide outlast its predecessor's four-year lifespan? We're betting so.

The Interior of 2010 Aston Martin Rapide

 

The Rapide looks lovely from a multitude of angles and its taut, swept-back lines give it a hint of motion even when stationary. With lines echoing the automaker's sports coupes, this is every inch a real Aston.

Virtually every component inside the Rapide is simply beautiful to see and touch, with bespoke stitched leather lining nearly every surface, including the cupholders. The rear seats are a squeeze, but who cares? We don't.

The cool 2010 Aston Martin Rapide

Performance & Handling

The Rapide is a wonderful compromise of sport and comfort, with rocket-like acceleration from the 6.0-liter V-12 (with a soundtrack to match) and utter composure on the road. A five-way adjustable Bilstein suspension allows the perfect damper setting for a multitude of conditions, while the silky-smooth ZF-built Touchtronic2 transmission is right at home in the Rapide.

Safety

The 2010 Rapide includes dual-stage driver and passenger front airbags as standard, along with front-occupant side airbags and head protection airbags for both front and rear passengers. Stability and traction control are both standard.

EPA Fuel Economy

Rapide: 13 mpg city/19 mpg highway

• The sound. Oh, the sound…
• Compliant ride, despite sporty nature
• Interior trimming is top-notch
• Handling belies Rapide's size