Aston Martin Rapide: New Photos of Production Model

New photos of the production version of Aston Martin's Rapide sport sedan have been leaked into the web. The crew over at Autocar that released the pictures claim that Aston Martin's Porsche Panamera rival will be revealed this autumn, most likely at the 2009 Frankfurt Show in Germany. The allegedly official, computer generated images show that not much has changed in terms of design from the 2006 Detroit show Rapide concept.

The most noticeable changes concern the stronger crease that runs from the front wing vent through both doors, the redesigned front apron that does away with the side vents and the restyled rear-bumper.

The four-seater British sports saloon is based on a stretched version of the DB9's platform with power coming from a 6.0-liter V12 engine generating around 500HP. The Rapide will be the first car in the marque's history to be built out of Britain as production will be carried out by Magna Steyr at the firm's Austrian plant in Graz.

Via: Autocar

Aston Martin Rapide Sports Sedan: First Official Rendering?

With all the hype surrounding the brand-new Panamera, someone was bound to dig up something new on one of Porsche's chief rivals in the four-door sports saloon segment. That someone is Car Magazine and the rival is the long-awaited Aston Martin Rapide. The British mag supports that it has obtained the first official image of the production car in the form of a computer-generated rendering. If we are to believe the magazine's claims, then not much has changed from the concept that was unveiled to the world at the 2006 Detroit auto show.

Put the concept images and the rendering side by side and you'll find a few subtle tweaks like the absence of the secondary air intakes, the larger exterior mirrors and the stronger crease that runs from the front wing vent through both doors, but other than that, nothing important.

The Aston Martin Rapide that will be offered with a 6.0-liter V12 engine developing around 500HP is slated to be introduced in early 2009 with first deliveries expected in early 2010. It will be the first Aston to be built outside Britain with production to be carried out by Magna Steyr at the company's plant in Graz, Austria.

Via: Carmagazine