Elegance. That one word will tell you everything you need to know about the New Aston Martin Rapide S . We’ll admit, we’re not aficionados when it comes to sports cars, but we can say with reasonable certainty that no other manufacturer can combine both gentleness and ferocity under the same hood without compromising on either. That’s what makes the new Rapide so special. Even the layman can tell you that this feels like more than a sports car. It packs the comfort of your family sedan and the roaring power of a 6 litre V12 engine making it perfect for both everyday driving and weekend fun.
One would assume that a vehicle with such power would be hard to handle. We felt the opposite. The steering response was beautifully smooth and handled turns incredibly well. Gear shifts can be done with the push of a button, probably our favourite part about this car. It can go from 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds without breaking a sweat and achieve a top speed of 200 mph, thanks to the 550 hp hiding under the hood and the 8 speed automatic transmission.
We were also impressed by the amount of craftsmanship used in creating this vehicle. The attention to detail on the interiors is nothing short of incredible. Everything is hand made and it is very noticeable. Aston Martin has maintained its classic interior décor similar to the previous Rapide. Everything is a beautiful beige, from the leather seats to the steering wheel which creates a regal setting while maintaining simplicity in design. The exterior is overwhelmingly reminiscent of the Vanquish, especially the hood and headlights, although the grille is much larger in the Rapide. It’ll definitely turn quite a few heads.
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The vehicle is spacious enough for a grand tourer and can seat up to 4 people comfortably. That being said, we would have loved it a lot more as a two seater. It’s the way sports cars are supposed to be, at least in our opinion. Anything with a V12 engine deserves that. That doesn’t make us love this machine any less though. We understand what the designers were trying to do here.
They were aiming for subtlety and they achieved it. It’s not ostentatious by any means. This is not a car for a brash teenager. It’s meant for a more refined and mature audience who want power without the pretentiousness.
To conclude, its definitely worth the money if you can shell out the steep starting price of 225,000 $. One day in this car just isn’t enough. Trust us when we say this, you’ll keep coming back for more.
Author : Rohit, Driveaholic
Photography & Videography : Chris Johnson, Driveaholic
