Object of Desire: Aston Martin Rapide

Ben Oliver road tests the brand new Aston Martin Rapide – the coolest four-door, four-seat supercar of 2010

The Rapide and DB9 are most similar forward of the windscreen. There’s an aggressive new double-deck eggcrate grille, but the engine behind it is largely unchanged; a 6-litre V12 made by Ford in Cologne, making 470bhp.

The Rapide is 300mm longer than the DB9 and 59mm wider. Aston’s design director Marek Reichman insisted on the same single side-glass opening as the DB9, so although there is a pillar between front and rear doors, the Rapide has the world’s only glass-to-glass closure over the top of it. Close a door and there’s an impressive half-second of glass ballet as the windows – including the tiny front quarterlight – drop by varying amounts to ensure a precise seal.

Those in the front don’t have to compromise; here the cabin is largely unchanged and still gorgeous after six years. The biggest change is that the Rapide’s construction is entirely outsourced to Austrian firm Magna Steyr. But don’t worry; those Teutons haven’t gone and made it all perfect. It’s still obviously hand- made, with fabulous materials and detailing, but some reassuring Aston rattles too.

Pages