VIDEO: New Aston Martin Rapide Promo Films [Part 2]

As promised, Aston Martin released the second part of a new promotional series of films featuring the Rapide sports saloon. Called “True Power Should Be Shared”, it’s a more of an action-packed sequel, showing longer driving scenes and a spectacular fight sequence, as the story gets more substance. Still, this is no James Bond movie, although seeing and hearing the British four-door coupe kind of makes up for the lack of originality. Video available after the jump.

By Csaba Daradics

Via: Worldcarfans

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VIDEO: New Aston Martin Rapide Promo Films [Part 1]

As part of its first foray into the digital campaign medium, Aston Martin will release three new promotional videos, featuring the breathtaking Rapide four-door coupe. Filmed in Lisbon, Portugal, the video follows a group of “agents” commissioned by a mysterious person to deliver a precious package, without opening it. A very Ronin-ish plot, we know.

The introductory part is available after the jump, while the second and third clips will follow on January 19 and 26, respectively.

“We wanted to deliver a subtle but clever piece of branded entertainment. Something that mirrors the thrill of the drive. Intelligent, dramatic yet very exciting. It's an action-packed Aston Martin story in three parts, designed to entertain our audience. We're not hard selling, we're showcasing. After all it is the thinking man's (and woman's) performance car”, Film Director Donnie Masters from Serious Pictures said.

By Csaba Daradics

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Aston Martin Quietly Unwraps Rapide Luxe Special Edition

What's better than a sleek Aston Martin Rapide? No, not some German competitor, but the Rapide Luxe, a special edition version of the British sports saloon that quietly appeared on the automaker's official website.

Those expecting more power or even better handling are going to be disappointed, as the Rapide Luxe is all about trim and styling offering extra color options, new wheel designs, added standard content and a bespoke six-piece luggage set.

Customers can choose from a range of colors including the Concours Blue and Quantum Silver. The car rides on 20-inch alloys, just like the standard Rapide, but the wheels wrapped around in Bridgestone Potenza's feature a different, 20-spoke design with a polished finish.

Inside, the grain leather that covers almost everything can also be specified in colors from the Fast Track or Contemporary range, matching it to the exterior tones or even creating an interesting contrast. Other visual improvements include unique Rapide Luxe sill plates, main control switches with glass face and a secondary glass key.

Ventilated front and rear seats come as standard, alongside the Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system that features two 6.5-inch LCD screens, integrated into the back of front seat headrests and "optimally positioned at eye level".

The six-piece luggage set, made of course from the finest leather, can be ordered in the same Fast Track or Contemporary range of colors and consists of a small, two medium and a large hold-all, a beauty case and a garment bag.

Nothing has changed under the hood, so the 6.0-liter V12 continues to deliver 477 hp and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque allowing the Rapide Luxe to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 296 km/h or 184 mph.

For details on pricing, buyers will have to contact their local Aston Martin dealer.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Aston Martin , Via: Autoblog.nl

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Aston Martin to Race New Rapide at 24h of Nurburgring

Aston Martin has taken the wraps off the race-spec version of its new Rapide sports saloon with which it will compete in the Nürburgring 24-hour race on 15-16 May, 2010.

The British firm said that the Rapide race car will be very close to the production model with changes including the addition of essential race safety modifications, the removal of the interior trim to reduce weight and a retuned suspension. It will also run on slick tires designed for track use.

The Rapide racer will be driven by a team of engineers from the company's Gaydon headquarters in Warwickshire, lead by the company's CEO, Ulrich Bez who had this to say about the car:

"This race represents the ultimate final engineering durability test for any sports car – it subjects the car to the toughest possible assessment under public scrutiny. The Rapide has the capability to carry four people in comfort but first and foremost it is a sports car and we will subject it to the same tests we would our other sports cars."

The Rapide will be joined at the Nurburgring race track by a V12 Vantage which in 2009 won its class and finished in 21st place overall in its racing debut.

VIDEO: Aston Martin Shows off Rapide on the Roads of Valencia

If our recent gallery with 120 high-res photos of the all-new Aston Martin Rapide sports sedan left you wanting more, then you'll probably get a kick out of this fresh new video of the British firm's Porsche Panamera rival that was filmed during the media presentation in the city of Valencia in Spain earlier this month.

Aston Martin's four-door, high-performance sport saloon is powered solely by a mighty 6.0-liter V12 engine, the same one found in the DB9.

It produces a peak power of 477-horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, enough to propel the four-seater Rapide from zero to 60mph in 5.1 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 188mph or 303 km/h. Watch the Rapide in action in the video after the jump.

Photo Fest: Aston Martin Rapide Sports Saloon in 120 High-Res Images

When it comes to specialty cars like the Aston Martin Rapide, the more the photos the merrier. It's not as if most of us will ever have the opportunity to like or dislike the Rapide as an owner, so we might as well enjoy it from a reader's perspective.

And with 120 high-resolution photos of the British sports saloon in four different shades (Hardly Green, Magma Red, Quantum Silver and Silver Blonde) and in all kinds of poses and settings, we reckon that you'll feel pretty 'joyous' after you check out our gallery below.

Priced from of $199,950 in the States and from £139,950 (equal to US$219,500) in the UK, Aston Martin's first ever series-production sports saloon features a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 engine delivering 477-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 600 Nm or 443 lb-ft of peak torque at 5,000 rpm.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission with Aston announcing a 0-60 mph sprint time of 5.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds) and a top speed of 188 mph or 303 km/h.