Could the Rapide Concept Mark the Return of the Four-Door Aston?The North American International Auto Show is one of the first major
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| The Rapide Concept - think of it as a DB9 with four-doors. (Photo: Aston Martin) |
auto events of the year. It's a time when the world's automakers show off their latest designs, production cars, and unveil a surprise or two. The Aston Martin Rapide Concept, named after a 1960s Lagonda (Aston's defunct sedan marque), is definitely one of the latter. For the 2006 NAIAS, we were expecting this British boutique carmaker (wholly owned by Ford) to show up with the Volante (convertible) version of its Porsche 911-sized V8 Vantage, but instead we will get this - a beautiful four-door sports limousine.
The Rapide Concept is based off of Aston's very clever
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| Lagonda used to be a brand of its own, prior to Aston's purchase. Pictured here is a classic V12-powered Lagonda Rapide. (Photo: Aston Martin) |
VH (Vertical-Horizontal) aluminum monocoque chassis, an excellent example of the company's collective engineering genius. Through a series of replaceable cross-members, the modular chassis can adapt to different widths, lengths and heights to create a variety of different forms, from a four-passenger GT (DB9) and a compact two-seater (V8 Vantage), to this four-seat luxury limo. In order to accommodate four full-size passengers and their luggage in absolute comfort, the chassis takes the largest current V-H vehicle, the DB9, and stretches its wheelbase by 250 mm (9.8 inches).
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| We were expecting the Volante version of this car (V8 Vantage) for Detroit, but we got the Rapide instead. (Photo: Aston Martin) |
From these preliminary images, the Rapide is one of the most graceful four-door vehicles we've ever seen. Though it doesn't share a single panel with the DB9, it's remarkably similar in appearances, thanks to similar headlamps, the slender Aston grille, a long, low hood and the retention of the car's sleek, laid-back look. Many of the DB9's details have also remained, like the hidden door handles, alloy fuel filler cap, side fender vents and chromium hood accents. Super-thin side pillars, as well as a heavily-curved roofline, keep a coupe-like profile.
