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Aston Martin reportedly cancels electric RapidE amid money troubles

Aston Martin's first production-bound electric car won't be based on the Rapide after all, according to a recent report. The British firm allegedly canceled the RapidE project after several costly delays. British magazine Autocar learned from a source close to Aston Martin that it has consigned the sedan to the automotive attic to focus on ramping up production of the DBX, its first SUV. It's a hugely important model that will make or break the company's 2020 balance sheet. Other seemingly random projects like the ACH130 helicopter co-developed with Airbus are much less distracting because there's little substance to them; it's essentially just a nice interior and an eye-catching paint job. The RapidE, however, was a new car under a familiar body. Presented as "a truly historic step" that would pelt Aston into the world of electrification, it snubbed the Rapide's 6.0-liter V12 and instead offered drivers an electric powertrain with 610 horsepower and a 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The firm quoted a 200-mile driving range, which is on par with the Porsche Taycan's EPA rating, and a 4-second sprint to 60 mph, which is about as quick as a gasoline-burning Rapide. Development work began in 2015 with the help of LeEco, a Chinese tech giant-turned-electric car manufacturer founded by Jia Yueting, the man behind Faraday Future. Aston Martin chose to finish funding the project on its own after money trouble forced LeEco out. Williams Advanced Engineering provided its expertise, but Aston Martin had to foot the bill on its own, so the RapidE went from a low-volume model to a limited-edition sedan. Aston Martin planned to make 155 examples of the RapidE in a new facility located in St. Athan, Wales. Each one carried a price tag reading "on application," which is automaker-speak for "really expensive," and one was spoken for by James Bond. We reached out to the company to verify Autocar's report, but were told they couldn't comment on future product speculation. There's no word yet on what this means for the other electric cars Aston has in the pipeline, including two luxury sedans previewed by concepts and intended to revive the dormant Lagonda name in the early 2020s. Featured Gallery Aston Martin Rapide E:Auto Shanghai 2019 View 11 Photos Green Aston Martin Electric Sedan

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante caught out in the rain

We've had the pleasure of driving the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, with its 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 making an astonishing 715 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. The only drawback was not getting full exposure to the alpine air as we sped down the Autobahn. We've seen spy shots, though, of a DBS Superleggera Volante that could provide that experience, but it was still wearing camouflage. Now, our spy shooters have caught the convertible in testing, giving us a good look at the car. It was rainy as the car prowled around near the Nurburgring, so the convertible top was kept closed. It still looks sleek as all heck, with sheets of water dripping from its tires and aerodynamic bits, fallen leaves trapped in the grille. The convertible top maintains the tight and low roofline of the coupe, but it significantly shrinks the rear window. But that visibility issue would be eliminated with the top dropped. Under the hood and the rest of the sheetmetal, we expect this to maintain all the mechanical goodness and sporty prowess of its fixed-top stablemate. We're not sure when the official debut of the grand touring convertible will take place. We're hoping we'll have the chance to test it out before the fall leaves and drenching rains arrive in 2019. Related Video:

Aston Martin may have filed a trademark for a new logo [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Aston Martin did indeed file a trademark for the logo below, but company CEO Andy Palmer has confirmed it will be used for merchandise and won't replace the classic winged logo on cars. Here's Palmer's tweet: For those who reached out, we have no intention to remove/change the Aston Martin Wings.This logo is for merchandise https://t.co/iWdejAwO00 — Andy Palmer (@AndyatAston) January 23, 2017 "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours." Those words were spoken by Cary Elwes in the classic 1987 film The Princess Bride. Or, if you prefer, they were written by William Goldman in his book from 1973 by the same name. Either way, it doesn't matter. The point is, there aren't many things in this world that are perfect, and that have stood the test of time without alteration. The Aston Martin logo is one of those rare things. Apparently, Aston Martin filed a trademark application for a new logo. You can see it below. It's unclear where this design might make an appearance. If it's on pens, watches, or some other non-vehicular form, that's fine. If it's on the bonnet of a new supercar rolling down the line at Aston's plant in Gaydon, well... that's another matter entirely. Please, Aston Martin, your logo is perfect and has stood the test of time. Don't even think about changing it. Related Video: