2003 Rwd Silver Black Coupe V12 Auto Automatic Premium Audio Heated on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Aston Martin proves the battery-electric Rapide E prototype can drive

On April 2, 2015, we wrote a report detailing an electric version of Aston Martin's Rapide sedan that could launch in two-to-three years. Today, January 25, 2019, we are here to post a video of the electric Rapide E prototype driving on its own for the first time. Chalk that long wait up to Aston's high bar of making it feel like a V12, the fact that it's Aston's first EV, and the company's thorough testing regimen. President and CEO of Aston Martin Andy Palmer took to Twitter to share with his followers "a moment of Aston Martin history." The video showed the first validation prototype of the Rapide E, the electric variant of the four-door performance car, moving under its own power. This was no Tesla Roadster warehouse video showing its incredible performance. It was simply the first footage of the Rapide E in slow action in a parking lot. ....and by coincident on 21/01/2019, at 8:14pm, another piece of @astonmartin history was made...... but quite what will remain a tightly held secret for now — Andy Palmer (@AndyatAston) January 21, 2019 This past September, Aston Martin officially announced it would build a limited run of 155 examples of the Rapide E. Co-developed with Williams Advanced Engineering, the Rapide E uses two electric motors to make 610 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque. It has a top speed of 155 mph and can do 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Its WLTP range target is said to be over 200 miles, and an hour of charging is good for 185 miles, using a 400V, 50-kW charger. Aston says the car's 800V battery system can also be charged with a 100-kW+ charger at a rate of over 5 miles per minute. In addition to the video, Palmer commented that a second mark of Aston history occurred, but that it will remain a "tightly held secret for now." Expect the first Rapide Es to launch in the fourth quarter of 2019. Related Video:

Why yes, my $3.6 million would go to a new 007 Aston Martin DB5

Funniest damn thing happened today. Turns out my grandfather invested in what he thought was a fruit company in the early 1980s, and 35 years later, we just discovered the Riswicks are all now multi-millionaires. That farmer Jobs guy really knew his orchard. So, what to do with my $3.6 million share. What's that you say? Aston Martin has announced it will be producing 28 new "continuation" 1964 DB5's, all in Silver Birch, and all packing vintage Q Brand gadgets from Goldfinger? Oh, well all of the money will be going to that, then. Now, Mr. Okulski over at the Road & Track would argue that the continuation James Bond DB5 has "killed nostalgia." He says that "it feels wrong," that Aston Martin is doing too much good stuff at the moment to resort to such nostalgia plays. Especially when you cannot drive the continuation DB5 on the road. That's right, every one of them is not road legal. In this country, or any other that you'd realistically want to drive a DB5. I reached out to Aston Martin to confirm why this is, and indeed, governments the world over frown upon any vehicle that possesses spinning tire shredders that extend out from the wheel hubs. Not to mention oil slicks, rotating number plates and the rest of the gadgets to be installed over the course of the estimated 3,000-hour build by the team headed by current Bond special effect guru Chris Corbould. Hmm, no kidding. Even without the guns and ejector seat, trying to make it road legal would be completely and unrealistically complex. In other words, if a DB5 with all the gadgets is to exist, it can't drive on public roads. And if you want a "new" 1964 DB5, don't you automatically want it in Silver Birch and packed with James Bond gadgets? Yes, you damn well do. I know this, because if I could outfit my BMW Z3 in Atlanta Blue with stinger missiles, a parachute and "all-points radar," I damn well would. I absolutely, 100 percent own my car because of nostalgia for GoldenEye, and I won't apologize for it. The Tina Turner theme song is cued up on the iPod. And yeah, I'd buy one of these, too. Now, I must admit that the DB5's road illegality is lame. But let's dig deeper. First, let's face the fact that most multimillion-dollar collector cars are driven less than the potted plants in my living room. They could all be road illegal and it wouldn't matter. If they're lucky, they're trailered to a golf course somewhere and driven slowly around the 18th fairway by a man in a jaunty hat.

Aston Martin DB9 successor spied, may be called DB11

This is by far our best look yet at the car that will replace the long-serving Aston Martin DB9. Previous photos of the grand tourer have consisted of mules based on the current car, but here we get our first taste of a model wearing its production skin. Despite the heavy camouflage, the DB9 successor looks to borrow its styling from the Aston Martin DB10, which will feature in the latest James Bond film. Considering this, it's not surprising that our spies report the new GT will wear the DB11 moniker. While the headlights look somewhat like the current Vantage, it's a fair bet that they'll bear more of a resemblance to the DB10 when the production model arrives. The grille sits lower than on current models, although, unlike 007's Aston, it does have an independent lower grille. It's hard to discern much from the rear of the car, though, owing to the fake taillights and heavy camouflaging on the rear hatch. That, thankfully, isn't an issue in the car's profile. Despite the heavy camo, we can see a suitably large set of haunches and the brand's trademark side grille. Expect Aston to continue using swan wing doors, judging by the shape of the units spied on this prototype, while we predict a larger greenhouse than seen here, owing to the camo over the quarter window. The partnership between Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG will bear production fruit with the so-called DB11, as our spies report the new Brit will be available with the same 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 being offered in the AMG GT. Don't fret purists – Aston's 6.0-liter V12 will also be on offer. We're fairly convinced Britain will sink into the ocean before Gaydon abandons the venerable 12-cylinder. Have a look at the latest round of spy photos and let us know what you think of Aston Martin's work so far. Related Video: