Some people might wonder why Aston Martin needs a four-door car. One of the goals with it is to enhance the brand's year-round appeal, according to Beth Paretta, an operations manager for Aston Martin North America. It's a “car that [customers will] use more than as just a Sunday-driver," she said.
One car that instantly comes to mind when considering the Rapide is Porsche's new Panamera four-door hatchback, but I like the Aston's styling much better. Whereas the Panamera tries to pull off a stretched-911 look, the Rapide retains the low-slung design and sleek lines of the automaker's sports cars. Even though it looks like a sedan in profile — albeit a sporty one — the Rapide is actually a hatchback like the Panamera; its rear decklid and rear window open as a unit.
The Rapide's doors rise upward slightly as you open them, which is a cool trick, but the cockpit is pretty snug; front legroom is adequate, but the car's low roofline comes really close to your head. The two-person backseat is tight for taller adults, especially in terms of legroom. It's much less roomy overall than the Panamera's backseat. Both cars have a center console that separates rear passengers, but the Rapide's is much larger.
If you've just hit the jackpot in Vegas and want to put a Rapide in your garage it won't be as easy as finding your nearest Aston Martin dealer. Customers will have to order their Rapide, according to Paretta, though demonstration models will be available at dealerships for test drives. Delayed gratification is such a drag.
Besides its good looks and performance potential, exclusivity will be a key selling point for the Rapide. I've already spotted a Panamera in the downtown Chicago parking garage we frequent with test cars, but I suspect it's going to be some time before I see a Rapide parked there, if ever.
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