Car Throttle

The Nurburgring 24 Hours Race is coming up, and manufacturers eager to prove their supercars are lining up. Lexus is entering the LFA, and Aston Martin recently announced that its four-door supercar, the Rapide, would be taking part as well. A four door, in an endurance race? Not something you see every day. There will be minimal changes in order to compete, with the Rapide race car being as close to production standard as possible. Aston says there will only be “essential race safety modifications” that include removing interior trim to reduce weight, a re-tuned suspension and tires designed for track use. Ahead of that debut next month, Autoblog has obtained photos of the Rapide seen testing on the Nurburgring, caught with Perspex windows and wearing

Aston Martin is a brand on a renaissance lately, producing some of its best products ever. Ironic then that lately, the Aston Martin (if you can call it that) we've been hearing about most is the Cygnet minicar, based on the Toyota iQ. Its good to talk about real Aston Martins for a change - and the Rapide definitely qualifies as one. To prove its mettle, Aston Martin has announced the Rapide's entrance into a 24-hour endurance race at the Nurburgring. The Nurburgring is one of the world's best and toughest tracks, where automakers go to hone their vehicles' handling. An endurance race is quite a different thing however - and Aston Martin is no stranger to competing. Aston Martin has one the SP8 category of the ADAC

With the Geneva Auto Show introductions coming out and other automotive news happening at a quick rate, Aston Martin is looking to keep the Rapide in the news. Last week, new driving footage came out and now new images are being released, joining Lotus and its picture drop on the Evora. The Rapide is a stunning vehicle, and it comes across even better in these photos. New wallpaper? Oh yeah.

The Aston Martin Rapide is one of our favorite cars here at CarThrottle, and so is the entire Aston Martin range really. Last year at this time the car still wasn't officially unveiled yet, with the information drop coming at the Geneva Auto Show. A new video shows driving footage of the Rapide through the hills of Valencia, Spain. Beautiful! Check it out, and while you're at it, an earlier one released by Aston Martin of the car lapping the Nurburgring in Germany and Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SudhnrrwMZo

The Rapide has been a car that we've heard about for a long time. It was first previewed by a concept back in 2006, and at the time production was far from a certainty. Then, production was confirmed, the endless drips of information ensued and the rest is history. The official debut with images and specifications came in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Now, pricing information has been released in the United States and for Aston Martin's home market, the United Kingdom. As expected, it isn't cheap - it is an Aston Martin, after all. Some have acted surprised as if the car should be at a lower level, closer to "competitors" like the Porsche Panamera. There is no doubt the two have been compared,

It's no secret we're big fans of the Aston Martin Rapide here at CarThrottle so when new information about it comes out, we're sure to cover it. Like the other Aston Martins in the current lineup, the Rapide is a beautiful vehicle and every bit a proper Aston, four doors or not. The competition could learn a thing or two from it! A Rapide video containing some neat driving footage came out recently. Before that though, the car had an official launch at the Frankfurt Auto Show where some great PR pictures were released. The company is now doing the full drop, releasing all the high-resolution shots of the car inside the studio as well. I've included some of the best ones for you to check

With the Rapide recently making it's official debut, it has been good seeing how the car made the transition from concept to production. It is undoubtedly the best looking vehicle in the new genre of luxury four-door coupes. Aston Martin calls it “the most elegant four-door sports car in the world," and I would tend to agree with that. The Rapide is a true sportscar, and therefore we want to know how it drives, not just how it looks. Aston Martin has helped a little bit with that, releasing a new video of the Rapide on the road. It isn't just simple driving footage though - it shows the Rapide lapping the famous Nurburgring racetrack in Germany and Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps. Stelvio Pass has been named the

In terms of product and prestige, Aston Martin is at a high point like never before. Beautiful, elegant vehicles that represent the very best of British luxury are being produced. British luxury at a whole is experiencing a renaissance; Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover - they are all doing very well. Just when you think things are going smoothly though, turbulence on the financial side comes up. The problem doesn't seem to be with Aston Martin though - more like difficulties with finances of the parent company. If you remember, back in 2007 Ford was able to sell Aston Martin to a consortium led by Dave Richards, John Singers, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment. Investment Dar led the consortium, and owns 51% (a controlling stake) in the

After what seemed like endless waiting....and waiting and waiting, the Aston Martin Rapide's launch is finally upon us. Aston Martin was content to let little bits of information out about the car leak out, in a similar fashion to way the launch of the One-77 was handled. And, come to think of it - the Jaguar XJ as well. it's a smart tactic. The good news is that the Aston Martin Rapide is as beautiful as ever. It's a genuine Aston Martin, but with 4-doors. The same can't be said for some certain sedans in this class. Aston calls is it "the most elegant four-door sports car in the world" and I'm inclined to agree. Like the Panamera, the Rapide has a four-seat layout. You wouldn't

For some reason, the wait on this car has felt like forever! I've been talking all about it, but it never actually gets here. What can I say that I haven't already said? Yes, Aston Martin I still think you produce some of the most beautiful vehicles in the world and yes the Rapide is already one of my favorites. In all seriousness though, the Rapide is a new entry from Aston Martin in an unusual segment for a supercar manufacturer. Maserati was one of the first to produce a 4-door sedan, with it's pioneering Quattroporte. Aston Martin also produced the Lagonda sedan but other than that, a 4-door has never been a part of the company's lineup. It appears this could be a new battleground for the