It's been a decade of change at Aston Martin as the company has grown up into a thoroughly modern maker of beautiful supercars. Aston continues to progress with the Rapide, firstly by entering the four-door market, and secondly by building a car outside of the UK, at Magna's factory in Graz, Austria in this case.
Based on a stretched version of the DB9's aluminium 'VH' chassis, the Rapide is around five metres long and tips the scales at almost two tonnes, but Aston maintains that this is a four-door sports car rather than a lumbering limo. The 5.9-litre V12 engine from the DB9 and DBS provides the grunt and produces 469bhp, channelled through a 6-speed automatic 'box.
The big news on this car is the rear seats, so you'll forgive us for leaving the starter button alone for a moment to explore them. Well, it's a snug environment back there. As demonstrated so clearly by the Porsche Panamera, allowing executive-saloon standard space in the back does compromise a sporty look, and Aston has conceded space for the sake of maintaining the Rapide's exterior lines. There's no rear bench for three passengers - instead you'll find two bucket seats, divided by a leather-bound platform sporting the heater controls. Space in the back will be a problem for anyone over six feet tall enduring a long drive, but smaller adults and kids will find it a comfortable arrangement. The rear cabin does have an overwhelming feeling of quality to it, though, and shames more sober German rivals with a mix of plush leathers and stylish aluminium accents. The Rapide's forward cabin is of the high quality we've come to expect from Aston. The outdated sat nav and messy dash controls are its only weak points.
In line with Aston's insistence that the Rapide is a sports car, the ride is firm, but refinement is excellent overall. The chassis deals with sharp bumps commendably, and wind noise and tyre roar is kept to a minimum, making it a comfortable proposition for urban shuffles as well as motorway cruises.
The Rapide offers luxury and comfort, then, but it can also be a lively companion when required. Choosing sports mode changes the gearbox and throttle mapping, creating a sharper, more intense interface between the driver and that bellowing V12. Speed peaks at 184mph, and the 0-60mph dash is dispensed in 5.0sec, which is towering performance, albeit not as jaw-dropping as some rivals. Given the car's extra length, the Rapide has been granted quicker steering than other Astons. It's light but engaging, and there's plenty of feedback.
At an asking price of £139,950, and with miserly fuel economy, the Rapide is not a sensible choice, especially when you consider that space in the back is a little compromised. However, Aston has achieved its goal of building a fast, engaging and very special luxury four-door.