Mercedes-Benz is supposedly developing a new V12 engine (so much for all the 6-cylinder + turbocharger = V12 performance+lower emissions bull shit theory).
This new powerplant is likely to make appearance in the next S-Class, and Aston Martin has also inked a deal with Mercedes for this engine.
Mercedes-Benz’ V12 unit will be used in the Aston Martin DB9 and upcoming Rapide after its 2012 release.
Aston Martin at present uses a 6.0-liter V12 Duratec engine sourced from Ford (If you are reading this for the first time, your Fiesta immediately develops a Bond car connection).
It is widely believed that the Aston Martin Rapide would use the same Ford-sourced V12 unit when it embarks production. In the future, Aston might swap the Merc engine in place of the Duratec. People are even saying Aston could delay production dates to bring in the Merc V12 from day one.
Things are muddled but one thing is clear. Aston Martins from 2012 will use Mercedes engines.
Spy photographers are unnecessary if you look at what Simon Gregg, a follower of Car Magazine has just caught on his cam- That’s right, he snapped a production model of the 4-door Aston in a parking lot without ANY camouflage. Take a bow Simon.
The car spied here could be one of the final prototypes before the actual car is shown at the Frankfurt Motor show in mid-September. The naked prototype finished in black, has its interiors soaked in red.
Poised to take on the 4-seat-4-door contenders like the stylish Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes Benz CLS, the Rapide is fitted with a 6.0-liter V12 engine that makes 470bhp and 600Nm of torque. Power will be directed to the rear wheels through a six-speed ZF automatic transmission with Aston’s Touchtronic control.
The Aston Martin Rapide will arrive at showrooms around the globe in 2010. Don’t expect it to cost any less than $200,000.
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Our friends over at Omni Auto have posted some live shots of the Aston Martin One-77 from the Villa D’Este. The car was shown with its covers off which it previously wore at the Paris Motor Show last year, during the initial stages of the Geneva Motor Show last month, only to be replaced by a weird and frightening Lagonda SUV prototype.
A wrap on the Aston Martin One-77 for fresh visitors
The Aston Martin One-77 is built using a full carbon fibre monocoque chassis and an aluminium body that’s crafted painstakingly by hand. Under the bonnet it is business as usual with a 7.3 litre V12 screaming its gut out with 700 hp strolling about the crankshaft. Estimated top speed is around the magical 200 mph mark. True to its name, only 77 units will be dispatched to customers starting October this year.
The Aston Martin One-77 is priced above your and my reach- £1,050,000, the same amount of money could fetch you a Lamborghini Reventon.
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The Aston Martin Rapide, which is a 4-door sportscar from the British firm to challenge the Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes Benz CLS, is now closer than ever before. Aston Martin have issued a press release which means the curtains are going to rise very soon.
The car we knew, wasn’t all the far away from its d-day as it had shed most of its camouflage, the excess along the doors and the headlights were the only misleads in the recent spy shots.
An Aston 6.0-litre V12 throwing out no less than 470bhp (350kW) and 600Nm of torque will transfer the task to a Touchtronic gearbox, which will eventually reach the rear axle of the Aston Martin Rapide.
Aston Martin Director of Design Marek Reichman-
We wanted to make the most beautiful four-door sports car in the world
The Aston Martin Rapide was photographed as it was undergoing formalities over the two years. Recent snaps were taken in Scandinavia during cold weather testing and during a hot lap at the Nurburgring.
click through to read press release
The Aston Martin Rapide is spied once again, on this occasion performing test laps in the infamous Nurburgring or “ring” as some like to refer it.
Previously it was spotted in the cold country of Scandinavia running around in the name of cold weather testing. The Aston Martin Rapide is based on the DB9 platform and will deliver no less than 480 hp to its wheels.
The Aston Martin Rapide is a 4-door, 4-seat supercar that will join the elite league consisting of the controversial Porsche Panamera and the existing Mercedes Benz CLS.
Aston Martin’s upcoming 4 seater, the Rapide has been spied undergoing winter testing in Scandinavia. As expected, the car is minimally disguised as the pictures had been leaked earlier.
Closer look reveals that the wing mirrors and the wheels are fake and will be replaced on the production model when revealed, possibly at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.
The Aston Martin Rapide will have enough power to thrill your mates. Expect a 470 bhp and 600 Nm 6.0l V12 from the DB9/DBS. Thanks to this, the Rapide should be able to get to a ton in under 5 seconds and reach about 185mph.
The low-end versions could also get a 420 bhp 4.7l V8 with 470bhp and 470 Nm of torque. This should take the competition to the Mercedes Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera, Audi’s upcoming A7 and future star, the Lamborghini Estoque.
Production of the Aston Martin Rapide is scheduled to start late this year at Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz, Austria. Aston Martin hopes to sell 2000 cars annually, but given the current economic climate that sounds a bit optimistic.
