Aston Martin unveils Rapide S Sports Car

The Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door, high-performance sport saloon, which British luxury marque Aston Martin introduced in early 2010. It was first presented as a concept car at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in 2006 and the production version of the Rapide was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Sandeep Gupta, Assistant Sales Manager said, the company, during its road show in various cities in the country, is targeting 10 to 15 customers each for this sports car.

Alongwith this car, the company presents Aston Martin Vantage to the customers of Coimbatore and nearby Tirupur, he said.

With sinewy flanks, perfect proportions and a gracefully sloping roofline, the Rapide S is a dead ringer for Aston Martin's DB9 coupe - except, of course, for its extra set of rear doors. One element that sets the Rapide S apart is its massive, one-piece front grille, which came as part of the recent update and stands in start contrast to the two-tiered grille configuration of the rest of Aston's lineup.

Also new to the sedan is an updated version of Aston's handbuilt 5.9-liter V12 that first appeared under the hood of the new Vanquish supercar. It produces 550 horsepower and 447 lb-ft, increases of 80 ponies and 14 lb-ft over last year's motor. A specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission allows the driver to change gears automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted magnesium paddles.

The Rapide S is capable of rocketing to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 190 mph.

An adaptive damping system offers three different suspension settings - "Normal," "Sport" and "Track" - to allow the driver to prioritize handling or ride comfort as desired. They system also takes sensor readings from the car's systems, including throttle position, brake position, steering wheel rotation and vehicle speed, to determine driving conditions and configure the damping accordingly.

Inside, the cabin is marked exquisite leather upholstery, aluminum and piano black trim (a variety of woods are also available) and alcantara. The well-bolstered seats are more than up to the task of keeping occupants in place during spirited backroad romps while also providing long-distance comfort.