Aston Martin Rapide S: new sports model replacing existing GT

The new Aston Martin Rapide S has been released by the iconic British marque, replacing the standard four-door sports car with a more powerful model featuring updated looks, and new options.

Compared to the outgoing Rapide, the new four-seat Aston Martin Rapide S gets 60kW more power â€" a 17 per cent increase â€" and 20Nm more torque, with the tweaked version of the naturally aspirated AM11 6.0-litre V12 powerplant putting out 410kW at 6750rpm and 620Nm at 5000rpm.

Sitting 19mm lower than in the previous car, reducing the centre of gravity and improving balance, the new engine benefits from fully CNC machined combustion chambers, new lighter, hollow cam shafts, dual variable camshaft timing, and a stainless steel exhaust system.

While the new Rapide S boasts an improved 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds â€" down 0.3 seconds from the existing car’s 5.2 seconds â€" fuel consumption is also bettered from 14.9 litres per 100km to 14.2L/100km on the official EU combined cycle, and CO2 emissions have dropped seven per cent from 355 grams per kilometre to 332g/km.

A new ‘face’, highlighted by a new full grille, joins a new rear deck profile accentuated by a more pronounced boot lid ‘flip’. Aston says the aerodynamic and aesthetic upgrades not only look sportier but create greater downforce when travelling on the car’s 20-inch alloy wheels at its now 306km/h top speed.

Inside, the Aston Martin Rapide S is home to several new luxury- and sports-orientated options including an all-new duotone perforated red and black leather option, and a new piano black interior pack. An optional carbonfibre exterior pack is also available and sees the addition of a carbonfibre front splitter, rear diffuser, mirror caps, and rear lamp inserts.

Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez, who describes the Rapide S as “luxury in action”, said the car is a “four-door sports car that uniquely combines luxury, style and sporting excitement in Aston Martin’s most flexible and accommodating silhouette”.

With prices yet to be confirmed, the new Aston Martin Rapide S will be available to order from next month through its global dealer network. As a marker, though, the current model Rapide is priced from $371,300.

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