Its 470-hp V-12 and gorgeous shape make the Aston Martin Rapide one of the most gratifying sedans on earth, but the $200,000-plus Aston is way slower—and way more expensive—than most of its loosely defined competitive set, which includes the Porsche Panamera Turbo and Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG. While we don’t expect the Rapide to get any cheaper in future iterations, we do expect it to get quicker. Some have suggested that the car seen here is merely a face-lifted car, but we believe the lightly camo’d Rapide caught in these spy photos is a prototype of an upcoming, rapide-r Rapide likely to be called Rapide S.
This particular mule’s nose is slightly modified, with a front clip that features an additional air channel along the lower lip. The rear camouflage effectively hides any subtle changes Aston Martin may have made to the bumper and taillights, although its taller integrated ducktail spoiler is one indicator that this particular Aston is serious about high-speed stability.
Impossible to discern from the pictures, of course, is the degree to which the Rapide S’s performance will improve, but expect the 5.9-liter V-12 to see a bump of 40 or so hp. (In the DBS, this engine makes 510 hp.) Certain to accompany the zestier V-12 will be tweaks to the suspension and brakes—this prototype seems to have carbon-ceramic rotors—and no uplevel offering in this pricing stratosphere would be complete without unique wheels.
Expect to see the new Rapide S join Aston’s lineup sometime in 2012—likely for the 2013 model year—at a premium of around $20,000 to $30,000 over a standard Rapide.
Thanks to: Car and Driver
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