2012 Aston Martin Rapide Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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When the Aston Martin Rapide sailed onto the streets for 2010, few expected the unabashedly 4-door touring car to so much as fill the shoes of its DB9 bloodline. Just 2 years later and so much has changed. Already its maker's pet, the 2012 Rapide aims to set the bar by filling in that last cavity of a navigation system while moving manufacture from Australia back home to England. Next year, Aston Martin raises that bar with the very possible additions of a slick-looking Rapide S and sexy, but 2-door, Rapide V12 Zagato.
Over the course of its venerable 2-year history, the Rapide has established itself as the lone entrant in a desirable new segment: the practical luxury touring vehicle. Since the Autobahn can't even handle burying the needle in the likes of a Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin instead fine-tunes its Rapide for unsurpassed cornering confidence, agility, precise dynamics, comfort, useful style and unforgettable appeal. Rapide owners know the journey is often more rewarding than the destination, especially with the unique song of a naturally aspirated 470 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque from a V12 rising and swaying with the landscape and plenty of things to enjoy in and about the cabin.
A new Garmin-based navigation system tops off a relatively low-tech standard offering for 2012, joining a long list of amenities like front and rear automatic climate control, power front seats with memory functions, heated seats all around, full supple leather interior, auto-dimming rear-view and a custom 15-speaker top-shelf sound system with CD player, USB/iPod connectivity, auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.
Front and rear parking sensors compensate for limited outward visibility to keep this precious machine unscathed, and adjustable adaptive suspension dampers ensure a crisp and comfortable ride, but won't do much to keep the Rapide from bottoming out like any other sports car, despite its 20-inch standard set of wheels. Bred to tackle even the thinnest of hairpin turns in less-than-ideal conditions, this entirely rear-wheel-drive line also comes equipped with bi-xenon headlights, limited-slip differential, stability and traction control, front side airbags, 4 side curtain airbags and brake assist working together with a precision-tuned engine and 6-speed auto-manual transmission to deliver a zip-to-60 time of 5 seconds and a 60-to-zip stopping distance of just 107 feet.
The Rapide Luxury edition doubles down with different wheels, ventilated front and rear seats, backup glass-trimmed key fob, glass switchgear, rear entertainment system, special paint and leather treatments with a 6-piece custom leather set to match your chosen interior. There's just 14 cubic feet in that hatch-style trunk until you fold down the seats for an extra 7 cubes, so the custom luggage is a lot more than just a gorgeous accessory.
All but the switchgear are available as options for the base model, as are a rear-view camera, any paint color Aston Martin has ever used, and even a wristwatch transponder to replace the key fob functionality. The catch? Well, the rear seats are a touch small for average-size companions, and fetching just 13 mpg city/19 highway on premium fuel doesn't exactly endear the Rapide to solo daily driving, either—but it would be such a waste of beauty not to share.
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2012 Aston Martin Rapide Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · 6 disc in-dash CD · Premium Brand: Bang & Olufsen · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 15 · 700 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.0 · Front brakes: carbon ceramic disc · Rear brake diameter: 13.0 · Rear brakes: carbon ceramic disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: wood · Door trim: simulated carbon fiber · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: with lighting · Cupholders: rear · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: paddle shifter · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.46 · Limited slip differential: rear
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Headlights: HID · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power folding
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Rear Seats
Type: bucket
Safety
Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: front
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front and rear · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Suspension
Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: double wishbone · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Speed Rating: Z · Type: performance
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: remote operation
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones · Automatic climate control rear air conditioning · Single rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Wireless headphones · 6 disc in-dash CD · Premium Brand: Bang & Olufsen · AM/FM radio · Remote control: video · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 15
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 15.4 · Front brakes: carbon ceramic disc · Rear brake diameter: 14.7 · Rear brakes: carbon ceramic disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: leather · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.46 · Limited slip differential: rear
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: integrated · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 7 in. · Video monitor location: dual rear · Video system: DVD player
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Headlights: HID · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power folding
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Rear Seats
Type: bucket
Safety
Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: front
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front and rear · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Kit: tire sealant
Suspension
Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: double wishbone · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Speed Rating: Z · Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Wheels: polished aluminum
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: remote operation