NEW Aston Martin Rapide S - flat-out review by autocar.co.uk

[@olafhermans]

the only review of the Rapide where you see it go sideways around bends ;-) thx

[@jwojewidka]

Saw one on the streets and it's stunning. Beautiful form development and balance. It would be very hard not to completely love this car in my garage. Can't see most owners spanking the hell of it on the weekends, but it is, indeed capable. Seems a more mature alternative to the bloated Panamera. Can't use either car's full performance potential on the road most of the time, so it really comes down to what drives the lust to own one.

[@jwojewidka]

First part of your comment is defensible. But to say Ford mismanaged AM is incorrect. They actually helped get them in a position to be profitable and make better products. They were able to do well on the sale - which they did, indeed, need at the time - because of their participation. Now, we can be thankful they are all better off. There actually might be benefit to AM with the grill ripoff as more people's lips are graced by their name now! Don't think they'll lose one sale because of it.

[@BigGee84]

Astons have always had large grills. In no way does AM take its design cues from Audi, or any other brand for that matter. Its design is almost as distinct as that of a 911.

[@bmancodgta4]

I thought so at first too but I'm seriously fond of the facelift now.

[@jonathangandy]

I thought Matt Prior was saving the final test match against New Zealand in Auckland, not reviewing the Aston Rapide S somewhere in the midlands!

[@bjaminstuart]

I like this facelift. I would consider this when comparing to Panamera, M5, CLS...

[@ChristewieTV]

At first I was iffy about the new grill. Saw it in person and I love it.

[@HesteBremse]

I have seen a few around and it is a very beautiful car indeed. Even that they haven´t changed much on the outside it is still by far much more beautiful than the Panamera, The new Quattroporte and still more elegant than the FF. But technology wise it has to start hurting soon. Also must be mentioned CLS, M6 Gran Coupe and the AUDI A7 - they are not nearly as exclusive but they are slowly getting closer in several aspects. BTW! The sound edit was really bad on this vid (Ref. GENELEC speakers).

[@SheltonSuperstar]

M5 is a souped up 5-series, which is by body an intermediate saloon. Its equivalents from other makes are the S6, XFR, E63 AMG, probably some Japanese cars, etc

[@Marks_Piano]

Can buy a DBS just as well since it is horrible to sit in the back.. I can still feel the back-ache when I think about it..

[@TheWanskiz]

One of the better reviews autocar has done. The doors seem to be a different color slightly

[@75cammo]

funny you should say that. i saw the new fiesta a few while ago and at a first glace of the front end thought it was the aston martin cygnet! that grille is an aston design!!!

[@HugoElders]

Car certainly looks more impressive on footage than on the photos. Too bad this guy didn't compare it with the outgoing Rapide

[@nico74321]

love the new front grille, seriously it's about time they do something new . take a brief look back at the car design in the past 10 years. it's almost identical in every aston marin car. why not give the back grille a facelift to ? the back look out dated

[@TheMegaCONARTIST]

Porsche has the budget and does not make that many changes as they keep that fantastic traditional look signature, so do i think this shape of Aston is amazingly beautiful, just has the one of shape. I think interior is looking like Jag little bit disappointing and it is nowhere near luxury as he said it in the video, it is obvious that those presenters got no true qualification to tell the truth but just favor the cars by the way. Would i buy one, i am afraid to say no over many other ones that offer similar shaped productions, to name few Mercedes CLS AMG, BMW Gran C, Maserati Ghibli, Porsche Panamera, and one that beats them all on amazing power and performance extreme quality in and out and top engineering of Audi RS7.

[@davidfulop1665]

To each his own - for me the RS7 looks next to an Aston Martin about as stylish and elegant as a '96 Vauxhall Astra. :D

[@Neo.555]

Good to see you Matt

[@petejwill2650]

i think he was quite a good reviewer! perhaps a little more enthusiasm... but he had a good understanding and informed perspective of the car & market.

[@edge160]

I try drifting my Aston and ended up in a ditch! Thanks a lot Autocar!

[@only1true540]

So what about the reliability and maintenance Is it costly

[@fabrizioleoni8047]

I love the way it looks...

[@misterpacha1]

He is correct though the front kinda looks great, the rear makes it kinda hard to know its the new car other than the letter s don't you think?

[@gsbaacc]

Great thank you Matt & Autocar.

[@TheJoeMB]

It looks fantastic i think, the fron end isn't as gopping as i thought it waqs going to be.

[@SheltonSuperstar]

No, this is a sportback body style. Equivalents from other manufacturers would be the Panamera, the CLS, the A7/S7, M6 GranCoupé, Maserati Ghibli, Estoque, that kinda stuff. The idea is that its a four-door coupé, a stretched coupé

[@adriannippy]

I love the new grille ! wow.

[@onicholls95]

I like the new grille but they need to update the rear, not just on this but on most of their cars...

[@msrx8ajr]

He's no Chris Harris, but this guy is pretty good. And tidy with his 'oppo as well.

[@powersliding]

awesome review....car still looks odd even with new grille, sounds nice though, especially when sideways

[@mcobinad]

Many times, I have confounded the nose grille of the all new Ford fiesta 2013 for the Aston Martin Cygnet and it seems to me that the Ford fiesta wears it better than the Cygnet. Audi started this giant grille of a thing and every car manufacturer is joining the club. Is it the trend now?

[@gabrielohayo]

I think im going to buy this car looks so good to me

[@Films4Fun96]

They act like the rapide is in a class of it's own for the combination of sportiness and luxury smoothness.... what about the XJ? Seems like they said the same thing about it when comparing it to the quatroportte.

[@quentinuw]

you guys are just nuts....throwing car like this into the corner....great driving ;-)

[@CarAddictGarage]

550 Horse Power....You Gotta Love it!

[@emilio6278]

got to commend the guy on his driving

[@Marks_Piano]

Can buy a DBS just as well..

[@LordTwaddle]

Visually I really like this car, probably the best looking saloon other than the Vauxhall Ampera

[@tomassanchezjimenez1790]

Theas9996, wich car is better, porsche boxster or lambo aventador? There are cars in different leagues. Aston is bigger, more expensive and more powerfull car than the ISF. It's not possible to compare this two cars...

[@lukkkie]

that sure would be a nice comparison to make a video about...

[@tejas1205]

They should have made it like the one-77 rather than the vantage

[@masoodrazaq]

Objectively, the S is superior to the original Rapide, but personally I like the more low key and more “Aston-like” split grille design of the original. There are so many irritating things about this car, from cramped interior to horrible infotainment, but the redeeming qualities outweigh the negatives, notably the stunning exterior design and amazing NA V12 engine noise. No other car I know of offers anything similar.

[@thebitmovies]

Looks perfect

[@AzNgiftedkid]

The new F10 or older E60?

[@dcr33313]

Aston Martin has had that grille design for decades...

[@RomainSandt]

the front and the back end seem to come from two deifferent Aston. I don't get why Aston dosen't continues wich the patk opened with the one-77. Here the front grill seems to be taken from a Ford, whom taken his from Aston. They seem to be stucked between the simple and efficient expression of an Aston with the V8 Vantage, and at the opposit the One-77. In the middle they just don't know what to do!

[@adytzuady80]

My dream car !

[@dcr33313]

Neither is the grille of the fusion. In fact, the fusion grille is much closer in size to the grilles on most of the Aston coupes. That's like saying each BMW has a different grille design, when they all just have different variations of the kidney grille. The point is, this was not even remotely taken from the fusion.

[@8RuTu5]

SOOOOOOOOOO SUBJECTIVE! Porsche blends perfomance and comfort quite as well as Aston did with Rapide

[@Fertro]

After the Vanquish, the Rapide looks a bit... Dated. Still looks great, though.

[@ABDsang]

watsup with AutoCar and the low noises, I have to plug in a billion wat stereo system just to hear what going on in the video

[@MBAMG65]

Yeah, most people care more about driving dynamics, ergonomics, safety and usability, few people care about the quality of the wood and leather in the cabin more than anything else

[@josef959]

Porsche makes small incremental changes as well...

[@DreamCarGarage1]

I hate the fact that the definition of a true sports car or whether it can handle is based on how easily it goes sideways! You're not going to want to put a car like this sideways on the road and it's not the kind of car anyone would buy spank round a track!

[@quadturbo4]

Without body creases along the sides, it looks too long and ungainly. In my opinion, the Maserati Quattroporte (surely its main competitor along with the Panamera) is better looking, even if they got the headlights wrong.

[@Lukec4ge]

The styling just isn't quite right. Aston has made the Rapide look like an elongated two door DB9, instead of an elegant four door coupe.

[@hangman161]

a luxury, sporty four-door saloon... would this be competing directly with an m5? I get the m5 may not be as luxurious but as a sports car wouldn't that be better if that's what the main point of this car is?

[@ak81]

its not about the budget its about the company philosphy

[@urock12201]

its like the universe just said to Aston, " If your going to make the front that sexy and beautiful you have to make the rear look like shit"

[@BlackenedNL]

i really like it!

[@lffit]

I know it has a Ford Fiesta and Mondeo grille but I don't care lol With Jaguar the sexiest of all cars.

[@Tig-Wan]

Is that a public road? Don't you have traffic where you live?

[@JasonWhitewick]

I believe you.

[@iMysteryTube]

This guy can drive

[@alexblag18]

how the hell can you dislike this car?

[@soubido]

agreed. it looks like its from astons from two generations ago....

[@Hyperen]

Good video

[@andile647]

THIS CAR HAS NOT CHANGED TO THE ONE I SAW IN 1991

[@TheCanadianCyclist]

Things that go vroom...

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

easily best 4door ever.

[@n9athan]

That face looks hilarious, still looks great but its almost as if its mocking you saying something like "Oh REALLY" with a stupid grin.

[@freyjagunnar1532]

brabus (mercedes-benz) supplies engine's and part's for this aston martin brand.

[@ianmedium]

its really noisy inside. Lots of wind and tire roar! Of course thats all shadowed by the sound of the prat driving it!

[@AboveInShadow]

No budget for a new mic?

[@JohnnyWrong]

Sure.

[@whiteandnerdytuba]

all i could stare at the whole time was that front license plate.

[@CaldeAilis]

Yeah, most people choose Germans. Some choose Italians over Germans. Some others choose British ones over Italians. It's just a preference and personal choice.

[@BigGee84]

You mean, did Ford try to rip off Aston's trademark grill?

[@ChristewieTV]

I love it!

[@hangman161]

ahhh right, right... forgot about those

[@darthsin3037]

The new grille looks like those actual old radiators. Hideous

[@TheMusicitizen]

:D

[@jonny5777]

I can't get used to that grill

[@MajikDustJam]

He sounds like he's about to start yawning, was this early in the morning?

[@PINGPAZ]

BEAUTIFUL

[@MisterBrauer]

The Ford Fusion is more like the Mazda 6.

[@tedtheturbot]

show us the engine

[@tejas1205]

I kinda like it

[@GablesTheMadhatter]

that front grill is an insult.

[@TheJuxtaposedKing]

I want one.

[@jonojbuk]

m5?

[@GrotrianSeiler]

Don't know when I'll get used to the new grille. It's lost its elegance, and now looks too much like a Ford or Mazda in front. This is not a good thing.

[@MisterPeetBull]

It's a Ford Fusion

[@YemiTO]

Once again we fuckin struggle to hear the guy clearly. Fix the damn sound already!

[@MBAMG65]

Most people would choose German over British car any day, despite what British auto journalists wish

[@j69d]

A 2 tonne porche c 4x4 does 0-62 faster than this... And it's cheaper, I know what I'd prefer.

[@maggotpudding]

So this one or maserati quattroporte. Hmm...life is full of difficult choices.

[@MrSpartan117fan]

Ford fusion?

[@HUMC5]

Yup. I will never own one because I got good taste and I don't want one of these!

[@minazmorgul]

Where's the Flat-out???

[@mcg18993]

No... This is just a 2013 Ford Fusion.