Aston Martin Rapide AMR revealed

The 2019 Aston Martin Rapide AMR has broken cover, boasting an aggressive new look, upgraded chassis and a giant V12 whacking stick that will ensure collector's item status given the impending death of big engines via emissions regulations.

On sale in Europe in late 2018 for €229,950 ($A356,000), the car has been dubbed Aston Martin's "most extreme" four-door sports car but it's not clear how many – if any – of the 210 limited run British bulldogs will be coming to Australia.

The Aston Martin Rapide AMR was first shown in concept car guise at the 2017 Geneva motor show and the production version is virtually identical, right down to the Stirling Green paint with lime accents and the new Zagato-inspired circular LED running lights embedded in the lower front fascia.

Visual and aerodynamic updates create retina-searing visuals via new side sills, a big front splitter, deeper rear diffuser, lip spoiler, quad exhaust outlets and oodles of carbon fibre.

It just wouldn't be an AMR (Aston Martin Racing) model without a carbon bonnet featuring venting with more aggression than a Trump-less North Korea.

Just 210 versions of the Aston Martin Rapide will roll out of the British brand's Gaydon factory, powered by a fiery version of the brand's 6.0-litre V12 with an extra 32kW over regular models, making it one of the world's fastest four-door sports cars.

The front-mounted naturally-aspirated V12 draws in more air than usual via larger inlet manifolds fitted with tuned length dual inlet runners, which helps deliver 443kW of power and torque of 630Nm.

That's enough gristle to propel the 2019 Aston Martin Rapide AMR from 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Continue cycling through the cogs in its eight-speed transmission and it will continue onwards to 330km/h.

That gives it a higher top speed than the 310km/h Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, adding fuel to the Britain versus Germany fire. However the Rapide AMR is not as quick to 100km/h, the Porker doing the standing start tango in just 3.4secs.

The upcoming limited-run 600kW Rapide EV version will further complicate bragging rights, in a tit-for-tat stoush that will continue when the 440kW Porsche Taycan arrives in 2020.

Other changes to the Aston Martin Rapide AMR include unique 21-inch forged alloy wheels which fill out the guards like a fat man in spandex, thanks to a 10mm lower ride height via retuned suspension. Three-mode adaptive dampers deliver normal, sporty and spine-shattering settings.

"AMR takes technology and inspiration from our motorsport programme to amplify the sporting prowess in our road cars which is clear to see in the Rapide AMR, Aston Martin's most extreme four-door sports car," declared Andy Palmer, Aston Martin chief executive.

The British car-maker notes that much of the car's dynamics were honed at its AMR Performance Centre at the Nurburgring in Germany, and the fitment of Michelin Super Sport Tyres also helps improve driving dynamics, as do significant 400mm front and 360mm rear carbon ceramic brake discs – the biggest ever fitted to a Rapide. They are gnawed by hefty six- and four-piston calipers front and rear respectively. The new bodywork also improves cooling via modified brake ducts and dust shields.

The 2019 Aston Martin Rapide AMR has been designed to be a proper track weapon but retains Aston Martin's penchant for fancy interiors. That means a carbon fibre centre console, four Alcantara sports seats, AMR logos everywhere, leather, more carbon again, and the option of a special steering wheel pilfered from the majestic $3million Aston Martin One-77 supercar.

It remains to be seen how long the Rapide will last in Aston Martin's range, with company boss Palmer previously telling motoring.com.au the model would soon be axed, suggesting the AMR models and the 2019 Rapide EV could be its swansong.

The last Rapide S sold in Australia was priced at just over $380,000, so if the Rapide AMR does make it here expect a half million dollar price tag. The Rapide joins AMR versions of the Vantage, DB11, Vulcan and Valkyrie.