Aston Martin Rapide E laps Monaco

The Aston Marton Rapide E has taken to the famous streets of Monaco, making its public dynamic debut ahead of the Formula E Monaco ePrix yesterday.

First revealed at the Shanghai motor show last month, the British sports car brand’s first all-electric production car was driven by Aston Martin works driver and Le Mans 24 Hour winner Darren Turner.

The battery-powered Aston Martin Rapide sedan’s European debut included two dedicated on-track public demonstration sessions throughout the day.

“I’ve had the privilege to join the Aston Martin engineering team at various stages of the car’s development and the performance that’s on offer in Rapide E really is incredible,” said Darren Turner.

“The car has the kind of torque and punch that you’d expect from an EV, but they’ve really worked hard to retain the dynamic characteristics of what makes an Aston Martin special.

“Today feels like a real milestone in this company’s history and for me to be the first person to drive an all-electric Aston Martin publicly is an absolute honour, particularly here in Monaco.”

Limited to just 155 units worldwide, production of the Rapide E will commence in the fourth quarter of this year at Aston Martin Lagonda’s new production facility in St Athan, Wales.

That makes it very much a limited-edition technology flag-bearer for the brand, which nonetheless indicates that not all examples are spoken for.

“Last allocations for Aston Martin Rapide E are available with pricing on application,” it said today.

Some examples will arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2020, shortly before the Aston Martin DBX crossover lands here.

Although pricing is yet to be confirmed it will be more than the 411kW/630Nm 5.9-litre V12-powered Rapide S ($382,110 plus ORCs), which consumes 12.9L/100km and despite weighing almost two tonnes can hit 100km/h in a claimed 4.9sec.

The Rapide E will is not only billed as Aston Martin’s first EV, but also its most powerful Rapide ever. Thanks to twin rear electric motors producing about 450kW/950Nm, Aston says it can hit 100km/h in less than four seconds and a 250km/h top speed.

The electric version of Aston’s flagship sedan is powered by a modest 65kWh lithium-ion battery pack encased in carbon-fibre and Kevlar casing and mounted under its bonnet and floor in place of the standard Rapide’s petrol V12, transmission and fuel tank.

Exact kerb weight has not been disclosed, but Aston says that thanks to extensive use of lightweight carbon-fibre the Rapide E weighs around the same as the standard Rapide V12.

Developed in cooperation with Williams Advanced Engineering, the Rapide’s powertrain is based around an 800-volt electric architecture and, under the latest WLTP test regime, is claimed to offer “at least 300 miles” (480km) of total driving range and 298km in just one hour of charging via a 400-volt 50kW fast-charger.

Aston says that for destination charging, the car comes with an industry-leading high-power AC on-board charger capable of recharging the battery in as little as three hours.

Aiding the Rapide E’s efficiency is a smooth honeycomb grille and aerodynamically enhanced forged alloy wheels shod with special low rolling resistance Pirelli P Zero tyres.

The upgrades are claimed to bring an eight per cent aerodynamic improvement over the internal combustion model, while a limited-slip rear differential increases traction of the rear-wheel drive sedan.

Aston says careful tuning of the Rapide E powertrain — which comprises GT, Sport and Sport + drive modes – and revised spring and damper rates “ensures the pure handling characteristics of the petrol-powered Rapide AMR are retained”.

Inside, instead of old-school analogue displays, the Rapide E scores a 10-inch digital display that shows all key driving info including the battery’s state of charge, current motor power levels, regenerative performance and a real-time energy consumption.

A dedicated smartphone app allows remote monitoring of key information such as remaining range, battery status, time to charge, vehicle location, service notifications and the ability to send navigation destinations to the car.

Powered by an 800V electrical architecture battery, the Rapide E will be the first car produced at the car-maker’s new St Athan production facility. Aston Martin says its new Welsh manufacturing plant will become its ‘Home for Electrification’ for both Aston and its reborn Lagonda sister brand.

“Rapide E is a defining product in Aston Martin Lagonda’s history,” said Aston Martin Lagonda president and group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer.

“We have set out a bold strategy for the electrification and hybridisation across the Group and this product demonstrates that we have the capability to deliver an EV of exceptional performance, while still delivering the qualities demanded of not just Aston Martin customers, but the wider luxury market.

“As the world’s first all-electric luxury brand, Lagonda will directly benefit from the technologies and experience derived from the Rapide E programme.

“Darren [Turner] is very lucky to have had the chance to demonstrate what Rapide E can do and I firmly believe that those who have already placed their name down for this special model, will be able to take pride in seeing the car run in anger for the first time.”