Aston Martin Rapide S 2016 Review

What’s it all about?
Think of the Aston Martin Rapide as a four-door DB9 and you’re bang on the money. And although you’ll need a stack of money higher than Scrooge McDuck’s to purchase one, the Rapide’s unique elongated profile, sumptuous hand-stitched leather cockpit and sonorous V12 soundtrack are arguably worth every penny.

Mind you, this isn’t a sedan that will comfortably accommodate Huey, Dewey and Louie across the back seat. The Rapide is strictly a four-seat proposition, and one that makes some pretty severe headroom compromises on those relegated to the second row.

If you need a luxury sedan, buy a Bentley. If you want a sexy, sporty British coupe with occasional chairs for your mates, then the Aston Martin Rapide is the car to have.

New for 2016, the Rapide S tested here ups the performance and focus of the now superseded Rapide, as well as the price.

Retailing from $382,110 plus on-road costs, it’s almost 10 per cent dearer than the model on which it's based, but adds touches that include a Vanquish GT-inspired grille, improved and repositioned V12 engine (it now sits lower in the engine cradle to improve pedestrian safety and lower the centre of gravity) and a smoother-shifting rear-mid-mounted Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic transmission.

Of course, asking how much a Rapide S costs is largely dependent on the options selected. Or you may elect to customise the car entirely to your liking via Aston Martin’s Q by Aston Martin bespoke personalisation service.

The model we drove featured a swathe of options tallying more than the cost of a new Volkswagen Passat Alltrack (see below).

Why should I buy it?
There are many reasons to buy a Rapide S, perhaps none better than its performance. Put aside the good looks and luxe cabin and it’s the Aston Martin’s AM29-series 6.0-litre V12 that impresses most.

Combining the latest Bosch engine management system and with reduced exhaust back-pressure, it offers more power (+2kW to 411kW) and torque (+10Nm to 630Nm), better fuel economy (-11 per cent to 12.9L/100km) and lower CO2 emissions (-10 per cent to 300g/km).

Driving the rear wheels via a carbon-fibre driveshaft and a revised final drive ratio the Rapide S is now capable of blasting across continents at in excess of 200mph (322km/h). Zero to 100km/h is dealt with in just 4.4 seconds (we managed 4.8sec on test).

The ZF-sourced 8HP70 transmission is three per cent lighter and swaps cogs in just 130ms. It offers adaptive Drive and Drive Sport auto modes or Paddle Shift and Paddle Shift Sport manual options for what Aston Martin says is ‘more engaging, sporting shift control’.

When is it available in Australia?
The Rapide S is available now from Aston Martin dealerships located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Although it hasn’t changed significantly since its original release in 2010, the revisions made to the Rapide S help keep it fresh.

As well as minor cosmetic changes, we also note a new interface for the infotainment and climate-control systems, revised stability control, lighter alloy wheels (-7kg), larger front brakes and retuned brake booster, 20 per cent stiffer rear suspension bushes and plethora headlining, upholstery and paint options.

The Rapide S is offered with a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and roadside assistance program. Service intervals are set at 12 months/16,000km (whichever comes first).

Who will it appeal to?
Luxury car buyers wanting the flexibility of four doors are in Aston Martin’s sights. This is bespoke motoring with the performance and personality to match, and as such will likely appeal most to those cross-shopping the Maserati Quattroporte (from $210,000 plus ORCs) or Porsche Panamera (from $204,200 plus ORCs).

It’s also likely those wishing to occasionally transport children or adult clients (think high-end real estate agents) for shorter journeys may prefer the flexibility the Rapide S offers. In spite of its compromises, its back seat is still far more conventional than that of many 2+2 configuration sports coupes.

Where does it fit?
Given its narrow focus and considerable price tag, the Aston Martin Rapide S resides in a rather exclusive market segment.

As well as the aforementioned Italian and German rivals, it’s not inconceivable that the Rapide S could also challenge sales of high-end two-door models including the V12-powered Mercedes-AMG S 65 Coupe (from $499,000 plus ORCs) and the more affordable, twin-turbo V8-powered BMW M6 Competition (from $292,000 plus ORCs).

So, what do we think?
Obviously the Rapide S is a big, heavy (1990kg) and expensive car made for crossing continents at high speeds. But believe it or not it actually handles being thrown around rather well too. Performance is excellent, once the big V12 is on song, and the quality of materials and paint is outstanding, to say the least.

However, the car’s design age is beginning to show – not least of all on the technology front. There’s virtually no electronic driver aids to speak of, with blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping and lane departure assist, self-parking technology, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam all missing, to name a few.

Surprisingly, some of the systems fitted failed to operate as intended (the driver’s power window jammed) or at all (the cruise control refused to activate).

We were also disappointed by a worn door seal on the driver’s side – especially considering this was a car with 1500km on the odometer – and ill-fitting carpet in the front passenger-side footwell.

Add to this a little steering rack rattle over lumpy corners, excessive road noise on coarse chip surfaces and a plasticky rattle in the forward console, and the Rapide S feels like a vehicle for which a replacement can’t come soon enough.

But even without these engineering and quality issues, the Rapide's asking price is difficult to justify when viewed alongside its contemporaries.

2016 Aston Martin Rapide S pricing and specifications:
Price: $382,110 plus ORCs, $434,245 as tested plus ORCs
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Output: 411kW/630Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.9L/100km (ADR Combined), 18.4L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 300g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: N/A

Also consider:
>> Maserati Quattroporte (from $210,000 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-AMG S 65 Coupe (from $499,000 plus ORCs)
>> Porsche Panamera (from $204,200 plus ORCs)