SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW: Aston Martin Rapide E unveiled

First official details were announced last September and now the Aston Martin Rapide E has been revealed at the Shanghai motor show today.

What’s more, the order book for Aston Martin’s first electric vehicle is now open in the UK, where pricing is available upon request but is sure to eclipse that of the conventional Rapide S ($382,110 in Australia, where Aston sales are down more 30 per cent to March this year, with just 24 sold).

The British sports car maker’s local chief Kevin Wall told carsales.com.au that a small number of the limited-edition Aston Martin Rapide E, production of which will be capped at 155 units globally, should arrive here in the first quarter of next year.

“We’ve had some interest but there’s no pricing yet, so I’ll have a better idea of how extensive that interest is when we know the price,” he said.

Wall said the Rapide E’s early-2020 local arrival will be echoed by that of Aston Martin’s first crossover model, the DBX, but the first of two all-new Lagonda EVs remains at least three years away.

Full specifications of the Aston Martin Rapide E were announced last September, when England’s answer to Tesla was confirmed to bring twin electric rear motors offering about 450kW/950Nm – enough for it to 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 6.0-litre 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.

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.

It was revealed in Shanghai by Aston Martin executive vice-president and chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, and follows previous special-edition models from the car-maker, including the Aston Martin Vulcan, DBS GT Zagato and DB4 GT Continuation.

Aston Martin Lagonda Group CEO and president Andy Palmer made it clear the Rapide E was created to demonstrate the British brand’s social responsibility, which includes meeting fleet-average CO2 emissions legislation.

“Unveiling the Rapide E will be a huge moment for Aston Martin. As our first all-electric production car, it is a truly historic step. One that signals Aston Martin is prepared for the huge challenge of an environmentally responsible and sustainable future.

“As a car company we cannot afford to passively allow that future to come to us; we have to actively chase it. Only by doing this can we learn and prepare, but also preserve those things we love as drivers and car enthusiasts.

“That’s why it was so important to me that in embracing EV technology we should not let go of those unique qualities that define an Aston Martin. I believe Rapide E embodies that desire and paves the way for a hugely exciting future.”