2010 Aston Martin Rapide With Glass Roof: Spy Photos

Spotted earlier in the cold Arctic Circle, the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide prototype is now undergoing high-speed tests on the Nürburgring test track in Germany. These are the first images showing an Aston Martin Rapide prototype with a full glass roof. Reaching from within inches of the windscreen to just short of the back window, the glass roof is lifted directly from the concept.

As reportedly recently, the Rapide will be the first ever Aston Martin built outside of the United Kingdom, thanks to a partnership up with Magna Steyr. The Rapide is built on Aston Martin's VH("vertical horizontal")all-aluminium structure and will use essentially the same 5,935cc V12 as the DB9. Output for this RWD coupe is expected to touch 473 horsepower, up from the DB9's 444 and could come with ZF-built six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Aston Martin Rapide will face direct competition from Audi S8,Bentley Flying Spur,Maserati Quattroporte,Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG,Porsche Panamera. With a price tag of about $220,000 the production of the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is expected to start in Graz, Austria, in late 2009. Supplier Magna Steyr will build up to 2,000 Rapides a year under contract with Aston Martin.
source edmunds.com

2010 Aston Martin Rapide Spy Photos