In February, upplier sources told a U.S. magazine that the car had been approved, and 3,000 units per year would be built.
Yesterday, for the first time, Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez officially announced the car will be built. However, he said just 300 to 500 cars will be built per year. Bez told Automobilwoche that the automaker isn’t taking orders yet, and a specific timeframe for availability has not been set. However, he as adamant that the car will come to market long before the Porsche Panamera. Recent rumors have suggested the Rapide could come as soon as the 2008 model year, whereas the Porsche will arrive as a 2009 or 2010.

source : leftlanenews

 

SIGN ME UP!!!

Who wants to buy this car for me?

 

Aston Martin Rapide production plans are accelerating now that Ford has given the car the green light. (Photo courtesy of Aston Martin)

DEARBORN, Mich. — Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez said the Ford brand is moving quickly to build a production version of its Rapide concept.

The target is to reach North American showrooms ahead of the Porsche Panamera, which is due in 2009. "The Rapide will reach the market before the Panamera," Bez vowed to German magazine Automobilewoche.

The front-engine sedan will use an aluminum structure and borrow the 5.9-liter V12 from the Aston Martin DB9. Bez said volume estimates for the Rapide range from 300-500 units per year. Production of the Rapide is set for the company's Gaydon, England, facility.

The Rapide, a four-door high-performance coupe that some have described as a long-wheelbase DB9, began life with a series of exploratory sketches in summer 2005 and growing to a finished prototype earlier this year.

What this means to you: Luxury grudge matches are sweet.

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=115477#2

 

Styling alone, the Rapide looks so much better than the Panamera...

 

I love the new Aston Martin designs This look 10 times better than the ugly Maserati sedan.

 

Aston Martin Rapide? I'd hit it. Giggety giggety goo!

 

I'm with you, I don't think the Masarati sedan even looks like a luxury car & it doesn't look good at all.

 

Another for me too over the maserati.