2018 Aston Martin Rapide AMR revealed

Aston Martin’s ‘AMR’ badge has finally reached the Rapide, the brand’s ageing four-door.

Based on the eight-year-old car, the 2018 Aston Martin Rapide AMR will be limited to a run of 210 cars, available in a choice of three design specifications.

14

All three will share the same foundations, a 443kW/ 630Nm naturally aspirated 5.9-litre V12 – though the UK and Europe only get 440kW.

Aston says it’ll knock over 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds, shaving a few tenths off the time the Rapide S will run it in. 330km/h is the claim for a top speed.

A quad exhaust, new to the AMR, also ensures the car can’t be misheard as a standard Rapide.

14

The 21-inch wheels are a first for any Aston, according to the brand, and are wrapped in Michelin Super Sports. Behind these, carbon ceramic brakes measure 400mm at the front with six-piston calipers and 360mm at the rear with four-pots.

Aston Martin has also altered the Rapide’s suspension to ride 10mm lower than a Rapide S, while changing the tuning of the AMR’s adaptive dampers to be more focused and conducive to track driving.

The AMR is available in three different design packages, called ‘Standard, Silhouette, and Signature.’

14

Standard comes in four colours, Mariana Blue, Scintilla Silver, Lightning Silver, or Onyx Black, and has the iconic Lime accents, though Silhouette ditches the Lime for a contrasting China Grey or Clubsport White.

The Signature, Aston says, ‘draws the closest visual link to the Aston Martin Racing team and the liveries of its race cars.’ It features Stirling Green paint with Lime accents and a Lime stripe.

Aston CEO Andy Palmer says the Rapide AMR is now the brand’s most extreme four-door.

14

“AMR takes technology and inspiration from our motorsport programme to amplify the sporting prowess in our road cars which is clear to see in the Rapide AMR, Aston Martin’s most extreme, 4-door sports car,”

“With enhanced performance, sharper dynamics and more powerful design language, Aston Martin has taken Rapide to new and exciting extremes.”