Rapide caught nude

[2o6]

Spied Naked. Aston's design language is looking a bit tired, but I still like it. It looks great.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Your-spyshots/Aston-Martin-Rapide-reader-spy-shots/

Copyrighted pics.

[Cookie Monster]

It looks like every other Aston on sale right now.

[sportyaccordy]

It looks like every other Aston on sale right now.

Yea pretty much. They need to Jag it up

[ChrisV]

It looks like every other Aston on sale right now.

Techncially it's a 4 door DB9, so yeah, looking the same was the entire point.

And it matters so much because Aston makes so many cars?

[sandertheshark]

Need some different wheels, but otherwise,

It's a good thing I can't afford to choose between this and the Maserati Quattroporte.

[TBR]

Techncially it's a 4 door DB9, so yeah, looking the same was the entire point.

And it matters so much because Aston makes so many cars?

The DB9 has been out for ~5 years and was based on a design language established in the mid-90s itself.

I think it looks fabulous, but Aston needs to make a change with their styling or I am afraid they will find themselves in the same boat Jaguar was in until recently.

[Minpin]

The DB9 has been out for ~5 years and was based on a design language established in the mid-90s itself.

I think it looks fabulous, but Aston needs to make a change with their styling or I am afraid they will find themselves in the same boat Jaguar was in until recently.

As long as the AM's keep selling like hot cakes, why should the designers care? 

[TBR]

As long as the AM's keep selling like hot cakes, why should the designers care? 

Production lead times. Eventually the designs will fall out favor and the designers can't tell when.

[Hachee]

I personally think designs change too rapidly now.  Astons always had long model cycles, and the current designs are still beautiful and thoroughly modern.  They shouldn't go so long as to get stale, but I don't think the current crop of Astons has come close to this.  I do, however, think the DBS, which of course is gorgeous, is too much of a warmed over DB9, and not a worthy Vanquish successor, in terms of looks.  I loved that car.

[Colonel Cadillac]

The DB9 has been out for ~5 years and was based on a design language established in the mid-90s itself.

I think it looks fabulous, but Aston needs to make a change with their styling or I am afraid they will find themselves in the same boat Jaguar was in until recently.

I disagree, their cars are beautiful and so few sell that it's hard for them to look dated or be considered an old design. This design language can stick around for awhile longer.

The Rapide looks incredible, but why a 4 seater?  Why have a pretty wood console when you can have a seat? 4 seater sedans are ridiculous.

[TBR]

I disagree, their cars are beautiful and so few sell that it's hard for them to look dated or be considered an old design. This design language can stick around for awhile longer.

The Rapide looks incredible, but why a 4 seater?  Why have a pretty wood console when you can have a seat? 4 seater sedans are ridiculous.

Like I said, I think the design style has a bit of life in it, but if they don't start thinking about changing it they are in danger of getting caught with their pants down.

[ChrisV]

Like I said, I think the design style has a bit of life in it, but if they don't start thinking about changing it they are in danger of getting caught with their pants down.

Like Porsche.


er...

[TBR]

Like Porsche.


er...

No, like Aston Martin in the late '80s or Jaguar in the early '00s.

For whatever reason Porsche is a special case.

[SVT666]

I like it, but the back doors look a lot smaller then in previous pics.

[SVT666]

I personally think designs change too rapidly now. 

I don't think they change fast enough.  I like the days when there were differences every year.

[Minpin]

It's not like AM has needed any life changing redesigns in their lifetimes either. The DB5 and the DB9 still share a lot of similiar qualities, just like a 997 and the 911E

[TBR]

It's not like AM has needed any life changing redesigns in their lifetimes either. The DB5 and the DB9 still share a lot of similiar qualities, just like a 997 and the 911E

That's true. Porsche's style seems to be constantly evolving while AM's gets stuck in ruts every so often.

[sportyaccordy]

AM's style is only old in pictures. In the flesh the cars are phenomenally gorgeous

[mzziaz]

Gorgeous car, like alle current AMs.

However, the design really has been around for a while.

[Tave]

The Rapide looks incredible, but why a 4 seater?   Why have a pretty wood console when you can have a seat? 4 seater sedans are ridiculous.

You don't understand the idea of an Aston. Brilliance and class don't waste their time with a bench seat. Grandma Phyllis and Uncle Johnny aren't going to use it to haul the 4 kids to 7-11.

[Hachee]

That's true. Porsche's style seems to be constantly evolving while AM's gets stuck in ruts every so often.

The 911 is really a singular case - it's an iconic design that for whatever reason has continued to work, without looking dated.  There's probably never been another similar case.  Astons get stuck because (more so in the past), a design would go 10, 12 or more years, and by the end of the run, they're dated.  I personally loved the DB6 (V8), even at the end, but it was definitely a "classic" design by then. 

[CALL_911]

You don't understand the idea of an Aston. Brilliance and class don't waste their time with a bench seat. Grandma Phyllis and Uncle Johnny aren't going to use it to haul the 4 kids to 7-11.

Right, so why bother with a sedan at all?

[Minpin]

Right, so why bother with a sedan at all?

[Tave]

Right, so why bother with a sedan at all?

Because you can't take Sir Alfred and the lady Bethany to the Royal Philharmonic in a 2+2, you bloody idiot.

[Cookie Monster]

Oh my god... that's like a couple of MR2's and a few E30's right there.

[CALL_911]

Because you can't take Sir Alfred and the lady Bethany to the Royal Philharmonic in a 2+2, you bloody idiot.

Sir Alfred and lady Bethany never wanted an Aston.

[MrH]

Well, Porsche used to be the most profitable car manufacturer before making the terrible decision to buy up VW, so you can't really criticize the way they go about design.

However, I will agree Aston Martins are good looking cars.  But honestly, they've never really done much for me.  Everyone here basically creams their pants when someone posts an image of one.  Good looking cars, but nothing that's really sparked my interest all that much.

[Tave]

Sir Alfred and lady Bethany never wanted an Aston.

It's not their car. It's yours. You're Sir Henry, and you want something in the stable to take your mates out for a night on the town.


And anyone with a Phantom or Aston in the driveway could have both if they wanted them (and probably do).

[TBR]

Well, Porsche used to be the most profitable car manufacturer before making the terrible decision to buy up VW, so you can't really criticize the way they go about design.

However, I will agree Aston Martins are good looking cars.  But honestly, they've never really done much for me.  Everyone here basically creams their pants when someone posts an image of one.  Good looking cars, but nothing that's really sparked my interest all that much.

Most profitable per unit. And I think their investment operations are part of the problem (for a couple of years they were actually legally considered an investment bank).

[omicron]

Sir Alfred and lady Bethany never wanted an Aston.

Good God, man. A Phantom is for footballers with leather balls for heads and coiffured stick-insects draped on either side, not the old-money elite! A trip to finishing school is in order.