Aston Martin RapidE electric car gets Chinese support

China’s president Xi Jinping is in the UK for a state visit, and Aston Martin took the opportunity to showcase the RapidE concept – a fully electric version of the Rapide four-door sports saloon – outside Lancaster House in London. Xi met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, at the creative summit organised by the British government’s GREAT campaign.

At the event, Aston Martin and Chinese investment group, ChinaEquity, announced an agreement to explore the development of a production version of the RapidE concept. If successful, the new model will be constructed at Aston Martin’s HQ in Gaydon, UK, and could be brought to market in around two years.

“We see luxury electric vehicles as an intrinsic part of our future product portfolio and welcome ChinaEquity into the next phase of study for the project development. The exciting RapidE concept tangibly demonstrates the capability and ambition of Aston Martin towards developing low- and zero-emission sports cars,” said Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer.

ChinaEquity’s chairman Chaoyong Wang sounded positive. “We are excited to participate in the development of the RapidE and to make a contribution to Sino-British clean energy and green environmental strategy. We feel confident that there are significant opportunities for electric cars in China and the world,” he said.

The blue-badged RapidE concept was developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering at its facility in Grove, Oxfordshire. Word about an electric Rapide surfaced in August, when it was said that the car will have 800 hp and all-wheel drive. An electric range of 320 km is the target, and Palmer hinted at a price tag of between US$200k to US$250k (RM857k to RM1.07m).

More certain is the all-new DB9 replacement. To be called DB11, the first major product of the company’s Second Century Plan will make its debut next year. Spyshots of the next-gen sports car here.