Aston Martin Rapide AMR revealed with 603 PS V12

After being previewed at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin has finally presented the new Rapide AMR, which becomes the latest model parked under the performance sub-brand after the DB11 AMR.

Limited to just 210 cars, the British automaker describes the Rapide AMR as “a sports car capable of comfortably transporting a team of race drivers to a circuit on the other side of a continent and then tackling the track when they get there.”

Logically, it gets a number of enhancements over a standard Rapide to make sure it is up to the task. For starters, the 5.9 litre naturally-aspirated V12 (the brand markets it as a 6.0 litre) gets larger inlet manifolds derived from the Vantage GT12 as well as new calibration for the engine and eight-speed Touchtronic III automatic gearbox.

The result is 603 PS at 7,000 rpm and 630 Nm of torque, all of which goes to the rear wheels with the help of a limited-slip differential. Despite the changes, the Rapide AMR shares the same 0-100 km/h time as the 560 PS-rated Rapide S at 4.4 seconds, but has a slightly higher top speed of 330 km/h (versus 327 km/h).

Power gains aside, the Rapide AMR has also been made to be a more dynamic and agile car in the corners. It rides 10 mm lower than the Rapide S and the three stage adaptive dampers have been tweaked to support this initiative.

Meanwhile, carbon ceramic brakes provide better stopping power with 400 mm discs at the front (six-piston calipers) and 360 mm units at the rear (four-piston calipers). A first for Aston Martin are the 21-inch wheels that aid in cooling the massive brakes, along with modified brake ducts and dust shields adapted from the Vanquish S.

Visually, the car looks largely identical to the concept from Geneva, with a detailed front grille and circular daytime running lights that are Zagato-inspired. Aerodynamic components like the splitter, sills, rear diffuser, ventilated bonnet and boot lid lip spoiler are all made of carbon-fibre.

Customers can choose from three different design schemes – Standard, Silhouette and Signature. The first two are offered with a choice of four colours Mariana Blue, Scintilla Silver, Lightning Silver and Onyx Black, with the Standard scheme adding AMR Lime accents to the splitter, sills and rear diffuser. The Silhouette gets a full-length contrasting stripe in China Grey or Clubsport White instead.

HyperFocal: 0

For that proper “AMR look,” you’ll want the Signature scheme that matches Stirling Green paint with Lime accents and a Lime stripe. According to the company, “this draws the closest visual link to the Aston Martin Racing team and the liveries of its race cars.”

These design schemes are reflected on the interior as well, available with either AMR Lime or Galena Silver welting and stitching. A full-length carbon-fibre centre console and Alcantara-trimmed seats reinforce the car’s sporty persona – both firsts for a Rapide. Each car comes with a unique AMR inspection plaque, plenty of AMR branding and carbon sill plaques. Pay a bit more and you can even get a One-77 style steering wheel.

Speaking of paying, the Rapide AMR will be priced at 194,950 pounds (RM1,040,366) in the United Kingdom, US$240,000 (RM958,920) in the United States and 229,950 euros (RM1,078,010) in Germany. The car will be available worldwide with the exception of China and Russia, and customer deliveries are scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2018. Do take note that these prices are before any customisation work by Aston Martin’s in-house Q division.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.