Aston Martin joins the four door sports car brigade
Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera and
Mercedes-Benz CLS have something in common. Four doors in a
sporting carriage. Sensing a niche, Aston Martin have also
leapt in with the Aston Martin Rapide, shown as a concept car
at the Detroit Auto Show. Having studied many photos of this
car, I think it has to be one of the most beautiful cars ever
built.
This
Rapide (as opposed to the old Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide) is
definitely ‘rapid’, with a 6 liter V12, 480 hp engine powering
the coupe which is the work of Aston Martin Design Director
Marek Reichman, in conjunction with CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.
One reason that Aston has managed to produce this car so
quickly lies in Aston Martin’s unique VH (Vertical/Horizontal)
architecture, instead of the more usual monocoque
construction, or the outdated (but still used) body on chassis
designs (that’s one ton pick-up language around here).
The VH architecture was developed to offer exceptional
manufacturing flexibility. This high-strength, low-mass
architecture forms the backbone (or skeleton) of the current
generation of Aston Martins, spearheaded by the DB9 Coupé and
flanked by the DB9 Volante and the Vantage.
The
extruded aluminum construction of the VH architecture can be
modified in both length and width, and the body panels (mixes
of aluminum and composite materials) are then
chemically-bonded to the VH ‘chassis’. This produces different
body shapes very easily, without losing the inherently good
chassis/suspension/motor/gearbox/diff package. At 5 meters
long, the Rapide is 30cm longer than a DB9, and only 140kg
heavier.
While the VH architecture is new, the concept has been used
before by Aston Martin. In the decades following the war, the
David Brown era cars used the strong chassis and tube
‘Superleggera’ construction in the early DB series. This
allowed modifications and in the 1970s and 80s, Aston Martin
could accommodate almost any customer request, and four-door
variants of the V8 and Virage models were built for a select
number of discerning customers.
The
interior is as you would expect. Half a forest and a herd of
cows sacrificed to clothe the interior. However, the piece de
resistance is the chiller cabinet in the boot, perfectly
shaped to hold a couple of bottles of Jacquesson champagne,
along with four elegant flutes. In the interest of safety, the
driver and passengers will have to stop to get their chilled
champers out of the boot. (I doubt if she could afford it, but
this would have to be the ideal car for our Agony Aunt
Hillary.)
Like all Aston Martins, the Rapide is a superlative performer.
Powered by the V12 engine from the DB9 but uprated to 480
brake horsepower mated to a ZF Touchtronic gearbox, the car
has performance equivalent to the DB9, although the gearing
has been adjusted to suit the longer wheelbase and more
refined ride. Carbon brakes and calipers, a first for Aston
Martin, give the Rapide immense stability and stopping power.
“A sports car is not simply characterized by the number of
doors,” says Dr Bez, “so a four door car can still have the
looks and performance of a sports car and the Rapide is
certainly true to its name, providing an unrivalled way of
taking four adults on a long-distance journey along any type
of road.” Despite that being Aston Martin blurb, I have to say
I would agree. All of the DB series I have driven have been
superlative sporting chariots, without a doubt. And today’s
are even better.
The only problem is the price. I would estimate that one of
these landed in this country would probably set you back
around 35 million baht, and the friendly neighborhood Aston
Martin agents seem to be fairly thin on the ground out
Chonburi way!
Autotrivia
Quiz
Last week I mentioned that wonderful film ‘Genevieve’. It
was released in 1953 and was loosely based around the London
to Brighton Commemoration run, organized by the RAC in the UK.
There were two cars that were the (automotive) stars of the
film. One was a Dutch Spyker, and the other was Genevieve, a
1904 Darracq. The film was very popular, and Genevieve became
known all over the world. However, with fame there are often
people who are ready to show something seedy in your past.
Genevieve was not ‘really’ a 1904 12 hp model, but had been
built from many Darracq’s and the radiator was actually from a
15 hp model. But of even more interest for the film buffs was
the fact that the producer Henry Cornelius wanted a British
Lanchester in the starring role. The question was why did he
eventually use a French Darracq instead of the British
Lanchester? The answer was simply that he could not find a
Lanchester owner in the UK willing to lend his car for the
film!
So to this week. The pre-war Opel Kadett resurfaced in 1947 in
another country, and called the “Son of XXXXXX”. By what name
was it known as in the rest of the world?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
“Our” Motor Show well
into planning phase
With all the publicity given to the Detroit Auto
Show, we should not forget that the Bangkok International
Motor Show is recognized by the Organization Internationale
des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA) as being one of the
premier motor shows in the world. This is not a recognition
given lightly, and it was some years before we were
accredited. But the Bangkok Show at the end of March is fully
acknowledged by OICA. Dates this year are March 24 until April
2.
As well as all the new cars, there are special events which
include a Classic Car Show, the Mustang Club (relive in your
mind the car chase from Bullitt, the 1968 movie starring Steve
McQueen and his GT 390 Mustang), Sports Car show, the VW Club,
the Austin Mini show and even classic motorcycles, and more.
As more details come to hand, I will let you know through this
column.
In search of a “classic”
I am sure that many of you are like me and either
subscribe to, or read someone else’s (appeals to my Scottish
heritage), classic car magazines. Since I really haven’t got
the money to buy anything even vaguely described as “classic”
also means that I spend much of the reading time coloured
green with envy.
My Classic 1970
However,
there are exceptions. I have just read an advertisement
stating, “Two 1976 BMW 2002 models. 1 runs, 1 parts. New eng.
trans. Own a classic. 75 percent restored, both for $1000.
Call 12345.” Of course, this never to be repeated offer is in
the United States of America (in God We Trust - all others pay
cash) and by the time I could get the 75 percent restored
bargains here, and paid freight and import duty, I might as
well have bought a new one with a ‘Bangle Bottom’ from my
friendly BMW sales outlet.
That reminds me of a true story about a chap, in Pattaya in
Thailand, who did bring in a classic – a fully restored 1970
MGB. Beautiful condition after a ground-up restoration. The
Thai Customs looked at this gleaming BRG jewel on the docks
and levied 300,000 baht duty. This was not negotiable and had
to be paid, or it could sit on the docks forever. The
importing (hope to be) owner queried this. “The car is 30
years old,” said he. “Yes. But look new,” said the smiling
customs man (Thailand is the Land of Smiles, after all). After
what he had expended to buy it in the UK and the freight to
get it out to SE Asia, he paid up, wiping tears from his eyes
as he shelled out.
But back to you and I, in our search for the classic car that
we deserve. I have always looked in back yards, hoping that
one day I will spot an abandoned Invicta 4 ½ litre low chassis
Black Prince, that just needs a quick wash and polish and a
full tank of gas. I also dream about having my wicked way with
any of the Charlie’s Angels female leads, which is probably
slightly more likely than finding said Invicta low chassis
Black Prince, with or without the tankful of gas. Currently
the closest I have come to an Invicta is a dilapidated
Tuk-Tuk, which on the desirable ratings scale between 1-10
comes in at a resounding 0.25. Charlie’s Angels are currently
not returning my emails.
But I actually have owned some classic cars amongst the
hundred or so that have passed through my hands. Porsche 911
Targa, MG TC (several), MG TD (a brace), MGA, MGB, Leyland
Clubman 1275 GT (OK, I know that one’s getting fairly close to
‘average’, but they are remembered with fondness). Those will
do for starters.
There is only one problem, however. When I had ownership of
these vehicles, they were not considered to be ‘classics’ – it
was only after I sold them that they became ‘wanted’. During
my tenure they were generally thought of as “old bangers”. I
could get depressed at this, but it is not my nature. Look on
the positive side, I say.
If the old MG’s and the 1973 Porsche Targa became classics,
what about the other cars that have sat in my garage and
leaked oil on the floor? Will they turn into classics by this
time next year? Is now the time to rush out and buy a green
and white 1958 Fiat 1100? Or perhaps a pale blue 1953 side
valve V8 Ford Customline? Or what about a slant six VJ Valiant
wagon circa 1973? However, even I doubt whether these will
ever make ‘classic’ standing.
So what can I re-purchase? Perhaps the Mk VII M Jaguar is half
a chance. Or the Series I Mazda RX-7. The MX-5 Miata is too
new and they are still for sale, so that’s out. A Daihatsu
Mira defies all logic. A GS 1220 Citroen ditto, and the same
for its bigger brother, the CX 2200. A Toyota Crown? No,
surely. A ‘lift-back’ 1975 Toyota Celica ‘mini-Mustang’ might
just scrape in. I’ve seen a couple of notch-backs recently, so
I can continue looking. Yes, that’s my new classic car
project!
In the meantime, does anyone have Drew Barrymore’s phone
number?
