Rapide S is the only sport car of Aston Martin that's
equipped with four-door. Yes, this can be regarded as a regular sedan which
gets a touch of luxury and toughness that has become the tradition of Aston
Martin.
Physically, maybe we can think that the Rapide S is a proper
competitor for the Tesla Model S - four-door with sexy curves, luxurious
interior and outstanding performance. Unfortunately, the competition seems
unfair because the Rapide S is still dependent on gasoline engine.
Therefore, Aston Martin needs to replace the V12 engine of
Rapide S with a pure electric-powered motor if this company really wants to
create a real competitor for Tesla Model S. And apparently, Aston Martin takes
this competition seriously by introducing the RapidE Concept.
RapidE name directly illustrates that this car is part of
the Rapide line, and at the same time the letter "E" is an indication
that it doesn't produce any carbon emissions, because it is an electric car.
Aston Martin RapidE Concept was displayed to coincide with
the visit of the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, to England. There Aston Martin
announced that they have signed a letter of intent with an investment firm from
China, ChinaEquity, for the development process of RapidE Concept in the
future.
So far there has been no detailed information about the
RapidE Concept. Previously, the CEO of Aston Martin, Andy Palmer, had explained
that they were working on an electric car with power of 800-1000 horsepower. If
the development process could run without a hitch, the debut of Aston Martin's
electric sedan will go on sale in 2017.