• Aston Martin’s first electric model – Rapide E – now ready for production
• Car unveiled at Auto Shanghai by Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman
• Rapide E features 800V battery system for greater charging efficiencies
• Twin rear-mounted motors produce 610PS and 950Nm of torque
• Production limited to 155 examples
• Visit Aston Martin’s stand – Hall 8 Stand 8A31

16 April 2019, Shanghai, China: Aston Martin Lagonda has revealed the final production-ready iteration of its first all-electric production car, with the spectacular Rapide E making its world debut at China’s Auto Shanghai motor show.

Unveiled by Aston Martin Executive Vice President & Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, Rapide E is a pivotal model for the luxury marque. Following the success of previous special-edition models, including Aston Martin Vulcan, the Vanquish Zagato family and DB4 GT Continuation, Rapide E continues to deliver a superior level of performance, craftmanship and exclusivity, while also propelling Aston Martin into the all-electric realm.

The first car to be built at Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art St Athan production facility – the brand’s Home of Electrification – Rapide E represents a pioneering first step towards achieving the company’s wider electrification strategy and the successful fruition of Lagonda – the world’s first zero-emission luxury brand. A special edition with a production run strictly limited to 155 units, Rapide E has been developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE).

Shown for the first time here in Shanghai today, Aston Martin’s design and engineering teams have worked in partnership to extract the optimal aerodynamic performance available from the Rapide’s elegant form. Traditional metal vanes give way to a striking honeycomb front grille. With lower cooling requirements demanded of the EV powertrain, Aston Martin’s aerodynamic engineers have been given the freedom to optimize the aperture of the frontal area, minimising airflow through the car’s body, improving the car’s aerodynamic efficiency and increasing range as a result.

A re-designed underfloor streamlines airflow from the front splitter right the way through to Rapide E’s new larger rear diffuser – a feature that is now wholly dedicated to aero efficiency due to the removal of the exhaust system required before. The model’s forged aluminium aerodynamic wheels – shod with bespoke low rolling-resistance Pirelli P-Zero tyres – have also been re-designed to give greater efficiency, without compromising brake cooling capability. The sum of these changes gives Rapide E’s aerodynamic package an 8% improvement over the previous internal combustion model.

Inside and out, Rapide E is equipped with the materials and technology befitting of the marque’s first EV model. Gone are the analogue displays of the past. A 10” digital display now sits in their place, delivering all key information to the driver while on the move, including the battery’s state of charge, current motor power levels, regenerative performance and a real-time energy consumption meter. Swathes of carbon fibre have been deployed throughout, assisting in delivering the strict weight targets set by Aston Martin’s engineering team from the outset.

Extending the experience beyond the car, a dedicated app allows key information from the car to be remotely monitored. This powerful dashboard displays remaining range, battery status, and time to charge, as well as allowing navigation destinations to be sent from the app to the car for easy route planning. The car’s parking spot can also be seen via the app, with walking directions provided to help re-locate it in busy locations. Finally, the health and status of Rapide E can also be tracked from the app, providing reminders such as when a key service is due.

Throughout the development process, the combined AML/WAE engineering team first focussed their efforts on finding packaging solutions for the battery system and motors within the Rapide’s architecture before working to achieve effective cooling of the batteries and motors.

Rapide E is powered by an 800V electrical architecture battery – encased in carbon fibre and Kevlar casing – with a 65kWh installed capacity using over 5600 lithium-ion 18650 format cylindrical cells. This bespoke battery pack lies where the original 6.0-litre V12, gearbox and fuel tank were located, with the 800V system allowing for more efficient charging and greatly improved thermal characteristics over existing electrical architectures. This battery system powers two rear mounted electric motors producing a combined target output of just over 610PS and a colossal 950Nm of torque.

Rapide E’s range is over 200 miles under the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), while the model is capable of charging at a rate of 185^1,2 miles of range per hour using a typical 400V 50kW charger. However, the car’s 800V high-voltage battery system enables faster charging of 310^1,2 miles of range per hour, using an 800V outlet delivering 100kW or higher. For destination charging, the car also features an industry-leading high-power AC on-board charger capable of recharging the battery in as little as 3 hours.

Top speed for Rapide E is 155mph, with a sub-4.0 second 0-60mph time and a 50-70mph time of just 1.5 seconds. These figures are not restricted to a narrow window of battery charge or climatic conditions, instead, thanks to the cutting-edge 800V architecture, the Rapide E will deliver its performance in a consistent and repeatable way as would be expected from a traditional Aston Martin product. This includes the ability to drive a full lap of the Nürburgring with no performance derating of the battery or the motors.

Rapide E also enhances the feel, character and delivery of the V12-engined recently acclaimed Rapide AMR, thanks to careful attention paid to the tuning of both the electric powertrain and the chassis across three driving modes – GT, Sport and Sport + – which are selected for both the powertrain and handling. The rear-wheel drive Rapide E’s twin electric motors drive through a Limited-Slip Differential, which combined with a revised spring and damper rates, ensures the pure handling characteristics of the petrol-powered Rapide AMR are retained.

Speaking ahead of Rapide E’s Shanghai debut, Dr Andy Palmer, President and Group CEO, Aston Martin Lagonda, commented: “Unveiling the Rapide E will be a huge moment for Aston Martin. As our first all-electric production car, it is a truly historic step. One that signals Aston Martin is prepared for the huge challenge of an environmentally responsible and sustainable future. As a car company we cannot afford to passively allow that future to come to us; we have to actively chase it. Only by doing this can we learn and prepare, but also preserve those things we love as drivers and car enthusiasts. That’s why it was so important to me that in embracing EV technology we should not let go of those unique qualities that define an Aston Martin. I believe Rapide E embodies that desire and paves the way for a hugely exciting future.”

Rapide E is available to order now, with prices available on application.

Technical Specification – Rapide E

Body

• Four-door body style with tailgate & four individual seats
• Extruded aluminium bonded body structure
• Aluminium & carbon fibre body panels
• Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
• Single bi-xenon headlamps with integrated LED side lights & direction indicators
• Clear LED rear lamps & direction indicators
• Carbon Fibre Splitter, Side Sills, and Diffuser

Powertrain

• Rear-mounted twin-motors, rear-wheel drive
• Twin 3-phase Surface Permanent Magnet Radial Flux Synchronous Motors
• Max motor speed: 11,500 rpm
• Max power: 450 kW (604 bhp / 612 PS)
• Max torque: 950Nm (700 lb-ft)
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph in <4.0 sec; 0-100 km/h in 4.2 sec
• Max speed: 155mph (250 km/h) electronically limited
• Rear mounted, single speed, offset architecture, helical gearbox
• Mechanical limited-slip differential
• Final drive ratio: 6.099:1

Steering

• Electro-hydraulically assisted rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive, power assisted steering
• 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
• Column tilt & reach adjustment

Wheels & Tyres

• 21” aero wheels
• Front Tyre: 245/35 Pirelli P-Zero
• Rear Tyre: 295/30 Pirelli P-Zero

Suspension

• Front Independent double wishbones incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
• Rear Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
• 3-stage Adaptive Damping System

Brakes

• Front dual-cast brake discs, 400 mm diameter with six-piston calipers
• Rear dual-brake discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston calipers
• 3-stage Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Traction Control (TC)
• Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
• Positive Torque Control (PTC)
• Electronic Park Brake (EPB)
• Dark Anodised Brake Calipers

Dimensions

• Length: 5,019 mm (197.6”)
• Width: 1,929 mm (75.9”) excluding mirrors; 2140 mm (84.3”) including mirrors
• Height: 1,350 mm (53.1”)
• Wheelbase: 2,989 mm (117.7”)
• Battery capacity: 65 kWh (99Ah)
• Weight: 2,140 kg (4387 lb)

In-car entertainment

• 10” electronic driver’s display with digital dials
• 8” LCD Screen
• Aston Martin App with remote dashboard
• DAB radio
• AM/FM radio
• Apple Carplay
• Android Auto

 

 

 

ASTON MARTIN REVEALS FUTURE PROOF CARS AT AUTO SHANGHAI

• Global debut of production-ready Rapide E, the first all-electric Aston Martin
• AM-RB 003 and Lagonda All-Terrain Concept make China show debut
• Aston Martin Lagonda and Shang-Xia announce creative collaboration
• Aston Martin’s Auto Shanghai display is located in Hall 8 on Stand 8A31

16 April 2019, Shanghai, China: British luxury car maker Aston Martin Lagonda is today celebrating the global debut of its first all-electric model, the Rapide E, at the world-renowned Auto Shanghai motor show. Alongside the production-ready Rapide E, the hotly-anticipated AM-RB 003 and Lagonda All-Terrain Concept are making their debuts in China after being revealed at the Geneva Motor Show last month.

The Aston Martin Rapide E, the marque’s first all-electric model, will be built at St Athan in Wales, Aston Martin’s home of electrification. Just 155 examples of the car developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering will be built. With twin electric motors producing over 610PS and 950Nm of torque it is the most powerful Rapide model yet.

The AM-RB 003 concept car on show at Shanghai is the first taster of what will become Aston Martin’s third mid-engined hypercar. The sublime AM-RB 003, heavily-influenced by the game-changing Aston Martin Valkyrie is being developed in partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies. Described as both evolutionary and revolutionary, AM-RB 003 will incorporate F1^TM technologies that will provide it with unparalleled levels of performance.

Aston Martin Lagonda is also proud to present the first glimpse in China of the first production model from its Lagonda brand, whose cars will all be driven by zero emission powertrain technologies. The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept showcases the unique design language of Lagonda – ultra-stylish and supremely luxurious – providing numerous clues to the Lagonda models of the future, while broadening the new brand’s horizons with a car that is as comfortable in the city as it is in the wildest countryside.

Aston Martin has a long-held commitment to the rapidly-growing Chinese market, highlighted in 2018 with the announcement of a £620m trade and investment programme in the region, which has already seen an expansion in its dealer network and the commencement of a design and innovation partnership with the prestigious Tongji University in Shanghai. In addition to this, Aston Martin recently opened its first global brand centre in China. The ‘House of Beautiful’ in Shanghai showcases every aspect of the Aston Martin brand, reinforcing the British brand’s commitment to the region which registered a 31% growth in 2018.

The first fruits of an exciting collaboration between Aston Martin Lagonda and Shang-Xia, a brand established by the world-famous designer Jiang Qiong Er and France’s Hermès Group, has also been revealed in Shanghai. This creative collaboration’s first project is a set of limited edition “Shang Xia” carbon fibre chairs. Inspired by the beauty and craftmanship of Shang Xia and Chinese tradition, Q by Aston Martin has developed a family of cars to pair with the chairs, uniquely painted to match the colours of Aston Martin. With a shared culture of craftmanship, heritage and innovation, the two brands are in a unique position to work together to create truly bespoke, luxury products.

Marek Reichman, EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Aston Martin Lagonda, commented: “The automotive world is developing at a rapid pace and these three models demonstrate the direction we have taken with Aston Martin’s product strategy to future proof our business. Unveiling Rapide E is a milestone for Aston Martin as it kickstarts a new era for Aston Martin’s future powertrain strategy. The Chinese market continues to be strong for us as we see the benefits of the investments we made to strengthen our brand and our sales infrastructure throughout the region.”

Aston Martin’s Auto Shanghai display is located in Hall 8 on Stand 8A31