2010 Aston Martin Rapide

Aston Martin, the British builder of exclusive coupes and convertibles, is the latest sports-car maker to try its hand at a four-door car. Aston's entry is called the Rapide, and it's slated to hit U.S. dealerships in May 2010 with a starting price around $200,000. I recently had the opportunity to check out the only Rapide currently in existence, and it's clear the graceful style that's come to define Aston Martin sports cars has been successfully translated to this car.

Some people might wonder why Aston Martin needs a four-door car. One of the goals with it is to enhance the brand's year-round appeal, according to Beth Paretta, an operations manager for Aston Martin North America. It's a “car that [customers will] use more than as just a Sunday-driver," she said.

One car that instantly comes to mind when considering the Rapide is Porsche's new Panamera four-door hatchback, but I like the Aston's styling much better. Whereas the Panamera tries to pull off a stretched-911 look, the Rapide retains the low-slung design and sleek lines of the automaker's sports cars. Even though it looks like a sedan in profile — albeit a sporty one — the Rapide is actually a hatchback like the Panamera; its rear decklid and rear window open as a unit.

The Rapide's doors rise upward slightly as you open them, which is a cool trick, but the cockpit is pretty snug; front legroom is adequate, but the car's low roofline comes really close to your head. The two-person backseat is tight for taller adults, especially in terms of legroom. It's much less roomy overall than the Panamera's backseat. Both cars have a center console that separates rear passengers, but the Rapide's is much larger.


Under the Rapide's long hood lurks a 6.0-liter V-12 that makes 470 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 443 pounds-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. The hand-assembled engine teams with a six-speed automatic transmission that includes paddle shifters on the steering column, and Aston Martin claims the car can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Unlike many cars that hide their engines under a sea of plastic panels, you have a good view of the Rapide's V-12 when you pop the hood, and it looks great.

If you've just hit the jackpot in Vegas and want to put a Rapide in your garage it won't be as easy as finding your nearest Aston Martin dealer. Customers will have to order their Rapide, according to Paretta, though demonstration models will be available at dealerships for test drives. Delayed gratification is such a drag.

Besides its good looks and performance potential, exclusivity will be a key selling point for the Rapide. I've already spotted a Panamera in the downtown Chicago parking garage we frequent with test cars, but I suspect it's going to be some time before I see a Rapide parked there, if ever.

More Photos

BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept

Auto show dream cars with glass doors never quite seem to graduate to reality; aside from that, a more conventional body is all that could keep this dream from becoming a latter-day M1.

What makes it tick? The Vision is a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-liter diesel engine and two electric motors. Total output is 356 horsepower, and peak torque is a body-slamming 590 pound-feet. Acceleration to 60 m.p.h. takes just 4.8 seconds, and the top speed is said to be 155. Average fuel consumption is 62.6 m.p.g., BMW says. The car has an electric-only range of 31 miles; but it is theoretically capable of more than 400 miles in combination with the fuel in its 6.6-gallon tank.

Porsche’s ‘Grandma’ Is L.A. Auto Show’s Coolest Car

LOS ANGELES — Of all the awesome cars packed into the L.A. Auto Show, this vintage Porsche was the one we most wanted to drive home.

We’re suckers for small sports cars, and this 1961 718/8 W-RS Spyder stole our hearts. What’s not to like? It’s small, it’s nimble and with 210 horsepower it’s got all the power we need to make the drive home on Highway 1 an absolute joy. Yeah, yeah, 210 ponies is nothing these days. But this car isn’t about brute power. It’s about finesse, and you can’t tell us this car wouldn’t be a blast on a tight, winding road.

Don’t take our word for it. Take Dan Gurney’s. He and co-driver Joachim Bonnier took second — behind a Ferrari — in this very car’s debut at the famed Targa Florio endurance race in 1961. The four-cylinder engine was swapped for an eight-cylinder in 1962, and the car won its class at the Targa Florio and the 1000 Km of Nurburgring. It finished second in the World Cup of Speed and Endurance that year. The little Porsche that could came back for the 1963 season, an unusually long lifespan that earned the car the nickname “Grandma” among the mechanics.

The 718 gave way to the equally beautiful 904 — which remains one of our favorite Porsches. And though Porsche doesn’t build them quite like this anymore, some of the 718’s DNA can be found in the new Boxster Spyder that Porsche unveiled here last week. At $61,200, the Boxster is a little more financially feasible, if not quite as cool.

Photos: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car is an electric powered supercar concept

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

The Audi Avatar is a concept vehicle which was created by Edwin Conan (Yi Yuan), a graduate of RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University in Australia. The Avatar was developed during Edwin's final year at the university as part of his degree project.

The Avatar is an electric powered supercar concept which is designed for about 20-25 years in the future. The shape was inspired by the 1937 Auto Union Type C Streamline racing car, and both cars - even though they are separated by a century - share the same clinical lines and pronounced wheel arches.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

There are no conventional doors to the Avatar, instead the vehicle utilizes a three-part canopy which opens upward to provide entry and exit. The main canopy opens forward together with the steering wheel and the dashboard, while two smaller canopies above the passenger seats open backwards. At the same time a panel in the bodywork drops down to act as a step.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

The interior of the Audi Avatar features a three-seat layout with the driver sitting in a central position forward of the passenger seats. The driver is met with a futuristic dashboard which consists of a transparent LCD display which provides all essential driving data. In the center of the steering wheel is another screen which provides navigation information. Additional information can also be projected onto the canopy to provide a heads-up-display similar to those found in high performance aircraft.

Thanks to a drive-by-wire system the Avatar's steering wheel can be swapped out quickly and easily in favor of a joystick or even a keypad depending on driver preferences.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

Powering the Audi Avatar is an all-electric drivetrain which comprises of four individual electric motors (one for each wheel), and a pair of high-performance battery packs. The battery packs are split in two to provide better weight distribution, one is located at the front and one at the rear. In total the projected output is 544 horsepower, and 4,500 Nm (3,319 lb-ft) of torque. This gives the car a theoretical top speed of 223 mph (360 Km/h), and a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 2.9 seconds.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

The wheels of the Avatar are housed inside the car's four 'legs'. The legs are constructed from a deformable material which allows it to change shape when the wheel is turned. To increase the vehicle's agility and handling, the Avatar features a four-wheel-steering system. The front wheels provide most of the steering, while the rear wheels can turn up to 10 degrees.

Citroen C3 pricing announced (UK)

Citroen UK has revealed prices on the all-new C3 supermini. Bigger, quirkier and more refined than before, the new C3 supermini will start from £10,790 for the entry-level VT 1.1i petrol model.

All models will have a 5 speed manual as standard, except the 1.6 HDi 110bhp which comes with a 6 speed manual. The 1.6 VTi 120bhp can be specified with a 4 speed automatic. With co-efficient drag of Cd 0.30, fuel economy of 74mpg combined can be achieved. At 3.94m long, the new C3 is 5cm shorter than the Clio.

Your £10,790 will buy you a 1.1i 61bhp in VT trim. VT trim comes with ABS w/EBD and EBA, MP3 compatible radio/CD player w/audio controls and 6 speakers, 60:40 split folding rear seats, twin front airbags, electrically adjustable/heated door mirrors, front electric windows and multi-function trip computer. This engine pumps out 134g/km of CO2 with combined fuel economy of 48.7mpg. From 2011, even more efficient powertrains - as well as Citroën's second generation Stop & Start system will be presented. Two diesel engines will emit CO2 at just 90g/km and 95g/km, whilst models fitted with Citroën's new generation 3 pot petrol engines will emit less than 100g/km – replacing the 61bhp 1.1i.

Set to be the most popular trim level, VTR+ starts at £12,690. This gets you a 1.4 VTi petrol engine that produces 95bhp. Standard equipment includes VT plus a 1.35m panoramic Zenith windscreen w/sunblind and sun visors, air conditioning, 15" alloy wheels, Gear Efficiency Indicator (GEI), front fog lights, ambient interior lighting, x6 airbags, ISOFIX mountings, leather steering wheel and cruise control w/speed limiter. The 1.4 HDi 70bhp starts at £13,790.

Flagship Exclusive is priced at £15,670. The 1.6 HDi 110bhp 6 speed manual starts at £16,140. All diesels (Euro V – 1.4 HDi 70bhp, 1.6 HDi 90bhp and 110bhp) have emissions of 115g/km or less. The 1.6 litre VTi 120bhp petrol engine pollutes 158g/km with combined fuel economy of mpg. Exclusive trim adds VTR+ plus digital air-conditioning, front and rear 'one-touch' electric windows, electrically folding door mirrors, part-Alcantara upholstery, 16" alloy wheels and dark tinted rear windows.

Special edition Airdream+ adds VTR+ specification with rear parking sensors and Bluetooth® w/ USB box as standard. Powering this eco-model is a specially tuned 1.6 HDi 90bhp diesel engine with DPFS (Diesel Particulate Filter System), that returns 74.3mpg combined with CO2 emissions of 99g/km, thus making it tax-free.

Options include ESP, 10 exterior colours, 16” & 17” black diamond dipped alloy wheels – the latter offering a so-so ride on UK roads, MyWay colour satellite navigation system w/Bluetooth® and USB connectivity, 8 speaker Hi-Fi system, Visibility Pack (automatic headlights and wipers and auto-dimming rear-view mirror) and leather interior.

The large 300 litre boot outperforms the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i20 & Accent, Kia Rio, Chevrolet Aveo, Vauxhall/Opel Corsa, Skoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza, Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris, Peugeot 207, Fiat Grande Punto/Punto Evo, Renault Clio, Mazda2, Nissan Micra, Daihatsu Sirion/Subaru Justy/Perodua Myvi and Dacia Sandero. The Honda Jazz still outshines rivals with its 399 litre boot.

Gary Savage, Citroën UK's Managing Director, said, "The stylish, grown-up, yet fun Citroën C3 is impossible to confuse with any other car. Retaining the exuberant charm and friendly personality of its predecessor, the new C3 represents a bold, contemporary, dynamically rewarding and fresh approach to the compact family vehicle, and provides a unique offering with that sensational panoramic Zenith windscreen.

In these exciting times for Citroën, new models such as C3 clearly show the confidence of the brand. This new car illustrates our determination to exceed expectations, to do away with convention and to provide practical benefits through the use of Créative Technologie."

Orders are being taken now with first deliveries on the 15th January 2010.

Aston Martin Rapide pricing announced (UK/U.S)

Aston Martin's Rapide will be launched early next year, with prices starting from £139,950. A 470bhp with 600Nm version of Aston Martin's 6.0 litre V12 engine should allow it to blend supercar performance with its limousine credentials. Top speed is 188mph.

Standard UK equipment includes standard specification including: Bang & Olufsen sound system tailored specifically for Rapide, heated memory seats, dual cast brakes and Adaptive Damping System.

As Aston Martin's first production four-door sports car, the Rapide has been designed to blend extra practicality with the company's trademark sports-car dynamics.

The cars are being built at Aston Martin's Rapide factory in Graz, Austria. Each car will take around 220 hours to create. Orders are being taken now, for deliveries from April.

Across the pond however, the Rapide will start at $199,950 in the United States. The Rapide will take on the Porsche Panamera, although the Turbo variant starts at $132,600.

Dacia Duster (First Photos)

Dacia today has presented official photos of the first off-road car which has received name Duster. The price becomes the main advantage of this car – in Old World Dacia Duster 15 000 euros for a base complete set will cost an order. That is Duster it will appear in Europe the most accessible 5-door off-road car. Dacia prepares the off-road car, it was known for a long time already. Also was not a secret that the car will receive name Duster. And, nevertheless, occurrence of official photos has caused a great interest.

Beautiful Duster to name difficult. The car at the Romanian designers has turned out any gloomy, but, probably, they and achieved it. After all for off-road cars similar appearance – the blessing. Especially when target audience are men. However, it is necessary to tell at once that high-grade off-road car Dacia Duster nevertheless is not. Yes, it will have an all wheel drive system and a road gleam in 200 mm. But thus the car will do without a powerful frame, and blocking of differentials here too will not appear (after all at the heart of Duster the platform from Logan) lies. Besides, Dacia will begin release and budgetary versions with a drive gear only on one shaft.

Well and under cowl Duster will start to put well familiar to us on model Logan the gasoline engine in volume of 1,6 l (110 h.p.). Also there will be a 1,5-litre diesel engine in two versions: 85 h.p. and 105 h.p. Base complete set Duster will appear not too rich (but silly to expect updates from such cheap off-road car). But, nevertheless, the car will receive ABS, two pillows of safety (installation of four pillows is possible). As an option antispin system will be offered.