View all newsletters
Latest in Luxury - Sign up to our weekly newsletter
  1. Luxury Transport
  2. Automotive
June 18, 2013updated Jul 05, 2013

Track Day: Aston Martin Rapide S

By Chris Boyle

By Mike Espindle

rapide-s-track-14 resizedI supposed the old Southern phrase “hotter than Georgia asphalt and slicker than owl s***” was particularly apt for my hot and rainy test drive this weekend of Aston Martin’s latest Rapide four-door tourer at the challenging Atlanta Motorsports Park in bootlegger country near Dawsonville, Georgia.

But despite some potentially adverse conditions, the newly tagged Rapide S, took to the track better than any four-door road car I’ve even tried out. The track at AMP sports an endless, long, looping curve at the tail end and I was fully expected to have the Rapide S rear shimmy a bit on me, especially since I am a middling track driver at best. But this amazing car stayed on point and rock solid as I increased by speed on each circuit of the track. A new bolder nose design and larger rear flip may contribute to the car’s handling at high speed. But the real news for this iteration of the Rapide is a new engine: The AM11, a 5.9-liter V12 powerplant with a hp jump from 470 in the previous Rapide to 550 in the Rapide S. New active shock dampening is included as well, and, like the engine, is thanks to developments from Aston Martin’s latest Vanquish flagship auto.

rapide-s-track-14 2 resizedAfter a full day on the track, doing things most four-doors can only dream of, the Rapide S solidifies its position as the world’s most beautiful, and most race worthy, four door sports car in the world. Look for a full review in an upcoming issue of Elite Traveler.

www.astonmartin.com

Content from our partners
W New York - Times Square: "We Do Things Differently"
The Finest Destinations to Fly Private with Qatar Executive
A Weekend Travel Guide to Austin, Texas

Select and enter your email address Be the first to know about the latest in luxury lifestyle. Get the latest news on hotel openings and in-depth travel guides. Get insider access to exclusive promotions and special offers from our luxury partners.
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thank you for subscribing to Elite Traveler.

Websites in our network