Aston Martin is readying its first-ever production electric car, the RapidE. It's based on a concept from 2015 of the same name and the brand has confirmed today that the car will hit the road in 2019, with a limited production run of 155 units.
Some sketches revealed by the company show how the RapidE will look - very much like a standard Rapide S, but with some design elements in blue to denote that it's as EV version.
Williams Advanced Engineering, the division of the famous racing team that develops bespoke road cars, will be helping out with the car's design and production.
The Aston Martin RapidE will be a four-door coupe just like the normal Rapide S, except the 6.0-litre V12 engine is replaced with a fully electric powertrain. At this stage, Aston hasn't given us any details about the powertrain beyond that but in 2015 CEO Andy Palmer told Auto Express that four-wheel drive is essential given the power the vehicle will provide - possibly as much as 1,000bhp. And although battery technology is moving on at a pace, a range of well over 200 miles could be expected from the luxurious GT car.
"Electric power gives us the performance we want, although you won't have a V12 noise - you'll have something that works just as well for a luxury vehicle - silence. And you'll have zero emissions," he told us at the 2015 New York Motor Show.
According to Palmer, there won't be a huge difference in weight between a battery-powered RapidE and a V12 model, once the engine and drivetrain has been removed. Batteries will be stored under the bonnet and down the spine of the car, while an inverter would sit in the boot and electric motors would power the front and rear wheels, making this an all-wheel drive Aston.
A battery-powered Rapide wouldn't be cheap, though - it could be in the region of £200,000, although the falling cost of batteries may see that drop slightly.
Do you like the idea of electric Aston Martins? Have your say in the comments section...
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