Aston Martin Rapide (2010)

The 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is closely related to the company’s two-door DB9 and V8 Vantage coupes and convertibles. All use a mostly aluminum rear-wheel-drive architecture that Aston calls “VH” (for “Vertical/Horizontal”). Because it’s easily varied in wheelbase and other dimensions, this platform is a money-saver that allows all Astons to be built in the same factory with much of the same tooling and componentry.
The Rapide concept used a tuned 480 horsepower version of the company’s 6.0-liter V12 engine. The production 2010 Aston Martin Rapide should have it too, though perhaps with further tweaking to, say, an even 500 horses. Appropriate for a sporting but posh sedan, there’s likely to be only one transmission, a rear-mounted six-speed automatic with manual shift paddles. Suspension, steering, brakes and other underskin components should also come from the DB9, though modified where needed for this longer and heavier car.