Unveiled among other electric vehicles at the Shanghai Auto Show, the Aston Martin Rapide E stole the show.
Aston's four-door electric car has been in development for a number of years now, and is the first car that they are building at the new St Athan production facility.
Featuring a design that sets it apart from the conventionally powered Rapide, the subtle differences make for a great-looking vehicle.
A 65kWh battery that is surrounded in carbon fibre and Kelvar sits where the 6.0-litre V12 is usually found, and powers the 800V system. Aston Martin worked with Williams Advanced Engineering to create the model that sends 448 kW and 950Nm of torque to the rear wheels.
Looking at performance, the Rapide E will shoot from 0-100km/h in just under four seconds and will max out at 250km/h.
Complete with a range of over 320km, the Aston Martin matches its EV counterparts in both performance and drivability. The vehicle also incorporates a fast charging on-board system that can refill the batteries in just three hours.
Aston Martin didn't overlook the handling either, alongside revised spring and damper rates, a limited slip differential ensures that all the power gets down to the ground evenly.
The revised exterior of the car reflects the electric driveline, and combined with the paint scheme, looks like something out of the movie 'Tron'.
“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.” Aston Martin chief executive Andy Palmer said.
With Aston Martin limiting the production of the Rapide E to just 155 units worldwide, we'd be surprised to see one make it to our shores.
