Aston Martin’s motorsport AMR (Aston Martin Racing) division takes they’re normal road cars, and turns them into a more serious motorsport focused car. It is just like Mercedes’s AMG division or the BMW’s M division. So far we’ve seen the AMR badge on just about every Aston ranging from the DB11 to the high-end Aston Martin Valkyrie. What nobody was expecting is an Aston Martin Rapide AMR. While most wouldn’t see the Rapide AMR as a logical car to produce for Aston Martin considering that it hasn’t been updated in forever and nor does it have a strong consumer base, the point that people miss out on is that this is the very reason for the Rapide AMR.

With Mercedes revealing their AMG GT63 and Porsche with it’s Panamera Turbo, it only makes sense for Aston to make a move and produce a high-end sedan if it wants to revive the Rapide name, hence, the AMR treatment.

Since this is the first major update we’ve seen on the Rapide, let’s take a look at what’s new. Thankfully Aston Martin decided to stick to a V12 engine for the AMR. Along with that comes a solid 580 horsepower and 465 pound feet of torque. With those kind of numbers Aston has equipped the Rapide AMR with Michelin Super Sport tyres which enables it to go from 0 – 60 in a quick 4.2 seconds and goes to hit approximately 200 mph. All this performance is delivered through an all-new 8 speed gearbox. What’s also new is that for the first time ever, Aston Martin has equipped one of their vehicles with 21-inch wheels. Speaking of wheels, carbon ceramic disk brakes with 6 piston callipers in the front and 4 callipers at the back come as standard, which is quite interesting considering how other automakers charge consumers with north of $7,000 tag for carbon ceramics, an yet, Aston decides to offer those as standard. Also, the Rapide AMR rides 10mm lower than the regular Rapide S. Now you might be thinking that these are supercar numbers on a sedan and hence it must come at the cost of comfort. Not exactly. Aston Martin has stated that the Rapide AMR is “capable of comfortably transporting a team of race drivers to a circuit on the other side of a continent and then tackling the track when they get there.” You have to hand it to Aston, all of this is quite impressive.

Enough with the numbers now, let’s come around to the looks. The very first visible update is seen on the grill which is inspired by the track only Vantage AMR pro detailed in a gloss black finish. The car has been revealed in the signature AMR Scintilla Silver with lime green accents. The car sports a carbon-fibre hood along with huge dual functional vents for cooling purposes. The huge circular running lights on the all new aggressive bumper are meant to remind one of the Aston Martin Zagato. Through the side we see all new side skirts and it ends with an all new rear diffuser. While the new Aston will be a 2019 model, it still sticks to the analogue dashboard from it’s previous years, which wasn’t expected since we’ve seen top-notch technology upgrades in the new Vantage and the DB11. Apart from this, the AMR treatment still continues all around the interior with the centre console covered in carbon fibre that continues all the way to the rear seats. The sport seats in the Rapideare made with Alcanatara just like the rest of the cabin is. To contrast the Alcanatara, minor lime green accents are seen on the centre console and along the stitching on the seats.

Overall, its seems as if Aston has seriously done an amazing job with the new Rapide AMR. While it might compete with the Mercedes AMG GT63 and the Porsche Panamera Turbo, Aston will limit the production of the Rapide AMR to 210 examples, and offer at a huge $240,000 price tag. Will Aston be able to revive the Rapide with the AMR treatment? We’ll just have to wait and find out.