Aston Martin eyes 800hp all-electric Rapide

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer announced plans to quash anything Tesla (or even James Bond namesis Smersh) might throw there by introducing an 800 hp all electric version of its 4-door Rapide to the marketplace within the next 2-years.

Exact specifications for the new Rapide are still to be locked in, but, according to Automotive News, Palmer has set some specific goals: around 800hp (597kW) in power, all-wheel drive, and a 320-kilometre driving range at least.

This should be followed by an all-electric DBX, a four-door all wheel drive crossover coupe. In Europe and some US states, auto companies must balance portfolios to show low emissions, and the best way to do that is to manufacture electric cars.

“I think it’s hard, though not impossible, for them as a relatively new brand to keep pushing up and to go into that super premier area”. Then, in acknowledgment of legislative and environmental pressures, the luxury marque took the unusual step of re-trimming a prosaic Toyota/Scion iQ mini vehicle, calling it the Aston Martin Cygnet overseas. For comparison, the standard Rapide retails from $205,000 while the Model S tops out at about $142,000. Palmer says that production would likely be in the hundreds annually.

He also said that the company is planning an all electric version of their DBX and that the new Rapide EV would probably retail fro more than $200,000 and would have a range of around 200 miles.

In response to Tesla’s new “Ludicrous Mode” which gives the Model S P85D a 0-60 of 2.8 seconds Palmer did not mince his words.

Palmer said the Rapide will use batteries from an “established supplier” such as LG Chem or Samsung, but not Panasonic, which is Tesla’s battery supplier and owner of a small stake in the American carmaker.