It looks as though Aston is on the prowl for a firm to manufacture its Rapide four door coupe and the firm is most likely to be based outside of the UK. The Financial Times has reported that documents relating to a bid by a potential partner, show that it is only one of a number of specialist manufacturers being courted.

A source close to one of the potential partners has indicated that the selection process is well underway and the successful bidder will be chosen over the next few weeks. The potential partners include the likes of Italy’s famous Pininfarina, Germany’s equally well known Karmann Group, Magna-Steyr of Austria and the Finnish coach-builder Valmet, who currently bolt together Boxster bodies for Porsche.

Apparently, the production volumes being touted for the Rapide go well beyond what Aston have publicly suggested. Aston are enjoying their third year of profitability on the back of three decades of insolvency under the stewardship of a number of owners. In more recent times, Ford successfully managed to turn Aston Martin around before selling it to the Prodrive headed consortium who appear to be taking the ball and running hard.

Aston Martin has refused to comment on the Rapide production project.

[Source: Automotive News Europe]