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Is This The Aston Martin Rapide S?

Aston Martin's sleek Rapide four-door coupe looks set to get a performance upgrade in the form of the rumoured Rapide S. Spied here undergoing the requisite Nurburgring thrashing, the S is expected to enter the 500hp (365kW) club to take the fi

Peter Anderson

23:3702 July 2012

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Is This The Aston Martin Rapide S?

Aston Martin's sleek Rapide four-door coupe looks set to get a performance upgrade in the form of the rumoured Rapide S.

Spied here undergoing the requisite Nurburgring thrashing, the S is expected to enter the 500hp (365kW) club to take the fight to the CLS 63 AMG and Porsche's Panamera.

Fuelling rumours of a power boost for the Rapide is the new range-topping 421kW Vanquish that will replace the DBS, giving the Rapide's engineers some room to move on the power front - and an engine.

Of course, the outgoing DBS' 380kW V12 - nearly 30kW up on the current Rapide's 350kW - would still give the Rapide S the power to compete with its German rivals.

The S will reportedly get carbon-ceramic brakes and firmer suspension to help cope with the extra go and set it apart from the more luxurious 'base' model.

The final piece of the puzzle is that the Rapide is expected to be getting an upgrade 'no matter what' this year. So, adding a bit of oomph to coincide with the refresh would make perfect sense.

That refresh could include a lower nose and integrated 'ducktail' spoiler that the camouflaging is likely hiding.

The new Rapide S, if it exists, would most likely arrive for the 2013 model year, which could mean we'll see it at the Paris Motor Show in September.