The Aston Martin RapidE was originally slated to be
launched this year, but the company’s partnership with LeEco fizzed so they
eventually named Williams Advanced Engineering as the lead partner on the
project.
The switch caused a bit of a delay, but it appears
development is moving forward as Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer has tweeted a
picture of the car’s battery pack. The executive also confirmed the RapidE will
use “800v battery technology” just like the Porsche Taycan. This might not
sound that important, but it will enable the batteries to be rapidly recharged.
Palmer didn’t say how long the charging process will
take, but the Taycan can be given an 80 percent charge in just 15 minutes.
While nothing is official, we can probably expect similar charging performance
from the RapidE.
Besides announcing some details about the battery,
Palmer confirmed the model will be launched towards the end of 2019. The RapidE
will become Aston Martin’s first electric vehicle and the car will be based on
the Rapide AMR which was unveiled in June with an upgraded 6.0-liter V12 engine
that produces up to 595 hp and 630 Nm of torque.
While the RapidE will eschew the petrol engine, a
majority of the other upgrades should carryover. As a result, we can expect a
number of components – such as the hood, side skirts and rear diffuser – will
be constructed out of lightweight carbon fiber. The car could also come
equipped with a sportier suspension that features adaptive dampers and a
reduced ride height.
Aston Martin hasn’t released performance
specifications, but the company has previously said the car’s electric
powertrain will provide instantaneous acceleration and a “unique driving
experience.” The company is obviously putting a lot of work into the RapidE, but
production will be limited to 155 units.
