Aston Martin‘s first-ever battery electric, the
Rapide E, made its dynamic debut in Monaco on Saturday, May 11, ahead of the
Formula E Monaco ePrix. You may recall that the Rapide E celebrated its world debut at the
Shanghai Auto Show in April. The Monaco event, however, represented the
European premiere of the limited edition EV — the first ever such model
launched by the British luxury car manufacturer.
The Rapide E took part in two dedicated on-track
sessions throughout the day, in the hands of Aston Martin works driver and
three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Darren Turner. The automaker says the car
“didn’t disappoint, as it showcased its performance credentials on the
circuit.”
The Rapide E is the most powerful version of Aston’s
saloon ever thanks to the twin, rear-mounted electric motors that deliver a
combined output of 612 PS and 950 Nm of instant torque.
The sleek four-door is powered by an 800V electrical architecture battery with
a 65kWh capacity using over 5,600 lithium-ion 18650 format cylindrical cells.
According to Aston Martin, the 800V system allows
for more efficient charging and “greatly improved thermal characteristics over
existing electrical architectures.” Encased in carbon fiber and Kevlar casing,
the battery pack lies where the 6.0-liter V12, transmission, and fuel tank are
located on the gasoline-powered Rapide.
The British luxury manufacturer will only build 155
units of the Rapide E at the new production facility in St Athan, Wales
starting from the fourth quarter of this year. That’s where the Aston Martin
will also build the Lagonda all-electric SUV, which will benefit from the
technologies and experience derived from the Rapide E program. The last allocations for the
high-performance EV are available, with pricing on application.
