And now, with the reveal of the production version of the limited edition Rapide AMR, that big V12 is getting even more powerful.
This is the second Aston Martin product highlighting the company's race-to-road harmony after the DB11 AMR, and this production version closely follows the concept previously displayed at last year's Geneva Motor Show.
Unless the global market suddenly falls back in love with sedan cars, this "hardcore" Rapide AMR is likely to be one of Aston's last examples of a four-door fastback until the Rapide retires in 2020 to be replaced by the DBX crossover.
AMR stands for Aston Martin Racing, and the idea behind it is to exemplify the synergy between the British manufacturer's motorsport and production road cars. Basically, it means customers can actually buy road-going models with some of the special powers that are normally the preserve of the hardcore race cars they can't buy.
Perhaps a little unusually, this is a car where European buyers get more powerful cars than their American counterparts. The version of the Rapide AMR that will be sold in the UK and the EU will have a 6.0-litre V12 under the hood producing 595hp, while the US variants will have to make do with “just” 580hp. However, both versions will offer the same 632Nm of torque to help deliver a relatively modest 0-100kph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed 330kph.
Only a limited number set at 210 units will be built, with prices before options starting at £195,950 (a little over RM1mil).
The AMR could never be confused with the standard Rapide S as the AMR has a vented carbon fibre hood, front splitter, sills, decklid, decklid spoiler, and rear diffuser wrapped around a new quad exhaust system.
