Palmer explained that Aston decided to build an electric Rapide in order to comply with the strict emissions regulations that are scheduled to come into effect across key markets like Europe, China and the United States in the coming years.
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For Aston Martin, as well as other high-end automakers, stricter emissions and fuel economy standards may make electric propulsion a fact of life.
Aston Martin Rapide EV would be followed by DBX EV but the crossover would first go on sale as a plug-in hybrid model. Speaking to trade journal Automotive News, Palmer has confirmed the ambitious project has been given the green light for production.
“What Tesla clearly shows you is we haven’t hit the ceiling in terms of price”, Palmer told Automotive News. That ugly duckling failed spectacularly, but the pressures for the UK firm to offer a more eco-friendly vehicle remains, and now comes word that the British auto maker is planning an electrifying response: an 800-horsepower, battery-powered version of the aforementioned Rapide.
Exact specifications for the new Rapide are still to be locked in, but, according to Automotive News, Palmer has set some specific goals: around 800hp (597kW) in power, all-wheel drive, and a 320-kilometre driving range at least. He also indicated that this move to create an electric Rapide is to help the brand continue to create V12 sports cars, “If you want to keep making V12 engines, then you’ve got to do something at the opposite end of the spectrum”. With stats like this it will easily overshadow the now-famous Tesla Model S P85D and its 568kW powertrain.
“We don’t do Ludicrous because Ludicrous speed is stupid”, Palmer said.
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Aston plans to sell a few hundred examples of the electric super sedan per year.
