Aston Martin says the Rapide E electric car will be a stepping stone for the relaunch of the Lagonda brand.
“As a career automotive engineer, I’m proud that the car industry is leading the way in finding long-term solutions and reducing harmful emissions, he said.
“As Aston Martin’s CEO, I take particular satisfaction working with Williams Advanced Engineering and our other associated technology partners to bring Rapide E to reality.
“As our first all-electric production model, Rapide E will fast-track our knowledge and help us ensure the character and high-performance capabilities of our future EV models and enhance the unique qualities found in all Aston Martins as we know them today.
“Rapide E will also serve as a critical step on our path to re-launching Lagonda as the world’s first zero-emission luxury marque,” he added.
Just 155 examples of the Rapide E will be built and the company is accepting expressions of interest via its global dealer network, with pricing available on application.
Working closely with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), Aston Martin says it has been able to overcome the technical challenges associated with packaging the battery system and motors within the space available.
The car will be powered by an 800 volt battery system with a 65kWh installed capacity, spread over 5600 lithium-ion cylindrical cells.
These are mounted in a bespoke battery pack that replaces the original 6.0-litre V12, gearbox and fuel tank.
This batteries power two, rear-mounted electric motors that produce a combined output of just over 450kW and an impressive 950Nm of torque.
The car has a target range of more than 320km under the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), and is capable of charging at a rate of 300km per hour using a typical 400V 50kW charger.
But the car’s 800 volt high-voltage battery system enables faster charging of 500km per hour, using an 800V outlet delivering 100kW or higher.
Being an Aston Martin, the Rapide E is being developed with performance in mind and will have a top speed of 250km/h, with a sub-4.0sec 0-100km/h time and a 80-110km/h time of just 1.5sec.
The company points out these figures are not restricted to a narrow window when the batteries are fully-charged.
The target is for maximum performance to be available on-demand, regardless of the batteries state of charge.
This includes the ability to drive a full lap of the Nürburgring with absolutely no derating of the battery and the ability to cope with the daily demands of repeated hard acceleration and braking.
Part of the development process has been to retain and enhance the feel, character and delivery of the V12-engined Rapide S.
Careful attention will be paid to the development and tuning of both the electric powertrain and the chassis, with particular focus on software integration.
The rear-wheel drive Rapide E’s twin electric motors will drive through a Limited-Slip Differential, which combined with revised spring and damper rates ensures the pure handling characteristics for which the petrol-powered Rapide S is already renowned.
In a unique move customers will be invited to participate in the ongoing Rapide E program, with their comments and driving experiences providing invaluable feedback that will help shape and improve future Aston Martin EVs.
Customer deliveries of the Rapide E are set for the last quarter of 2019.
