Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
    • Meet the 2021 winners
    • Browse photos from the 2021 awards ceremony
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Battery testing center for large battery packs and more
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
September 25, 2018 01:00 AM

How Aston Martin will make its EV growl

Nick Gibbs
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    The Rapide will be electrified to create the Rapide E.

    The Rapide sedan is Aston Martin's oldest car, but the brand's future might just rest on its wheels. Aston Martin plans to convert the Rapide to a limited-edition electric vehicle to learn how to deliver EVs to customers addicted to its trademark gasoline growl.

    "It's not just a car. It's about Aston Martin as a box. Here is electrification — go put that inside a company that has a great history of making V-12 and V-8 engines," John Caress, vehicle line director for the Rapide E, told Automotive News.

    Aston Martin plans to revive its Lagonda badge in 2021 as a standalone, ultraluxury electric brand, previewed in March by a limousine concept at the Geneva auto show. "We had people throwing money at us as deposits," CEO Andy Palmer said after the event.

    But that's not the hard part. The Rapide E is essentially a prototype for Aston Martin's ability to deliver its Geneva promise.

    The battery pack uses the same 18650 cylindrical lithium ion cells used by Tesla, but don't read anything into that.

    They were chosen because they're small enough individually to let Aston Martin package 5,600 of them into the same dumbbell-shaped space vacated by the Rapide's V-12 engine, gearbox and driveline.

    "We can get as much energy as possible without getting into a massive crash-test program," Caress said. He wouldn't name the cell maker.

    The pack, developed by Williams Advanced Engineering, the customer division of the Formula One racing team, even fits into the chassis on the production line the same way as the V-12 drivetrain.

    At 65-kilowatt-hours, the Rapide E's battery capacity when it goes on sale at the end of next year will be much lower than that of, say, the Audi e-tron at 96 kWh or the Jaguar I-Pace with 90 kWh. That affects its range, estimated at 200 miles.

    On the other hand, it will have an 800-volt charging system, of which so far only the upcoming Porsche Taycan can boast. "If we want to sell the first luxury EV, we have to have something different," Caress said.

    The advantage is fast charging (up to 80 percent in 30 minutes) and no "de-rating," or power restricting to avoid overheating. Aston Martin also promises the equivalent of 602 hp and a 0-to-60 mph sprint in less than 4 seconds — helped by its comparatively light battery pack, although no overall weight has been given.

    The team seeks to eliminate unwanted noise that had been masked by the V-12, in part by using noise-canceling Pirelli tires.

    Electric noises are a no-no. "Electric machines have a certain frequency, but it's very hard to tune them. You get into augmented noises and that's not what this car is about," Caress said.

    Aston Martin is looking for input from buyers so the company is encouraging dealership visits instead of over-the-air updates. "If there is an update, we want to talk to you about it," Caress said.

    The car will retail for around 200,000 pounds ($265,000) Palmer has said. Aston Martin's goal is to make a small profit with the Rapide E, but that's not the driving force. Said Caress: "It's not just about delivering a car with a business case. It's about delivering electrification into Aston Martin."

    Aston plans to build 155 versions of the Rapide E when it opens a new factory in St. Athan, near Cardiff in Wales, next year.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Punch CEO Guido Dumarey to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Recommended for You
    Guido Dumarey Punch
    Punch CEO Guido Dumarey to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath 2022
    Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Maria Grazia Davino Stellantis 2020
    Stellantis Europe sales and marketing chief to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
        • Meet the 2021 winners
      • ANE Eurostars
        • Browse photos from the 2021 awards ceremony
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Battery testing center for large battery packs and more
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us