(Fri 04 Dec 09)

Aston Martin has confirmed that the Rapide, its first four-door sports model, will go on sale next spring with a UK starting price of £139,950. This puts it higher in the Aston range than the Vantage and the DB9, but lower than the DBS.

You will be able to pay more than £139,950 for the Rapide if you start choosing optional extras, of course, but that amount gets you a Bang & Olufsen Beosound audio system, heated seats with position memory, dual-cast brakes and adaptive damping suspension.

As well as having more doors than Aston Martin normally provides, the Rapide is also unusual in that it is to be built in Graz, Austria. It is also very practical in Aston terms - luggage capacity is a range-topping 317 litres with the rear seats in place, and extends to 886 litres when they are folded down.

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