Aston Martin Rapide - The grand touring sedan with effortless grace and style.

Details at present for the Aston Martin Rapide sedan are even slimmer, save two official renderings which closely echo the 2006 Rapide concept, and some spy shots that confirm the renderings as accurate.

The Rapide is being built on Aston Martin's VH architecture, which underpins the DB9 Volante and the Vantage. A 6.0 liter V12 engine will power the Rapide, though no other conclusive specifications are in the wild yet.

As for the bodywork, the Rapide is infinitely more attractive than the Porsche Panamera, which will likely be its closest competitor upon its release date, somewhere in late 2009. True to the 2006 Rapide concept in most of its design details, the released renderings reveal a glass roof which converges seamlessly with the rear liftgate. Though the Rapide carries the styling of a sedan rather than any sort of wagon, the lifting rear glass should provide some greater utility and visibility.

When looked at as a total package, the Rapide is a design hit, though not as bold as something like the Lamborghini Estoque concept. It should compete well with the Maserati Quattroporte, as well as upcoming offerings from Porsche and Lamborghini.