Spycam: Aston Martin Rapide

The Aston Martin Rapide has ended up on the business end of a spy photographer's camera yet again, but this time wearing something other than a black tuxedo, opting for a decidedly non-Aston beige number instead. The high-end "four-door coupe," is Aston's second attempt at a four-door, the first being the low-volume Lagonda of the late '70s and '80s. The Rapide should (finally) make its debut in production trim at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show this March.

Despite it having been spied numerous times, not that much is known about the Rapide. It is expected to share a lot of hardware with the DB9 -- including the coupe's V-12 engine and six-speed automatic gearbox -- and there's the chance of a high-performance version a la DBS coming down the line. The interior should be standard lavish Aston fare - exotic wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, high-end leather, the works. As for the Rapide concept's glass roof, it could end up a standard feature on the production model since it has been featured on every prototype that has been spotted.

Aston doesn't expect the Rapide to be a true mass-market offering. The automaker doesn't expect to sell more than 3500 Rapides a year, well short of Porsche's pre-recession goal for 20,000 for the Panamera, considered to be the Rapide's chief rival despite the expectation that the latter will be far more expensive than most of the Panamera lineup.