Aston Martin Rapide 4-door

At the bustling Frankfurt Motor Show this week, Aston Martin finally unveiled the production version of the Rapide sedan that had been previewed three years prior in concept form.

An entry into what is now a hotly contested luxury sports sedan market, the Rapide will be up against Porsche’s new Panamara and the redesigned Jaguar XJ among others. With looks from Aston Martin’s gene pool, the Rapide is sure to garner fans for visuals alone. They do know how to make their cars sexy.

As far as mechanicals, the big Aston comes to battle armed with a 6.0-liter V12 producing 470 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. This engine is sure to move the Rapide along rather…rapidly! A six speed Touchtronic 2 transmission will handle the gear changing duties.

All the other expected bells and whistles will be present, including a first class, luxurious and tastefully designed interior. Aston Martin has really done their homework – this looks to be one fine automobile. The Rapide will be available in early 2010. Pricing has not been announced, but expect it to push the $200,000 mark.

The question now is…which luxury sports sedan will find a place in your garage..?