Motorists interested in the upcoming Aston Martin Rapide have been told that prices will begin from £139,950 when the vehicle is launched in the first quarter of next year.

Among the luxurious features of the model are the easier access to the front and rear cabin created by four 'swan wing' doors and a new front seat design aimed at providing extra comfort during longer journeys.

Rear seat passengers also benefit from their own individual heating and air conditioning controls, while an electronic hand brake provides additional space in the cabin.

The Rapide is Aston Martin's first ever four-door sports car, with the first deliveries being made to customers in the second quarter of 2010.

Meanwhile, buyers will also benefit from a vast amount of equipment that is included as standard, such as a Bang & Olufsen Beosound audio system and an Adaptive Damping system.

Furthermore, each Rapide is being hand-built at a plant in Austria and it is expected that 220 hours of man-power will be needed to put together each vehicle.

The inclusion of a 6.0-litre V2 engine in the Rapide will lead to the car accelerating to 62 miles per hour from still in 5.3 seconds thanks to the production of 470 brake horsepower.

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Posted by Peter Grant