Aston Martin has confirmed that it will start building its all-electric RapidE four-door in 2019. And while that’s a year after this model originally was set to arrive, it’s due to a reboot of the project that’s likely to make for a better car—and one that’s a more effective cheerleader for the idea performance EVs.
Previously, the RapidE was to be co-developed by Chinese TV, smartphone, and streaming media giant—and wannabe carmaker—LeEco (which is connected to EV upstart Faraday Future), but financial troubles led to the dissolution of that agreement. Instead, Aston Martin has enlisted the help of Williams Advanced Engineering—the company entrusted with Formula E batteries—so the RapidE is likely to have a battery pack and power-management systems that are up to the task of high-performance driving. With that serious pedigree, the RapidE should be able to sustain its performance capabilities for more than just a few acceleration runs or hot laps. More to the point, Aston says that the RapidE is based on the upcoming Rapide AMR concept—AMR being the brand’s upcoming, track-focused sub-brand.
The RapidE, according to company president and CEO Andy Palmer, “represents a sustainable future in which Aston Martin’s values of seductive style and supreme performance don’t merely co-exist alongside a new zero-emission powertrain, but are enhanced by it.” Originally, it was considered the pet project of Palmer, who took the helm of Aston Martin in 2014 and had been a booster for the performance potential of electric vehicles when he was chief planning officer at Nissan.
Much like the Mission E that Porsche is busy working on, the RapidE is intended to show that going all-electric is a viable alternative in a fast four-door. With the change in development comes a serious rejiggering in the business plan, however. Aston is also setting the stage for collectibility. It will build just 155 examples of the RapidE, costing more than $250,000 each.
It isn’t the only all-electric model in the works from Aston, either, so they could benefit from keeping more of the expertise in-house; the automaker is also developing an electric version of its upcoming crossover, the DBX, which is due a few years from now.
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