At last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin announced its new AMR (Aston Martin Racing) sub-brand offering racier versions of existing models. At the time, the automaker unveiled concept versions of the Rapide AMR and the more hardcore, track-focused Vantage AMR Pro. The Valkyrie hypercar will also be getting the hardcore AMR Pro treatment. Since its reveal, however, news on the Rapide AMR has been slim – until now. Our spy photographers have caught a prototype of the hot four-door supercar attacking the Nurburgring.
Seeing the Rapide AMR at the Green Hell isn’t surprising, since Aston Martin Racing’s European development center is based at the iconic racetrack. After the concept version was shown last year, the spy shots provide us with a first preview of the upcoming production version. It looks to be be largely unchanged from the concept, retaining the same front apron. It also sports new side skirts, an aggressive rear diffuser, and a lip spoiler on the trunk lid. Standard Rapide wheels have been fitted to the prototype, but the final car will ride on 21-inch wheels. The prototype is clearly still a work in progress, as the car is missing its new AMR honeycomb grille quad-exhaust.
Don’t think that Aston Martin is adding a sportier body kit and calling it a day, however. Every AMR model will benefit from performance upgrades, too. Aston Martin is hailing the Rapide AMR as the “world’s fastest and most thrilling four-door” that will be capable of hitting 210 mph. The standard Rapide S is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 producing 552 horsepower, so the output will probably increase to around 600 horses in the hotter AMR version. Production will be limited to just 210 examples. No doubt Aston Martin will reveal more information about the Rapide AMR in the next few months before it arrives later this year.
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