Aston Martin Rapide S 2014.

Aston Martin Rapide S 2014.

The stunning new Aston Martin Rapide S is making its debut with more powerful four-door ultra-luxury that borrows styling elements and mechanical components from the brand's elegant sports cars. Though many of its rivals serve up more space for the rear passengers, the Rapide S does offer enough room for four adults to go along with its exotic looks and impressive performance.

Driven by one but enjoyed by four. Rapide S has space for four adults to be transported in a luxurious environment with the highest levels of refinement. New exterior styling is matched by interior materials worked by hand to achieve a finish never seen before on a four-door sports car. Specifically designed materials and the largest range of colours, trims and options we’ve ever offered. Rapide S is exquisitely finished and exquisitely personal.

Beneath the sheetmetal, a 5.9-liter V-12 engine produces 550 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. Mounted at the rear to keep the car's weight balanced in check, the six-speed transaxle helps the Rapide S hurtle to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and allows it to pull all the way to 190 mph.The company also says that the S will cut 0.4 second from the previous car’s 0–60 time, which we recorded at 4.8 seconds. Top speed is now 190 mph, which is up two ticks from before.

Like every recent Aston, the Rapide S can be festooned and filigreed with a Carbon Exterior package, which applies the woven stuff to the front splitter, rear diffuser, taillight surrounds, and side-mirror caps. A new Piano Black Interior package adds high-gloss trim to the center stack, center console, and door handles. Perforated red and black leather can be ordered for the seat- and door inserts.

Standard equipment includes 20-inch wheels, driver-adjustable adaptive dampers, a limited-slip differential, bi-xenon headlamps, front and rear parking sensors, front and rear automatic climate control, power front seats with memory functions, heated front and rear seats, a full leather interior, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth, a Garmin-based navigation system and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system with a CD player, an iPod/USB audio interface, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.

The Rapide S comes standard with dual front, front side and full-length side curtain airbags in addition to traction and stability control systems, electronic front and rear parking sensors,brakeforce distribution and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The best part of the new Rapide S is the change Aston didn’t make to it; the price. Despite adding more power and panache to the car, it still starts at around the $200,000 mark,tester added a few options like upgraded wheels for $5,000 and a rear-seat entertainment system, for a grand total of $225,000.