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James Bond's next Aston Martin might be electric
James Bond movies tend to be a reflection of the cultural zeitgeist, and that might be reflected in his choice of whip next time around. The Sun sources have claimed that the director of the next Bond movie, Cary Joji Fukanaga, wants 007 to drive Aston Martin's electric Rapide E (above) instead of one of its gas-powered coupes. It may seem like blasphemy for Bond's flashiest vehicle to be a sedan, but Fukanaga, lead actor Daniel Craig and the producers reportedly believed "the time was right" for the secret agent to use an emissions-free ride.
Aston Martin's first electric sedan quietly rolls into view
Earlier this week, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer tweeted out a very important moment for his company: the first time its Rapide E prototype drove off under its own power. It's the company's first electric car, designed under a mandate to "retain and enhance the feel, character and delivery of the V12-engined Rapide S." It will do that with a groundbreaking 800V battery system compatible with DC fast chargers, as well as twin electric motors driving all four wheels with the equivalent of 602HP to a projected top speed of 155 MPH. You can watch it slowly roll across the parking lot in a video below, giving a look at the car beyond design drawings, concept models and sneak peeks. You might miss the roar of a petrol-powered V12, but even then, at least there's a parking lot full of Aston Martins in view as well. Palmer also referred to "another piece of Aston Martin history" that was made on the 21st, but so far has not revealed what that is. The Rapide E is supposed to go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year, so we should see more of it in motion soon.
Aston Martin offers peek at all-electric Rapide E sedan
Aston Martin is nearly ready to unveil its first purely electric road car after years of work. The company has provided an early look at the Rapide E, an EV edition of its high-performance luxury sedan. It's not providing complete visuals (just the powertrain and a peek at one of the wheel areas), but it is promising a machine that's both speedy and practical. Its dual motors will deliver the equivalent of 602HP and 701ft/lb of torque, translating to a 155MPH top speed, a sub-4.0-second 0-60MPH time and a 50-70MPH time of 1.5 seconds -- quick given that the Rapide isn't exactly a diminutive car. Its 65kWh battery should deliver a range over 200 miles (on the WLTP testing standard), and its support for 100kW "or higher" charging should top you up in less than an hour.
