Скачать или смотреть 2016 Aston Martin Rapide S Review

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out why a car exists. Take the 2016 Aston Martin Rapide S, for example.

Aston Martin is a brand known for cars that have two doors. The Vantage. The Vanquish. The DB9. Then there are the classics: the DB5, DB6 and DBS. All of them coupes or convertibles.

In fact, ever since this British brand’s first model was built in 1914 it has specialised in open-top or swoopy-roofed vehicles. It wasn’t until 1974 – 60 years after the first Aston Martin was built – that the company tried something other than a two-door production car.

The model that broke the drought was the Lagonda, an ungainly looking thing by today’s standards, but a sedan that was at the height of style for its time. This was around the same time the Leyland P76 came out, after all.

So why does a four-door, four-seat model exist?

According to Aston Martin, the aim for the car – which has been updated comprehensively for 2016 – is “to reassert its position as the world’s most beautiful, and beautifully balanced, four-seat sports car”.

That’s a big claim. Think of the other four-seat sports cars on the market: Porsche 911; Ferrari FF; Bentley Continental; Maserati Granturismo. All of those only have two doors. Then there are the four- (or five-) door rivals to consider: Audi RS6; Audi RS7; BMW M5; BMW M6; Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 S (Coupe and Shooting Brake); Porsche Panamera… The list goes on. And now there are even SUVs to contend with.