- Production of the four-door Rapide will move in 2012 from Magna Steyr to Aston's home plant in Gaydon.
- Rapide has been built in a dedicated facility in Graz since late 2009.
- Aston has improved the flexibility of its Gaydon plant, enabling production of a broader model mix.
GAYDON, England — Aston Martin said it will shift production of the four-door Rapide from Austria to England in the second half of 2012.
Contract manufacturer Magna Steyr, a unit of Canadian auto-parts giant Magna, has built the Rapide since late 2009 at a dedicated plant in Graz in northern Austria.
Aston Martin said it has improved the flexibility of its home plant in Gaydon, enabling it to build a broader, more diverse product mix. Production of the Rapide will start in Gaydon in the second half of 2012.
Aston CEO Ulrich Bez indicated the relationship with Magna Steyr is still positive, noting: "I would like to place on record our gratitude to Magna Steyr and their team of dedicated employees who have become part of the Aston Martin family in the last few years and met all our requirements and expectations."
Inside Line says: Look for additional variants of the Rapide once production moves home.
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smallfield says:
07:18 PM, 06/09/2011
Beautiful car. How can it even be compared to the CLS, A7 or Panamera? Different league of looks.
I'd take over any of the competition if I could afford it.
kosmo69 says:
09:41 AM, 06/08/2011
beautiful car, but it fails its mission as a 4 door.
jm1212 says:
08:36 AM, 06/08/2011
the car sure is stunning, but I'm over it...the A7 takes the title as the best looking of these "four door coupes", with the CLS not far behind.
plus, the Panamera offers amazing performance for way less money.