Aston Martin Showcases the Brand’s Electrifying Future in London

Aston Martin Lagonda and Rapide E both made a big splash at the company’s Mayfair location in London.

Unlike some automakers, Aston Martin has made it clear that their lineup of vehicles that combine high performance with high-end luxury is ready for the move to electric propulsion. The Rapide E will be the brand’s first all-electric vehicle when it enters production later this year while the Lagonda Vision Concept showcases all of the technology that and unique design of the company’s all-electric sub-brand.

Earlier this week, both of those vehicles were on display at Aston Martin Mayfair, the company’s main outlet in Central London, giving the posh locals a chance to check out the future of British luxury combined with the expected future of the automobile industry.

“When we relaunched Lagonda, we set ourselves an ambitious target to be the world’s first luxury electric brand. We see the Lagonda brand sitting within a unique niche in the market. It is for the high-end luxury customer who wants to explore and be autonomous while remaining mindful of the impact they are having on the environment,” said Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer at Aston Martin Lagonda.”Lagonda will achieve this but it will also provide joy and delight to the people who get to enjoy its unique internal environment.”

Aston Martin Rapide E

The Rapide E was introduced earlier this year at the Shanghai Automotive Show and it is currently on sale with production planned to start towards the end of this calendar year.

Only 155 examples of the Rapide E will be built, with each unit packing a twin-electric motor setup that produces 602 horsepower and 701 lb-ft of torque with help from Williams Advanced Engineering. That output will allow the all-electric Aston Martin to dash from a stop to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds while a hard pull from 50 to 70 miles per hour will take just 1.5-seconds. In other words, this is an EV that will be a ton of fun to drive.

More importantly, the all-electric Rapide E has a 200-mile range on a single charge and when the batteries are dead, they will charge to 80% in just over a half-hour when using a 100-kW charging station.

This means that not only can you have a ton of fun behind the wheel, but you don’t have to wait a full day for the battery to charge, provided that you have the proper equipment.

Of course, aside from the stunning performance numbers, excellent range and quick charging times, the Aston Martin Rapide E has all of the interior comforts of the rest of the brand, with premium materials throughout the cabin and a state-of-the-art infotainment system.

The Rapide E is now headed to Goodwood, where it will showcase its abilities on the curvy hill climb course.

The Lagonda

The Aston Martin Lagonda is a concept vehicle, but it is also the first of the company’s planned all-electric brand which will carry the same name. The concept car shown in the pictures here was initially introduced back in 2018 at the Geneva Motor Show as a way for the company to show off all of the future technology in one unmistakable vehicle.

The Lagonda’s exterior design is remarkably unique, offering premium lighting technology with an aerodynamic form that will definitely help with efficiency. Frankly, this car looks like an electric vehicle that will drive itself, and it is, but it has a very high-end look around the outside.

That high-end look is magnified on the inside, with a cabin that is designed more for entertaining than any traditional car on the road today.

Again, this is a self-driving electric vehicle, so while it has a steering wheel and instrument panel, that almost takes a back seat (no pun intended) to passenger comfort. The rear seats are shaped more like expensive home furniture, with plenty of room to kick out the leg supports as you recline the seat, but the front passenger seat swivels to face the rear. As a result, all three of the people not in the driver’s seat can face each other to talk while the driver simply keeps an eye on the road, just in case the car needs some help.

While this might sound crazy to some people, the person who buys a car like this Lagonda will want an car that doesn’t use any gasoline while allowing him or her to carry on a pleasant conversation on a long ride from one town to another.

Ultimately, this car is just a concept and it could be years before we see something just like this in a dealership for sale, but it presents a great look at the future of the Aston Martin brand.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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