As promised in our Pitpass Report last Friday, we're kicking off a new weekly quick-hit article series called the Turn 10 Car of the Week and I'm pleased to bring you our first entry here on our blogs.
So what's this about a Car of the Week series?
It's pretty straightforward, really. Here at Turn 10, thinking about cars is more than just a job where we get to work on the best racing franchise ever made. Cars, and moreover, the culture that surrounds them, is an essence that courses through our veins. So much so that we often find ourselves in (heated) discussion about cars all around the office -- in hallways, meeting spaces, at our desks, in email threads.
Then it dawned on us: instead of keeping all this car passion (aka geeking out) behind the studio firewall, why don't we take these discussions out to the Forza community at large -- a community filled with gamers and car lovers alike who are buff in their knowledge of all things automotive. It would be a great way to not only engage other car lovers and get their thoughts on some of our favorite cars ever built, but also as a way to educate those who may not know a whole lot about cars and let them know why we love this particular hobby of ours.
Keep in mind, and we're going to be blunt about this, the Car of the Week series should not be seen as a sneak peek into anything Forza-franchise related, including future DLC. This is essentially after-work-hours banter from FM.net contributors, Microsoft car lovers, and even the Turn 10 design team. The whole idea being since we already talk about this stuff, we might as well expose it to the public and get them involved in the geek-out session too.
The articles themselves are going to vary in style (but its short, quick-hit, springboard for discussion format will remain consistent) as we're getting a variety of folks to write them -- including but not limited to, other Microsoft car lovers, FM.net members/contributors/community folks, as well as the occasional chime from our car maniacs here at Turn 10 (design team and otherwise). In other words, if you've got a car you want featured and discussed, we're game to do it. Email your ideas and submissions to forzafb@microsoft.com.
At the end of the day, it's really just about chatting/debating/loving/lusting after them gosh-darned cars that we love so much. Isn't that what really matters? Yes. But those who do get involved with the discussion here in the comments section on our blogs may find themselves gifted with an in-game car or some in-game credits if we like what you wrote (hint hint).
So now that we've dispensed with the introduction, let's get to the point...
Images courtesy of the almighty Wikipedia.org
Turn 10 Car of the Week: Aston Martin Rapide
By J.Mason
We love cars. Fast cars, sexy cars, muscle cars, small strange Japanese niche cars, we even love the occasional hybrid – and not just because ex-Next President Al Gore says we should. The problem is that most cars are usually a compromise. Choose Speed, Handling, Interior Space, and Good Looks, but you only get to choose three. If only someone built a gorgeous four-door with a serious motor and a well-sorted chassis…
Enter the Aston Martin Rapide.
Photo courtesy of exoticcarsite.com
Unless you have molasses running through your veins, you already know Aston Martin makes beautiful vehicles. From the DB4 GT Zagato to the brand new DBS, sitting in the driver’s seat of any Aston Martin is like freebasing automotive Viagra. I mean, have you SEEN the late 80s V8 Vantage? It’s as if someone took a Ford Mustang Mach 1 and put it in a tuxedo. And then had Penelope Cruz lay across the hood. Dressed in Reddi-Whip.
But back to the Rapide.
Photo courtesy of exoticcarsite.com
Take everything you love about Aston Martin – the curves, the aggressive stance, the rich hand-stitched leather, the throaty growl that’s obnoxiously British – and put it in a package with room for four. Add a 480hp six-liter V12, stolen from the DB9 and pumped with steroids, and a top speed north of 180mph. Don’t forget massive carbon ceramic brakes, standard, to bring you back down from a sub-five second 0-60 sprint. That’s quite a recipe.
And, oh my god, is it sexy.
From a standstill, it’s like a red-hot 50-caliber bullet, fresh out of the barrel. In the world of the Grand Tourer, the Rapide ranks right up there with the Ferrari 575 and Maserati GranTurismo, but throw an extra set of doors in the mix and the game changes. That’s room for you and a buddy, a back seat for golf bags, and enough speed to get back to the office before your boss realizes you’re nine holes down and a six-pack heavier.
Photo courtesy of exoticcarsite.com
Is the Aston Martin Rapide the perfect GT car? Quite possibly, but we’ll reserve judgment for when we can stand one toe-to-toe against the Porsche Panamera in 2009. This could get interesting.
J.Mason is a rogue automotive writer the Turn 10 team found passed out in the bushes just outside of the Karussell on the Nurburgring, surrounded by several crushed Boddingtons cans and a half eaten bag of Bugles.
For more info and pictures of the Aston Martin Rapide, check out this resource.
----
Love it? Hate it? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments section below!