Setting the bar high is something that the team at car-maker Aston Martin are used to, as illustrated by a quote from Design Director, Marek Reichman who said, \"We wanted to make the most beautiful four-door sports car in the world.\" The design he was talking about was the new Aston Martin Rapide, and now thanks to photographer Simon Gregg and the CAR Online website you can judge for yourself.

These are the first undisguised shots of the new Rapide, which is not expected to be officially unveiled until the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The Rapide will also live up to its name with a 6.0-liter V12 engine generating 470 horsepower.