Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Aston Martin Rapide-Based Bertone Jet 2+2 Headed To Geneva

Aston Martin Rapide-Based Bertone Jet 2+2 Headed To Geneva At next week’s Geneva Motor Show, Italian design studio Bertone will introduce its Jet 2+2 shooting brake, a dramatic model based on the Aston Martin Rapide and celebratesing 60 years of collaborations between Aston Martin and Bertone.

Aston Martin Rapide-Based Bertone Jet 2+2 Headed To Geneva

Aston Martin Rapide-Based Bertone Jet 2+2 Headed To Geneva

 Aston Martin Rapide-Based Bertone Jet 2+2 Headed To Geneva

Aston Martin Rapide-Based Bertone Jet 2+2 Headed To Geneva

Aston Martin Rapide-Based Bertone Jet 2+2 Headed To Geneva

Back in 1953, the companies teamed up to create two small design studies based on the former’s DB2/4 chassis. The partnership between the companies was also commemorated in 2004, when Bertone introduced the two-door Jet 2 concept. It was based on the Aston Martin Vanquish.
The Bertone Jet 2+2 retains the 6.0-liter V-12 engine of its Aston Martin Rapide basis — sadly the 550-hp version from the new Rapide S was unavailable. The car’s 2+2 designation refers to the four individual seats inside; the rear seats fold flat to create even more luggage room. The dramatic sheetmetal reprises many of the curves and lines of the normal Rapide sedan, but with an extended roofline that ends in a steeply angled rear windshield and rounded rump. Autocar reports that the Jet 2+2 has more headroom than a standard Rapide, and that unique aluminum, wood, and leather trims were chosen for the car.
The Bertone Jet 2+2 was commissioned by a private collector and reportedly has the full backing of Aston bosses in the U.K. It will be a unique one-off and destined for said collector’s personal collection.