Aston Martin and Bertone Build Beautiful Shooting Brake

By Marcus Slater - February 25, 2013

Aston Martin will have been building eye-wateringly beautiful coupes for 100 years this year. That’s a huge accomplishment; they’re right up there with Ford and Mercedes when it comes to age. To celebrate their longevity, the company teamed up with legendary Italian coachebuilder, Bertone, to build this wagonized version of the Rapide. I think this a perfect proof that good taste does not decline with age.

Aston Martin calls it “The Jet 2+2.” Apart from the obvious external modifications, the car is identical to the Rapide. Not that that’s a bad thing. The Jet retains the Rapide’s 5.9 liter V12 behemoth and it’s 470 horsepower. It remains a 2+2, but it gains headroom and fold-flat storage space in the back. So yes. You can fit a wealth of stuff in the trunk and get from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds.

The car was actually commissioned by an Aston Martin collector, which explains why it’s a one off. In a way, it’s a shame. The car is such a stunning example of the “shooting brake” form factor done right that it would be a positive thing to them on the road. It’s not like Aston Martins are exactly swarming the highways, but they are absolutely influential. You just need to look at fellow centenarian, Ford, for proof of that in their Fusion sedan.