VIDEO: Aston Martin Rapide Sports Sedan Filmed in Kuwait

You never know when or where you're going to stumble upon a prototype model these days. This time some folks spotted a thinly disguised Aston Martin Rapide test car on the roads of Kuwait. Apparently the British automaker was performing hot climate tests on its forthcoming four-door sports sedan that is planned to get its first public outing at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

First seen at the 2006 Detroit auto show as a prototype model, the production Rapide is almost identical to the 196.9-inch-long concept study. Due to go on sale in the beginning of 2010, the Rapide is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine which is rated at 480HP, and linked to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission with Aston's Touchtronic control.

VIDEO: New Aston Martin Rapide Promo Films [Part 3]

Aston Martin has released the third and final part of its promotional trilogy “True Power Should Be Shared” starring the Rapide four-door coupe. There's less action in this film as our heroes drive towards their destination, wondering what they are transporting. Well, it turns out to be some kind of a time machine, which saves them from being killed in an ambush and returns them to Lisbon, where everything started. Not what we expected, but at least the Rapide didn’t get blown up. Hit the jump to watch the video.

VIDEO: New Aston Martin Rapide Promo Films [Part 2]

As promised, Aston Martin released the second part of a new promotional series of films featuring the Rapide sports saloon. Called “True Power Should Be Shared”, it’s a more of an action-packed sequel, showing longer driving scenes and a spectacular fight sequence, as the story gets more substance. Still, this is no James Bond movie, although seeing and hearing the British four-door coupe kind of makes up for the lack of originality. Video available after the jump.

VIDEO: New Aston Martin Rapide Promo Films [Part 1]

As part of its first foray into the digital campaign medium, Aston Martin will release three new promotional videos, featuring the breathtaking Rapide four-door coupe. Filmed in Lisbon, Portugal, the video follows a group of “agents” commissioned by a mysterious person to deliver a precious package, without opening it. A very Ronin-ish plot, we know.

The introductory part is available after the jump, while the second and third clips will follow on January 19 and 26, respectively.

“We wanted to deliver a subtle but clever piece of branded entertainment. Something that mirrors the thrill of the drive. Intelligent, dramatic yet very exciting. It's an action-packed Aston Martin story in three parts, designed to entertain our audience. We're not hard selling, we're showcasing. After all it is the thinking man's (and woman's) performance car”, Film Director Donnie Masters from Serious Pictures said.

Aston Martin Rapide V12 Sport Sedan Poses Undisguised Again!

We don't know if Aston Martin is deliberately circulating uncamouflaged Rapide prototypes around parking lots with the hope that some alert car buff will snap a picture or two of the car and create a bit of buzz and excitement on the net before its official unveiling, but for the second time in a few days, we have yet another set of Rapide spy shots! In this case, a white-colored Rapide prototype was caught by Autogespot forum-member, 'Kim' hiding behind a large truck in the parking lot of a highway gas station.

And once again, the Rapide seems to be virtually camouflage-free. Not sure if the white finish works better for you than the previously scooped black colored prototype (click here for the photos), but we rather withhold our final judgment until we see the final production model.

Aston Martin Rapide Production Model Spied Undisguised in Parking Lot by Reader!

Who needs spy photographers like Hans Lehmann when you have readers like Car Magazine's Simon Gregg that stumbled upon Aston Martin's all-new Rapide sport sedan sitting in a parking lot without a single trace of camouflage! From what we gather, the test car must be one of the final prototype models of the four-door Aston that is scheduled to be officially revealed to the public at the Frankfurt motorshow in mid-September. The undisguised prototype is finished in a menacing black color with a contrasting red interior.

Poised to take on any top-notch sport sedan including the most powerful variants of the Porsche Panamera, the Rapide will be offered with a 6.0-liter V12 engine that churns out 470bhp and 600Nm of torque. Power will be driven to the rear wheels through a six-speed ZF automatic transmission with Aston's Touchtronic control.

The Rapide that will be built by Magna Steyr in Graz, will begin arriving at Aston Martin showrooms around the world in early 2010. As for prices don't expect anything lower than $200k.