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Aston Martin Rapide puts the future on display at CES

Thu, Jan 7 2016 Aston Martin looks to be on the verge of a technological revolution. That includes a new platform, powertrain, design language... the works. And at CES, it's showing how its next generation of vehicles will incorporate new infotainment technologies, as well.

Stemming from a partnership recently signed with Chinese company Letv (which we're not sure how to pronounce either), this Aston Martin Rapide S is decked out with bright tech. It has a 13.3-inch high-def touchscreen display in the center console, a 12.2-inch display in the instrument cluster, new speed-recognition technology, and remote services. All the features come from Letv's Internet of the Vehicle program.

Few of these features are ground-breaking, but everything being relative, it's a big step for Aston Martin. After all, the British automaker makes almost all of its models based on a platform that dates back fifteen years, a V12 engine that's even older, and no transmission with more than a single clutch. But that's all about to change with a new generation on the horizon, and this demonstrator hints at just one way in which we'll soon see that transformation take shape.

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LETV AND ASTON MARTIN REVEAL THE AUTOLINK RAPIDE S AT CES

6 January 2016, Las Vegas USA: Leading global technology company Letv and luxury sports car brand Aston Martin today revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show the first results of their collaboration – an Aston Martin Rapide S incorporating the latest Letv Internet of the Vehicle (IOV) system.

Aston Martin and Letv signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on December 3rd 2015 to confirm research projects that include the development of connected electric vehicles through to manufacturing consultation on future electric vehicles.

The ideation and engineering of the Aston Martin Rapide S project has been led by the Letv IOV team and has focused on a new concept for the centre console and instrument panel. The center console is now a 13.3 inch HD touch screen and the instrument panel is now a 12.2 inch screen incorporating electronic instrumentation and gauges. The original human-machine interaction (HMI) has also been updated by integrating Letvs latest speech recognition technology.

Letv first showed its Autolink system in November 2015, the first time the technology company had released a product specifically developed for automotive applications. The collaboration with Aston Martin on the Rapide S further demonstrates the capabilities of the Letv global open auto eco-system. The Aston Martin Rapide S concept has been engineered to work with Letvs other devices and will include remote monitoring and services with the support of LeCloud through the vehicles Wi-Fi system.

Commenting on the significance of the reveal, Ding Lei, co-founder, global vice chairman and China and Asia Pacific CEO of Letv Super Car, said, "After a few months 'efforts, we finished the integration of an Aston Martin vehicle and the Letv IOV system. We have successfully equipped this supercar brand with over 100 years of history with an 'Internet brain'."

Commenting on the project, Dr. Andrew Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin said: "Aston Martin is renowned for the beauty and quality of its hand-crafted cars. The integration of Letv advanced connected technologies into this bespoke environment is a natural progression as we look to the future demands of our customers".

By Noah Joseph


See also: Fisker sues Aston Martin for $100M over The Force 1, This guy bought a 1971 Aston Martin DBS instead of a house, Watch some vintage F1 cars blast up a Japanese mountain road.