One of the most peculiar all-new automobiles on the market is the Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf. Originally conceived strictly for the Middle Eastern market, the British grand touring manufacturer opened it up for global consumption.
As of now only 50 have been built. According to Aston it will only build Tarafs until the end of the year. Estimates say this means a paltry 150 will be completed. At a steep price tag of nearly $1 million USD, what do you get?
Well, Autocar got behind the wheel and in the back seat to find out.
Considering you can have two well-equipped Rolls-Royce Phantoms or Bentley Mulsannes or just about, well, anything, it's tough to justify the Aston from the sound of it. While Autocar makes it clear this is an emotional purchase, it also makes it clear that it isn't really as luxurious as a Phantom, Mulsanne, top-range Land Rover Range Rover SV Autobiography.
So, what's the point? Even after reading the review I am not sure either.
**Read the FULL details via the "Read Article" link below!What's it like?:
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At 5396mm in length the Taraf is massive, although shorter than a Maybach S600, Rolls-Royce Phantom or Bentley Mulsanne, and it radiates presence beyond even that given by its gargantuan size...
...Underneath it’s less complicated. Describing it as an XL version of the existing Aston Martin Rapide S saloon is a gross oversimplification and one that trivialises the huge amount of design and engineering that’s gone into it. But, whisper it, it also expresses the fundamental truth here.
The Taraf sits on a stretched version of Aston’s familiar VH bonded aluminium architecture and is powered by a development of the long-serving naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12. Which, as in the Rapide S, DB9 and Vanquish, powers the back axle through a rear mounted eight-speed transaxle. The wheelbase is 200mm longer than that of the Rapide S, but despite the stretch the use of carbonfibre panels allows Aston to claim an identical 1995kg kerb weight for both cars...
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