The first public display of the Rapide S was at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show where AML displayed two cars, on in Volcano Red, the other in Selene Bronze.

The most noticeable update on the ‘S’ is the adoption of a new full height metal grille which is the largest fitted to a car that meets current pedestrian protection requirements. Underneath the new front grille is the front splitter, very important in getting air drawn in to cool the brakes and the lower end of the car. As standard, the front splitter is body coloured but if the car is specified with the optional Carbon Exterior Pack, the centre section will be Carbon Fibre. Also the boot lid has been given a pronounced additional lip so the ‘S’ can be recognised from the previous regular car from both the front and back.

Rapide S is the first Rapide to include the hi-tech Gen4 Adaptive Damping, allowing the driver to choose between three modes; ‘Normal’ ‘Sport’ and ‘Track’. New optional 20 inch diameter 10 spoke forged alloy wheels, 11% lighter than the standard wheel, are unique to the Rapide S. These are available in either silver or black diamond turned finish. Another option are the 20 spoke wheels from the DBS and the original 24 spoke or ‘multispoke’ wheels remain the standard fitting.

At the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the Rapide S was finished in Teal Blue.

Whereas a vast majority of the regular Rapide were built by Magna Steyr in Austria, the Rapide S is built exclusively on the DB9/Vanquish/Rapide line at the company HQ at Gaydon.

Announced in August 2014, the 2015MY Rapide S may look virtually the same as the previous model year but under the coachwork the changes are most significant. The most significant update has been the adoption of a new 8 speed gearbox by ZF, the Touchtronic III which allows for gearchanges in as little as 130 m/s. Also the engine, now to AM29 spec has been revised with a little more power and torque but incredibly less emissions and better fuel economy due to the new Bosch engine management system. Quoted top speed has now risen to 203 mph and the 0 to 60 acceleration times dropped to just 4.2 seconds.

Below is what is believed to be the very first production Rapide S, retained by the factory. It was photographed in 2017 at Gaydon during the AML Employee Weekend; visitors were encouraged to use the Sharpies to write messages on the Stratus White coachwork. This is not the first time visitors to AML have had this opportunity. Back in 2013, during Centenary week, a prototype DBS Coupe was also covered in graffiti by visitors to Gaydon.