New deal with LeEco could bring hybrid Rapid

One cheesy photograph and Aston Martin is well on its way to building an electric version of its Rapide (cleverly named RapidE), because that’s the thing to do nowadays.  The British carmaker recently signed the partnership with LeEco, part of Chinese technology group Letv and the same group behind American electric car start-up Faraday Future.

This will not be the first time the companies will work together having previously designed a number of connectivity and infotainment systems.

This collaboration will see development of low emissions technology benefit of Aston and new EV carmaker Faraday Future. For us the main focus is Aston’s new RapidE and the upcoming Aston Martin SUV which could also be offered in hybrid form.

Although many have compared the partnership to Tesla, Aston Martin will be aiming for a higher niche market and avoid mass marketing their products.

Aston Martin and LeEco is touting big figures for its new hybrid system despite no evidence to back it up. Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer previously suggested that the firm was looking at outputs of 590kW with a range over 250 kilometres.

At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Andy Palmer added, Aston Martin are dedicated to developing a range of cars with low emission technologies Palmer said at the signing. “We have been encouraged by the project speed and technical depth shown by Letv in the development of the RapidE concept towards full production.”