Aston Martin to take on Tesla’s “stupid” Ludicrous mode with 800-hp electric Rapide

By Ronan Glon Published August 18, 2015

Last spring, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer openly admitted the company was seriously looking into taking on the Tesla Model S with an electric version of the Rapide sedan (pictured). Speaking to trade journal Automotive News, Palmer has confirmed the ambitious project has been given the green light for production.

Designed primarily for the United States and China, the battery-powered Rapide will be Aston Martin’s first-ever regular-production electric vehicle. The project is at the embryonic stage of development so technical details are few and far between, but Palmer hinted the sedan will boast all-wheel drive, 800 horsepower and a 200-mile range thanks to a battery pack sourced from an established supplier such as LG or Samsung.

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The battery-powered Rapide will be as fast as it sounds, but Aston Martin isn’t interested in going faster than Tesla’s recently-announced Ludicrous Mode.

“We don’t do Ludicrous because Ludicrous speed is stupid,” said the outspoken executive. He clarified his statement by saying he believes it’s more enjoyable to drive an electric car around a race track such as the Nürburgring than to drive one flat-out in Ludicrous Mode for 500 yards. Equally outspoken Tesla CEO Elon Musk hasn’t replied to the comments yet.

Palmer explained that Aston decided to build an electric Rapide in order to comply with the strict emissions regulations that are scheduled to come into effect across key markets like Europe, China and the United States in the coming years.

“If you want to keep making V-12 engines, then you’ve got to do something at the opposite end of the spectrum,” said the executive.

Other high-end companies including BMW, Mercedes-AMG and even Lamborghini are taking a serious look at EVs and hybrids for similar reasons. Reading in between the lines, the statement also indicates that Aston will stick to the V12 engine in the foreseeable future.

The electric Aston Martin Rapide will go on sale in approximately two years, though the company is already putting a test mule through its paces. It will cost anywhere between $200,000 and $250,000 before government incentives are factored in, and the car maker expects to build less than 1,000 examples annually.

What’s next?

The electric Rapide is just one of several new Aston Martins scheduled to bow before the end of the decade. The company is in the early stages of revamping its entire lineup, a Herculean task that begins with developing a new modular platform. Aston’s first-ever utility vehicle will arrive before the end of the decade, and Palmer hasn’t ruled out launching a limited-edition super sports car billed as a successor to the potent One-77.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Cars

Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.