What is it?

It looks like a horse standing still and a tailored suit, both at the same time. Both metaphors are the words of Aston Director of Design, Marek Reichman, whose latest car was unveiled with two Afghan hounds sitting on the back seats. It was all very odd.

The Rapide resembles a slightly larger version of everything else Aston does, which you may think is either plain lazy or an absolute packaging miracle. But there are definitely some compromises in the cabin: it'll be tight for adults in the back. The 'swan wing' doors are cool though - they open slightly upwards to avoid scuffing high kerbs.

Why's it here?

The squeezing in of two extra seats and a pair of doors into a very familiar shape makes it a practical Aston of sorts. The Aston Martin Rapide is Britain's answer to the Porsche Panamera, though Aston has focussed far more on the 'supercar' bit than the Germans did. It's powered by a 6.0-litre V12 pumping out 470bhp and driving the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic. But Aston assures us it is practical too: its 301-litre boot extends to 750-litres with the seats folded, and the rear bulkhead is moveable for access to the boot from the cabin.

Show stopper or floor filler?

If we hadn't seen it so many times before - both this actual car and the shape in general - it would undoubtedly be a showstopper. However, Aston's stand, chaotic as it was during the press conference, didn't spring any real surprises in the same way the whole Lagonda thing did at the Geneva Show in March. The Rapide is stunning, for sure, but it's been around since Detroit 2006. We'll get more excited when we drive it.