Aston Martin has confirmed that its Rapide sedan will debut at the Detroit motor show (also known as the North American International Auto Show in January). The Rapide is to be in the same class as the Porsche Panamera, the Mercedes CLS-Class and the Maserati Quattroporte. This means the Rapide will probably be availible before the Porsche Panamera which is scheduled to be released before the end of 2007. The Rapide name is a reference to the Lagonda Rapide, a sedan produced by Lagonda, now part of Aston Martin.