Unlike the four-seater Rapide, the Taraf has a more traditional three-box sedan shape. Even today, it holds up well as a striking luxury vehicle with its slatted Aston Martin grille, and the unusual shape has aged surprisingly well.
Certain aspects of the meticulously crafted cabin betray its age, though, with this 2018 example’s tacked-on infotainment screen looking outdated by modern standards. Below that is an endless array of physical switches and dials, although these are quite charming as automakers seem determined to eliminate physical controls wherever possible. The second row is configured for two, with a bulky center console housing individual rear controls for the climate control system and other functions.
The Taraf draws inspiration from the Williams Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976, a futuristic car of the period distinguished by its wedge-shaped styling. Like the more modern Taraf, this original Lagonda sedan was also one of the most expensive cars of its time, and it was one of the first cars to introduce a digital instrument panel.