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Aston Martin introduced its new limited-edition flagship supercar at the 2009 Geneva Auto Salon. Called One-77, it packs a 700+ hp V12 engine and epitomises everything that characterizes Aston Martin - from technology, the hand-craftsmanship of the hand rolled aluminium panels, to the attention to detail. A culmination of all the marque’s know-how, the Aston Martin One-77 delivers effortless beauty, hovering low above the ground, with an aggressive exterior and a wide stance. Driving the rear-wheels through a 6-speed sequential transmission, the One-77 promises outstanding performance and thanks to relatiely low weight of 3,300 lb also excellent handling.
The One-77’s structural core is a lightweight and immensely rigid carbonfiber monocoque. Conceived and designed at Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ, the monocoque, or ‘tub’, has been built in partnership with Multimatic (MTC).
Employing the classic formula of double-wishbones at each corner, the One-77 features inboard suspension front and rear, with pushrods employed to transfer vertical suspension movements to the horizontally mounted spring/damper units. A practice taken directly from racing car design, the main advantages of inboard suspension are a reduction in unsprung weight and the ability to package the suspension components more effectively.
The dampers are fully adjustable and feature advanced Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) technology; a world-first for a road car application. These special valves are state-of-the-art even at the highest levels of motorsport, and use high-precision machined components to enable the shock-absorbing characteristics of the damper to be changed without having to remove them from the car, as is the norm.
Underlining the truly bespoke nature of the One-77, once delivered to its owner, the car’s suspension characteristics will be precisely set-up by Aston Martin engineers to suit their exact requirements, from settings suitable for the ultimate long-distance GT, to a machine capable of conquering the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
While functionality and efficiency are paramount in the design and construction of the One-77, so too is aesthetic beauty. To this end every single component has been crafted from the finest materials with absolute attention to detail. From the mesmerising weave of the glossy carbonfiber tub and the abstract, sculptural beauty of the dry sump’s oil reservoir, to the unerring precision of the billet machined aluminium suspension mounts, the One-77’s rolling chassis is an automotive masterpiece.
Naturally, such a spectacular chassis demands – and gets - an equally exceptional drivetrain. It comes in the form of an immensely potent 7.3-litre, naturally aspirated V12 engine. Thanks to the adoption of a dry-sump oil system the engine is mounted 3.9 in. lower than in any previous V12-engined Aston Martin road car, which helps keep the One-77’s centre-of-gravity as low as possible. To further aid agility and endow the One-77 with progressive handling and stable, predictable on-limit behaviour, the engine is also mounted 10.1 in. aft relative to the front wheel centreline. In so doing the front-mid-engined layout shared by all of Aston Martin’s current road car range has been taken to a new level.
The One-77’s magnificent power unit is an extreme evolution of the 6.0-litre V12 engines fitted to the Aston Martin DBS, DB9, and new V12 Vantage models. Like the collaboration with MTC for the build of the chassis, Aston Martin has chosen a world-leading partner with which to develop the motor: legendary engine builders, Cosworth.
Wearing Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres (255/35 ZR20 front, 335/30 ZR20 rear) developed specifically for the One-77, all 700+ hp are transmitted to the road through the rear wheels via a new six-speed gearbox. Controlled via column-mounted paddles behind the steering-wheel, this robotised sequential manual is a new generation of Aston Martin’s familiar transmission. Though it is made specifically for the One-77 and features specially strengthened internals to cope with the tremendous power and torque, the lessons learned in its development will ultimately find their way into the company’s series production models.
The One-77's braking system is built around Ceramic brake discs. The internals of the calipers have been re-engineered to transmit less heat from the brake pads into the brake fluid, while the discs themselves have been developed to ensure the maximum possible contact area between the face of the disc and the brake pads for improved stopping power. Due to the One-77’s increased performance, special attention has also been paid to brake cooling, as the brakes have less time to cool between bursts of acceleration.
With a projected weight of 3,300 lb, the purity of a front-engined, rear-drive layout, the responsiveness and immense tractability of a naturally aspirated V12, and the low mass, high-rigidity properties of a carbonfiber chassis, the One-77 promises outstanding performance for a road car. Top speed is predicted to be in excess of 200mph, with a 0-60mph time in approximately 3.5sec.
The downside? As the name implies, the One-77 will be limited to 77 examples, each commanding a payment of £1 million (app. $1.2 million).