GENEVA — Teased to within an inch of its life on the Web, the Aston Martin One-77 finally made its first official public appearance at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, providing a rolling showcase of supercar technology.
Said to be inspired by DTM racing, the One-77 is described immodestly by Aston as the company's "definitive sports car." According to Chief Executive Ulrich Bez, it is "the ultimate expression of Aston Martin."
Still months away from production, the One-77 is about to commence durability and performance testing. Aston engineers are particularly keen to see how the new 12-cylinder engine, jointly developed with Cosworth, unwinds.
The normally aspirated 7.3-liter V12 is designed to produce a whopping 700-plus horsepower, feeding the rear wheels through a new six-speed "robotized" sequential manual gearbox with paddle shifters. The performance targets are 0-60-mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds or less, and a top speed in excess of 200 mph.
Underneath the stunning skin is a rigid carbon fiber tub, developed in cooperation with composite specialist Multimatic. The One-77 features double wishbones and adjustable shocks as well as carbon-ceramic brakes and Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires (255/35ZR20 front, 335/30ZR20 rear).
One small perk that lucky owners will enjoy as part of the projected seven-figure price tag: As part of the delivery process, Aston engineers will set up the car's suspension to the owner's individual taste.
Inside Line says: This ultracar wannabe boasts impressive specs on paper — but has a long way to go to catch the Bugatti Veyron. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »