(continued from the previous page)
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.
A Beauty Beneath, Too
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
mesmerizing weave of the glossy carbon fiber tub and the abstract, sculptural
beauty of the dry sump's oil reservoir, to the unerring precision of the billet
machined aluminum suspension mounts, the One-77's rolling chassis is an
automotive masterpiece.
Of course the irony is that the vast majority of
these exquisite components will be hidden from view in the finished car, yet
each and every piece is a work of art in its own right. It's this extraordinary
workmanship and money-no-object commitment to quality that makes the One-77
unique.
7.3-Liter, Naturally Aspirated V12 Engine
Naturally, such a spectacular chassis demands - and gets - an equally
exceptional drivetrain. It comes in the form of an immensely potent 7.3-liter,
naturally aspirated V12 engine. Thanks to the adoption of a dry-sump oil system
the engine is mounted 100 mm lower than in any previous V12-engined Aston Martin
road car, which helps keep the One-77's center-of-gravity as low as possible. To
further aid agility and endow the One-77 with progressive handling and stable,
predictable on-limit behavior, the engine is also mounted 257 mm aft relative to
the front wheel centerline. 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-liter
V12 engines fitted to the 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. It has proved to be the perfect collaboration, as Chris
Porritt explains.
"Our brief to the engine team was for them to take the
6.0-liter V12 as far as it could go, both in terms of output and weight
reduction. The targets were a power output of no less than 700 hp with a 10 per
cent reduction in engine mass. Incredibly, the Aston Martin and Cosworth
engineers achieved a mass reduction of some 25 per cent, and although we've yet
to complete the final engine calibration work, I'm confident we'll see in excess
of 700 hp. It's an awesome accomplishment, but one that's typical of the One-77
project, for it has consistently brought out the very best in everyone
involved."
The One-77 has been certified at 750 hp in the end.
Wearing Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires (255/35 ZR20 front, 335/30
ZR20 rear) developed specifically for the One-77, all 750 hp is 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 Braking System
It's a mark of the inherent
capabilities of Aston Martin's acclaimed lightweight Carbon Ceramic Matrix brake
technology that it has been used as the basis for the One-77's braking system.
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.
Projected Performance
With a projected weight of 3307 lbs the One-77
will occupy the very highest echelons of road car performance. Top speed is
confidently predicted to be in excess of 200 mph, with a 0-60 mph time in
approximately 3.5 sec. Perhaps more importantly, thanks to 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 carbon
fiber chassis, the One-77 promises a driving experience of unrivalled intensity
and excitement while representing the world's most desirable automotive art
form.
Aston Martin One-77: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications