Aston Martin presented the One-77 technical showcase at the Geneva Auto Salon. Chassis no.1 will be on display detailing the essence of Aston Martin engineering and design expertise.
The One-77 is Aston Martin's definitive sports car, one that epitomizes everything from technology to the hand-craftsmanship of the hand-rolled aluminum panels.
With the performance and durability phase of the One-77's intensive development program about to commence, the Geneva Auto Salon provides the perfect stage on which to reveal the remarkable engineering, advanced technology and exotic materials that lie beneath the One-77's extraordinary exterior.
Chris Porritt, One-77 Program Manager, explained: "We wanted to create something that wows you as much when you see what's under the skin as the exterior styling itself. We started by identifying the most technologically exciting front-engined, rear-wheel drive cars in the world: those from the DTM race series. We then applied the principles and technology that feature heavily in their design and translated it to a road car."
Consequently the One-77's structural core is a lightweight and immensely rigid carbon fiber 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 racecar design, the advantage of inboard suspension is 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 use precision machined components to enable the damping characteristics to be changed without having to remove them from the car.
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 requirements.
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. From the weave of the glossy carbon fiber tub and the abstract, sculptural beauty of the dry sump's oil reservoir, to the precision of the billet aluminum suspension mounts, the One-77's rolling chassis is an automotive masterpiece.
Of course, the irony is that the majority of these components will be hidden from view, yet each piece is a work of art in its own right.
Naturally, such a spectacular chassis demands an equally exceptional drivetrain. It comes in the form of a potent 7.3-liter, naturally aspirated V12. Thanks to the dry-sump oil system, the engine is mounted 100mm lower than in any previous V12 Aston Martin, which helps keep the One-77's centre-of-gravity as low as possible. To further aid agility, the engine is mounted 257mm 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.
...
>>next page