Aston Martin One-77 V12 Breaks Cover in Geneva

Showcasing its engineering and design expertise, Aston Martin lifted the covers off the One 77 at the Geneva Show today. The full size model previews the production model that will be built in a limited number of 77 units. Believe it or not, Aston Martin says that when it began developing its most exclusive supercar, it took a good look at the cars of the DTM racing series.

"We wanted to create something that wows you as much when you see what's under the skin as the exterior styling itself," said Chris Porritt, One-77 Programme Manager. "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 application."

The One 77 structural core is a lightweight yet extremely rigid carbon fibre monocoque which was conceived and designed at Aston Martin's Gaydon HQ, and built in partnership with Multimatic (MTC).

Aston Martin's enginners fitted the One 77 with a double wishbone suspension and fully adjustable dampers featuring Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) technology, a world-first for a road car application according to the British firm. These special valves are state-of-the-art even at the highest levels of motorsport,

Underneath its elongated bonnet, the One 77 gets a naturally aspirated 7.3-liter V12 engine derived from the 6.0-litre V12s fitted to the DBS, DB9 and new V12 Vantage models. Aston Martin projects that it will deliver over 700HP offering the car a projected top speed in excess of 200mph (312 km/h), with a 0-60mph (96km/h) time in approximately 3.5 sec.

Aston Martin DBS Volante at Geneva

Thanks to an embargo breakage, Aston Martin's V12-powered rag-top DBS has received a premature online unveiling. To be officially introduced in Geneva, the new 2+2 seater DBS Volante features a fabric top that neatly tucks away behind a sculpted tonneau cover at the touch of a button in 14 seconds. Power is provided by Aston Martin's all alloy 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510-horsepower and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque for a top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h) and a 0-100 km/h (62mph) time of 4.3 secs.

In standard specification, the DBS Volante comes with a rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox, while for those that don't mind having a less engaging driving experience, the British firm also offers an automatic six-speed 'Touchtronic' option.

To keep the car's weight down (Aston announces a weight of 1,810kg or 3,990 lbs), the DBS Volante is offered with carbon ceramic brakes as standard while the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are all made from carbon fibre.

The DBS Volante will be built at Aston Martin's global headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire with the first examples expected to be delivered during the third quarter of the year. Prices will be announced at the Geneva Auto Salon.

DBS Volante Specification

Body

• Two-door convertible body style with 2+2 seating
  
• Bonded aluminium VH structure
  
• Aluminium, magnesium alloy and carbon-fibre composite body
  
• Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
  
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps (main beam)
  
• LED rear lamps and side repeaters
  

Engine

• All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5935 cc V12
  
• Compression ratio 10.9:1
  
• Front-mid mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
  
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
  
• Max power: 380 kW (510 bhp / 517 PS) at 6500 rpm
  
• Max torque: 570 Nm (420 lb.ft) at 5750 rpm
  
• Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.3 seconds
  
• Max speed: 307 km/h (191 mph)
  

Transmission

• Rear-mid mounted, six-speed manual gearbox. Rear-mid mounted 'Touchtronic 2' six-speed gearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control system
  
• Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
  
• Limited-slip differential
  
• Final-drive ratio 3.71:1 (manual) 3.46:1 (Touchtronic)
  

Wheels and Tyres

• Front: 8.5'' x 20'' Pirelli P Zero 245/35
  
• Rear: 11'' x 20'' Pirelli P Zero 295/30
  

Steering

• Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
  
• Column tilt and reach adjustment
  

Suspension

• Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
  
• Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
  
• Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Track mode
  

Brakes

• Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm diameter with six-piston callipers
  
• Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston callipers
  
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
  
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
  
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
  
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
  
• Traction control
  

Dimensions

Length:	4721 mm (185.9'')	Wheelbase:	2740 mm (107.9'')
Width:	1905 mm (75'') (exc. Mirrors) 2060 mm (81.1'') (inc. Mirrors)	Fuel tank capacity:	78 litres (17.2 Imp.galls, 20.5 US galls)
Height:	1280 mm (50.4'')	Weight:	1810 kg

Interior

• Full grain leather interior
  
• Matrix alloy facia trim and Iridium Silver centre console surround
  
• Carbon fibre door trims and door pulls
  
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror & garage door opener (USA & Canada only)
  
• Sports seats with electric adjustment
  
• Memory seats & exterior mirrors (three positions)
  
• Dual-stage driver/passenger front airbags
  
• Side airbags
  
• Heated seats
  
• Heated rear screen
  
• Automatic temperature control
  
• Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
  
• Trip computer
  
• LED map lights
  
• Cruise control
  
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system1,2
  
• Bluetooth telephone preparation1
  
• Powerfold exterior mirrors
  
• Front and rear parking sensors
  
• Tyre-pressure monitoring1
  
• Alarm and immobiliser
  
• Remote-control central door locking and boot release
  
• Wind deflector
  
• Battery disconnect switch
  
• Battery conditioner1
  
• Tracking device3 (UK only)
  
• Boot-mounted umbrella
  
• Lamy pen and pen holder (Touchtronic only)
  

In-Car Entertainment

• Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS sound system
  
• Integrated Apple iPod® connector
  
• USB connector with Waveform Audio Format (WAF), Windows Media Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) audio file compatibility
  
• 3.5 mm auxiliary input socket
  

Options

• 20'' 20-spoke alloy wheels with graphite finish
  
• 20" 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels
  
• 20" 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels with graphite finish
  
• Satellite radio system (USA only)
  
• Piano Black facia trim and centre console surround
  
• Personalised sill plaques
  
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror1
  
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror with garage door opener (Europe only)
  
• Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
  
• Tracking device1,3
  
• First-aid kit
  
• Ashtray and cigar lighter

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Aston Martin could be repossessed by banks

Aston Martin chairman David Richards has admitted that his company is in danger of a "technical breach of its banking covenants" sometime later this year. The situation could, technically, lead to the banks which financed the acquisition of the British sportscar-maker repossessing it.

Now we're not experts in finance. Not by any stretch of the imagination. So we couldn't tell you specifically what terms of the particular agreement between Aston's owners and its financial underwriters the company is in danger of breaching. But we take some comfort in the use of the contingent term "technical" in connection with the dire term "breach". At this point it would seem that the breach is only a possibility, not an eventuality, and that in such a circumstance the bank would have to be motivated to take control of the company. (We won't tell them if you don't.) But hopefully the Kuwaiti investors propping up Richards will work out a solution before it ever reaches that stage. Otherwise, Aston Martin could end up changing hands yet again.