Trilogy of Luxury: Aston Martin

The epitome of hand-crafted British Super Sports Cars

 Featuring  the Aston Martin ONE-77, the V12 Zagato, & the SP10

Aston Martin ONE-77

The beautiful two seat, two-door architecture is augmented with a structural core made of lightweight and immensely rigid carbon- fibre monocoque. It was built in collaboration with Multimatic (MTC), the world’s leaders in carbon composite technology, advanced vehicle analysis, and dynamic simulation. MTC added unrivaled specialist capabilities to the One-77 project. In fact, the One-77 was so beautiful and innovative that it won three awards.

The beauty of the ONE-77 goes beyond its graceful exterior. The GT inspired cabin contains two of the most highly desirable seats in the automotive world today. A quick roster of a few of its many amenities include; an adjustable leather trimmed steering wheel, lightweight memory seats, dual-stage front airbags, powerfold exterior side-view mirrors, automatic temperature control, and optional front & rear parking cameras.

The One-77 gets its power from a naturally aspirated alloy quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve 7.3 litre V12. The car springs forth from 0-62 in less than 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 220 mph. The prodigious power generates 750 bhp with peak torque at 700 NM. The engine is mid-mounted in the front with a new designed dry sump oil system. The engine is mounted 100 mm lower than any previous Aston Martin V12 which in turn lowers the center of gravity. The transmission is a rear drive six speed automated manual gearbox with auto shift. It utilizes a magnesium alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft and a limited slip differential.

The One-77 utilizes an inboard suspension composed of front and rear independent double wishbones with front anti-dive geometry. The rear incorporates anti-squat and anti-lift geometry. Both front and rear have anti-roll bars, pushrod activated coil springs and adjustable bump & rebound monotube dampers, electronically adjustable for ride height and rate change. The inboard suspension was adopted from race car design; it reduces the vehicles unsprung weight and arranges suspension components more efficiently. Power assisted rack and pinion steering with column tilt and reach control are standard. Front and rear ventilated carbon ceramic disc brakes with six piston calipers fitted to the front and four piston calipers fitted to the rear. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) intuitively maintains the car’s manners in all driving situations.

The Dampers are fully adjustable and feature advanced Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) technology, a world first on road car application. These special valves are technological marvels that use precision machined components to enable the shock absorbing characteristics of the damper to be changed without having to remove them from the car. Features like the billet machined aluminium suspension mounts among other intricate networks cannot be seen but make the rolling chassis a masterpiece. 

An example of the bespoke nature of the One-77 is that the car’s suspension characteristics have been precisely set by Aston martin engineers to suit the driver’s exact requirements. The settings are suitable for the ultimate long-distance GT, to a machine capable of conquering the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

The Aston Martin One-77 was unveiled completely at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009 with deliveries beginning in 2011. The One-77 was built at a restricted pace of 77 units, this is where the name comes into play “One of 77” and sold for 1,150,000 GB pounds sterling. The One-77 is Aston Martin’s quintessential sports car that epitomizes everything Aston Martin from technology, the hand craftsmanship of the rolled aluminium panels, to the attention to detail. This is a highly collectible Aston martin.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Check out the signature “Z” in the carbon-fibre grille mesh

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is one of the most exclusive cars ever produced. It was produced to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. The legendary collaboration between Aston Martin and Zagato has created some of the greatest cars in the world. The Aston Martin Design Team took the classic DB4 GT Zagato and created the Twenty-first Century rendition. Aston Martin celebrated an icon by creating another. The Production run for the V12 Zagato is limited to 101 vehicles.

The V12 Zagato was unveiled at the prestigious Villa d’Este Concours d’Eleganza for Concept Cars and Prototypes. No other auto maker would dare to consider racing a concept car. Aston Martin did….twice. They took the same car that won at Villa d’Este and rebuilt it to compete in the grueling Nurburgring 24 hour endurance race two weeks later. Aston Martin entered not one but two competing in the race averaging over 120 mph. Aston Martin proved once again, iconic design combined with race-track proven engineering. Due to the overwhelming response, Aston Martin created a strictly limited run of V12 Zagato road-cars.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato uses an alloy Quad Overhead Camshaft, 48-valve V12 front mid-mounted engine and a stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves for sound tuning. The engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission with an alloy torque tube and carbon-fibre propeller shaft. The engine produces 510 bhp @ 6,500 rpm with 570 Nm of torque @ 5,750 rpm. It accelerates from 0-62 in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 190 mph.

The suspension consists of independent double wishbones front and rear. Anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers are fitted to the front while anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, dual rate coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers are fitted to the rear. The V12 Zagato has rack and pinion Servotronic speed-sensitive power steering with reach and tilt adjustment standard.

It has 398 mm ventilated carbon ceramic discs with 6-piston Monobloc calipers up front and 360 mm ventilated carbon ceramic discs with 4-piston calipers in the rear. Dynamic Stability Control with ‘Track Mode”, ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Emergency Brake Assist, and Traction Control are all standard. The V12 Zagato rides on 19” Forged Aluminium wheels with Pirelli P Zero Corsa staggered tires sized 255/35 ZR19 on the front axle and size 295/30 ZR19 on the rear axle.

The V12 Zagato uses the minimalist approach to the interior. Zagato stitched logos, satin lacquered carbon-fibre accents, and switches made of glass make a tasteful contemporary look for this limited edition supercar. Standard are dual-stage driver/passenger front airbags, powerfold exterior heated mirrors, heated backglass and automatic temperature control. It is equipped with a Premium Audio System with Dolby Pro Logic, integrated Apple iPod connector 5, USB connector with waveform audio format and windows media player.

Standard comfort & convenience features include organic electroluminescent displays, trip computer, cruise control, Bluetooth telephone, Satellite Navigation System, rear vision camera, tire pressure monitoring, alarm with both volumetric and tilt sensor with immobilizer, remote central door locking and boot release, electrically adjustable sport seats with side airbags and a three position memory or six way electrically adjustable configurations.

Now, a little background on Zagato

Zagato is an independent coach building company that was founded in 1919 by Ugo Zagato. He saw the concept of functionalism and applied it to automotive design. Ugo Zagato used lightweight materials for his transformations. For framework he used sheet aluminium similar to an aircraft fuselage, at a time when cars were bulky and heavy. During the 1920s Zagato concentrated on race car transformations.

He was commissioned by Alfa Romeo in 1925 to create a body for the Alfa 6C 1500. Zagato succeeded in creating a sleek lightweight body for the car that scored 2nd place OA at the 1927 Mille Miglia and it won the 1928 edition. During the 1930s Ugo Zagato solved the problem of getting cars to slice through the air with sleek tapered lines. He refined and developed the earliest concepts of aerodynamics applied to the motorcar. 

He used inclined windscreens, more aerodynamic headlights, convex boot lids and perforated disc wheels that were a primitive brake-cooling aid. In the 1940s Ugo Zagato created more spacious and comfortable car greenhouses. This created a new type-form characterized by airiness and great visibility, using Plexiglas that he called “Panoramica.”

During the 1950s Zagato’s first born son Elio began his career as a gentleman driver in 160 races earning a place on the podium 83 times! Elio managed the family company by now. In 1949 Count Giovanni Lurani, a journalist and Elio Zagato revolutionized the world of auto racing by developing the “Gran Turismo” category. AC, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Aston Martin, Bristol, Ferrari, Fiat, Maserati, Jaguar, and Osca all wore Zagato GT bodies. 

Now fast forward to the 1980s to CAD-Computer Aided Design Cars. There became a demand for exclusive spyders and coupes led the creation of limited serialized editions. The Aston Martin Vantage (50 vehicles and the Volante Zagato (33 vehicles) were the result. The 2000s were Zagato’s philosophy for the neoclassical decade. Zagato Atelier created made to order creations for distinguished clientele and gentleman drivers using styling cues from the era of the berlinettas of the early 1950s.

Special projects created for Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Spyker, Diatto and Alfa Romeo consolidate the brand’s business in making custom-built models almost exclusively two-door coupes and two-seaters. A high attention to volume, mysterious and enticing in shape, making them highly limited in production, not only timeless beauties but also sound investments.

Aston Martin DB7 Zagato

Aston Martin and Zagato is an awesome duet in the world of exotic-exotics. Zagato hand crafts the already impeccably crafted Aston Martin to create a superlative work of rolling architecture. Aston Martin makes some of the most beautiful automobiles in the world and always a quantum-leap ahead of the rest with technology.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S-SP10

In the last four years the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 race cars have won two SP10 class victories, and four podiums in the challenging N24 Nurburgring 24 hour endurance race. The Nurburgring Nordschleife is not an easy task. The Vantage S-SP10 was created as a limited edition to commemorate these milestones. The SP10 is a front mid-mount engine, rear wheel drive super sports coupe.

It features a potent GT4 race-car inspired version of the Quad Overhead Cam 4.7 litre alloy 32-valve V8. It produces 436 PS with 490 Nm of torque. It sprints from 0-62 in 4.5 seconds (no scoffing this is a big girl). The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with a carbon-fibre propshaft. The special stainless steel exhaust system is tuned to a race-car “growl.” An optional 7-speed Sportshift II paddle-shift transmission is available for a sporty-synchronized manual shift experience.

Aston Martin gave the SP10 a sophisticated suspension network. The front uses independent double wishbones with anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers. The rear axle is fitted with independent double wishbones with anti-squat & anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers. The precision of rack and pinion Servotronic speed-sensitive power steering is standard. It rides on 19” V-spoke cast alloy wheels with diamond turned finish helps to reduce the vehicle’s unsprung weight. The wheels are fitted to Bridgestone Potenza staggered tires sized 8.5 JX 19” RE050 245/40 R19 on the front axle and 10.0 JX 19” RE050 285/35 R19 fitted to the rear axle.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage gets a “fierce” aero-bodykit that increases its stability. It is available as a hardtop coupe or roadster. It has extruded bonded aluminium VH body structure. The bodywork uses aluminium, magnesium alloy with composite materials, and steel. Extruded aluminium door side impact beams fitted for safety. Halogen projector main beams with High-Intensity Discharge dipped beam headlamps make up the front lighting system. The rear tail lamps are clear LED type. A carbon-fibre front splitter and rear diffuser create extra downforce. The roadster gets a special accent with its hood being finished in a contrasting Titan Grey.

The cabin of the Vantage SP10 is upholstered in full grain Obsidian black leather with contrasting silver stitching. The coupe has luxurious Alcantara inserts. Piano black fascia and center console with an Alcantara-trimmed sports steering wheel or leather trimmed steering wheel in the roadster adds to the luxury-sport character of the SP10. A 700 watt Aston Martin premium audio system with six-CD autochanger, integrated Apple iPod connector, and a USB connector with waveform audio format (WAF), and Windows Media Player is standard.

Other standard features include embroidered ‘Vantage S’ carpet logo, a remote-controlled central door locking with boot release, front & rear parking sensors, Satellite Navigation, trip computer, tire pressure monitoring, automatic temperature control, dual-stage driver & front passenger airbags, organic electroluminescent displays, LED map lights, and Bluetooth telephone system.

The Aston Martin Vantage SP10 is a race-car under the disguise of a streetcar. The 6-speed manual transmission is the first time the V8 ‘S’ engine has been mated to a manual. Being built around an all alloy structure with advanced materials such as carbon-fibre, magnesium, and carbon composite technology reduce weight while enhancing overall performance. The special edition Aston Martin V8 Vantage SP10 is everything an Aston Martin should be….the finest materials applied by experienced artisans making one of the world’s finest hand-crafted super sports cars.

The Aston Martin ONE-77 and its exclusivity, the V12 Zagato with its hand-crafted limited editions, and the V8 Vantage S-SP10 with its boost of adrenalin are just part of the illustrious Aston Martin heritage. Cheers to Aston Martin….may your second 100 years be as successful as your first.