First look: One-77 takes Aston to new heights

ASTON Martin has presented its forthcoming new flagship coupe – the million-dollar-plus One-77 – with the issuing of a single photograph and few official details other than its use of a carbon-fibre chassis, handcrafted aluminium body and a 7.0-litre V12 engine.

Some 17 months after the British marque was bought by a consortium led by UK motorsport mogul and Prodrive chief David Richards, the super-exclusive One-77 is the first all-new vehicle built outside the Ford stable under this new regime and looks set to rival the Bugatti Veyron with its desirability, exclusivity – and costliness.

The unconfirmed starting price is believed to be at least £1 million ($A2.16 million), with production limited to just 77 units.

Overseas reports indicate that each car – the first of which should hit the streets late in 2009 – will be tailored to the requirements of individual customers, who will meet with designers and engineers during the production process.

Alterations could include suspension settings, extending even so far as reconfiguring the body into a 2+2 seater and/or convertible.

Prospective buyers can register their interest on a dedicated website, www.One-77.com.

“It’s a very special car for customers who want to take the bespoke experience to a higher level,” Mr Richards told UK publication Autocar. “Every car will be entirely individual.”

Pundits place the One-77’s maximum power at 650hp (485kW) – well above the current 380kW (DB6) in the current 6.0-litre V12 – and its 0-60mph (96km/h) performance at 3.5 seconds. Top speed is an estimated 220mph (354km/h).

Aston Martin describes the car as the “ultimate creative interpretation of the renowned British marque”.

“One-77 fuses advanced technology with stunning Aston Martin design to create possibly the world’s most desirable automotive artform,” Aston said in a statement.

“Based on a sophisticated carbon-fibre chassis with a handcrafted aluminium body, this 7.0-litre V12 supercar will deliver exhilarating performance for a strictly limited number of discerning customers.”