Aston Martin One-77 supercar (2009): first picture
By Ben Pulman

08 August 2008 00:01

This is Aston Martin’s new One-77, an ultra-exclusive £1.2m supercar-cum-work-of-art. A maximum 77 of these bespoke creations will be produced, hence the name, each one underpinned by an all-new carbonfibre chassis that supports a 7.0-litre V12 and handcrafted aluminium bodywork. One-77 is merely the project’s working title – the fastest, most exclusive Aston supercar ever will have a snappier name by 2009, when deliveries begin.

Hang on, £1.2m for this Aston Martin One-77?
Well, £1m plus local taxes. That means any UK customer wanting a One-77 will have to cough up £300k more than it costs to own a Bugatti Veyron. The Aston Martin One-77 should be worth it though. Aston promises the car will be totally bespoke, and speaks of having its discerning clientele involved in every stage of their car’s development.

That means talk of interior trim and paint colours is pretty banal. About the only thing fixed will be the mechanics of the One-77. See the rear three-quarter light in the C-pillar? Looks like there’s space for two small seats? Well that’s your choice – you could have some extra luggage space instead, or a mix of the two.

A 7.0-litre V12? So it’s fast then…
Faster than any current Aston Martin, or any future project, they say. With next year’s V12 Vantage RS expected to crack the 0-62mph sprint in four seconds dead, before charging onto 200mph, the One-77 will truly be supercar-quick. Aston politely call the expected performance ‘exhilarating’.

Giving the One-77 its stunning performance is a new version of the company’s 6.0-litre V12. With a 7.0-litre capacity Aston insiders talk of an output of 600-650bhp, while the new engine should also kick out 500lb ft.

Clues about the car’s expected kerbweight are also underwraps, though the carbon chassis and aluminium body panels should keep the number below 1800kg. Aston is also remaining tight-lipped about the gearbox. The One-77’s bespoke nature should mean a choice for customers but overwhelming demand might limit the options to a solitary choice.

Talk me through the design of the One-77.
Aston Martin says this is no mere car, but ‘possibly the world’s most desirable automotive art form’. Marek Reichmann and his design team have sculpted the One-77 so that it is still instantly recognisably an Aston Martin, but with hints of a new design language.

The short nose is expected to feature the traditional Aston grille, while the vented bonnet and heavily sculpted sides help dissipate heat from the enormous V12. Aston’s sliver door handles and familiar rear lights feature, while the rear haunches are voluptuous and the six-spoke wheels hide huge ceramic brakes.

So Aston Martin is actually going to build the One-77?
That’s the plan. Aston wants to show the car to potential customers by the end of the year, with the potential for the first production cars to roll out of ***don by the end of 2009. With the car’s exclusive nature it’s expected that Aston will take production of the One-77 in-house to ensure the highest standards.

Aston has been working on the car for 15 months since being given the go-ahead by its shareholders once the company was off-loaded by Ford. Apparently it is ‘the ultimate creative interpretation of the renowned British marque’. The most anticipated car of 2009? Instantly.