The Aston Martin One-77 started with a simple directive from company CEO Ulrich Bez: Build a car that will take your breath away. It's done just that with a 220-mph blast during testing.
Aston claims a One-77 hit 200.007 mph during high-speed testing "at a top-secret proving ground in Southern Europe." The company didn't provide any further details beyond saying the runs were made during "dry but windy" conditions. If the number's valid, the One-77 is on pace to be the fastest car Aston Martin has produced since its founding in 1913.
To hit that kind of velocity, Cosworth is hand-building the 7.3-liter 12-cylinder engines. The goal is 750 horsepower and 750 Newton-meters (about 553 pound-feet) of torque.
Power is nothing without control, so the engine propels a car with an adjustable suspension derived from the race cars of Europe’s Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Series. Once you enter triple-digit velocities, the active suspension lowers one inch and the rear spoiler rises four inches to improve handling and aerodynamics. A rear diffuser provides additional downforce. Carbon-ceramic brakes slow you down in a hurry. It all sits in a carbon fiber monocoque chassis wrapped in hand-formed aluminum bodywork.
That kind of perfomance won't come cheap, and the One-77 -- so named because Aston will build just 77 of them -- will run about $1.8 million when it goes on sale later this year. As much as we want one, we'll be lucky to afford the Aston Martin Cygnet city car.
For more moto-porn, check out the photo gallery we ran after drooling on the One-77 in Monterey.
Photo: Jim Merithew / Wired.com
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