Monday 20th May 2013

Aston Martin CC100 revealed

Aston Martin centenary celebrated with CC100 Speedster Concept and 'ring lap with the DBR1 that inspired it

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The Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept is the brand's centenary birthday present to itself. This radical looking open top will today lead a parade of 100 Aston Martins around the Nurburgring with the DBR1 that inspired it alongside. And PH will tuck in behind in a Rapide S!

Retro design cues inspired by DBR1 racer

Part of a long-running programme of special events and cars celebrating 100 years of Aston Martin, the CC100 takes the brand's existing VH architecture and AM11 6.0-litre V12 engine - as featured in the Vanquish and Rapide S - to new extremes. Aston isn't confirming any figures at this stage, beyond that it'll hit 62mph in less than four seconds and its top speed is limited to 180mph. But you'd have to hope with that minimalist carbon bodywork and suitably spartan cabin there's a significant weight saving over the surprisingly portly 1,739kg Vanquish.

In the Vanquish the AM11 delivers 573hp and drives through a six-speed auto but the CC100's racier ethos means a return to the punchier style of lighter paddle-controlled 'robotised' manuals seen in earlier Astons. "It represents our fantastic sporting heritage, our exceptional design capability, our superb engineering know-how and, above all, our adventurous spirit," said boss Ulrich Bez in a typically bombastic press release ahead of driving the car on its parade lap of the 'ring.

Livery and lines both inspired by racing Astons

Aston Martin's ability to spin yet more retro-inspired designs off its aluminium VH system (don't call it a platform - Bez will get cross with you) is a source of both wonder and a fair bit of controversy but few would deny them the chance to have a bit of fun with the endlessly flexible building blocks if the result is something like this. The official blurb also hints that the CC100 "signals the future of the brand" - and if that means the odd lightweight minimalist speedster then that's just fine by us.

Visual references to the stunning DBR1 that won Le Mans in 1959 and triumphed at the Nurburgring 1000km for three straight years from 1957 onwards are plentiful, the mix of exposed carbon fibre and traditional leather straps and trim handled with Pagani-like aplomb. Chrome-ringed controls and a line of traditional toggle switches complete the tasteful homage to glories past.

Probably cheaper than one of these, you'd hope

Looking not entirely unlike a rather more elegant take on the Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss, the DBR1's historic link with the same through that 'ring victory and others at Goodwood and beyond haven't been ignored either. Whether Aston Martin intends to follow Mercedes' lead and produce a limited run of cars to 'special' customers is yet to be confirmed. 75 Stirling Moss edition SLRs were built, selling for close to a million a piece and restricted to existing SLR owners only. With genuine DBR1s in the £20m league you can be sure if/when Aston does decide to build some they'll be snapped up. Let's just hope we get to have a go before they are.

And just to get you fired up here's a little vid too.

 

 

[RosscoPCole]

Stunning. Reminds me of the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss.


This is how modern endurance racers should look.

Imagine the Aston Martin the SLR Stirling Moss and modern interpretations of a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and a Maserati 450S amongst others racing at Le Mans.

[Mastodon2]

Incredible, reminds me of the SLR Stirling Moss Edition. Looks amazing.

[ArtVandelay]

I rather like the "minimalist" interior and the back end.

I'm sure it'll sound great too.

[Robstar111r]

Stunning. Great vid. I bet they can't wait to get up in the morning and go to work. Job satisfaction or what.

[Monty Zoomer]

That's great.

It'll probably be almost as good as a McLaren SLR Stirling Moss.

[k-ink]

Absolutely stunning creation!

[JNR77]

Will we see the nose and back end used on the new v8 vantage?

[k-ink]

RosscoPCole said:

This is how modern endurance racers should look.

Imagine the Aston Martin the SLR Stirling Moss and modern interpretations of a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and a Maserati 450S amongst others racing at Le Mans.

That would be amazing to behold. Ban aero, diesels, ugly tech fest cars and lets get back to some pure automotive art.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Love that!

Video not working though

[CDP]

The want is high with both those cars.

There's photo of Moss driving the DBR1 in the 1959 Goodwood TT directly above this monitor. It has to be one of the prettiest racing cars ever built.

[tinkertaylor]

Have Aston and Ford decided to steal each others grilles?





and the new Fiesta

[another 3 points]

Nice car. Very nice car. Whats with the Vid not working?

[skeeterm5]

Given that most modern AM are things of beauty I can't help think this was styled in the dark. It is minging, the lines don't flow and it is awash with unresolved surfaces.

AM is best at form over function, and that is their USP and they should stick to it.

S

[Agoogy]

I'm not sold on either of those looks wise...far to much going on up front...they look like power boats with wheels...which IMO is not a good thing...neither have the balance of their forebearers...

As for grille swapping, Aston was WAY first and the idea they look similar is pretty old news??

I just wish Ford were quicker of the drawing board and then the Cygnet could have been the far better looking Fiesta, re-imagined...

[MrTappets]

I think this is stunning. I'd really like to see it with a manual gearbox, v8, no stickers and £100k price tag. Wonder if this a preview of V8 vantage styling to come?

[Agoogy]

Actually regardless of what I happen to think of the looks, I've just watched the video.
It's simply art.
I don't care if the thing happens to have a 'function', all of those involved with such imagination, flair and technical ability are all artists IMO.
I could watch that kind of thing all day...
exquisite.

[DiscoColin]

MrTappets said:

I think this is stunning. I'd really like to see it with a manual gearbox, v8, no stickers and £100k price tag.

A nice dream, but this is clearly a pitch for a £1m car - if they produce it then it will be a limited exotic for AM fans to park next to their One-77. They must be at least thinking of production as otherwise there would be no reason for a prototype English car to be left hand drive...

[YAHOO]

Lovely car , even nicer than the sm/ SLR in some ways .

[hdrflow]

Absolutely stunning.

[Auson]

Can't help thinking it would have looked a lot better if they put the modern underpinnings under the DBR1 style body. Seems to work for Weismann