As if there weren't already enough reasons to desire an Aston Martin, Galpin Motors in Van Nuys, California, provides yet another. When you purchase a new DB9, Vantage or DBS, you also get an electronic access card to Galpin's Club Aston.
While all Aston Martin dealerships provide such an owners lounge where you can stop by at any time to hang out with other owners, Galpin has gone several steps further by turning its lounge into a Bond villain's avant garde hide away. There's a hidden entrance, a bar, quasi-futuristic furniture, a small library, giant metal vault doors and a turn table in the middle of it all where new Astons are unveiled to their owners under an oh-so-cool Bond-like gun barrel design.
What better place, then, for Aston Martin to showcase its magnificent One-77 super car, fresh from its grand unveiling at Pebble Beach?
The One-77 was originally shown in Geneva as a styling mock-up and as a bare chassis showcasing its carbon fiber monocoque. Back then, an Aston representative promised that that very chassis would be sent back to the company's headquarters in Gaydon where it would become the first One-77. Sure enough, the car shown at Club Aston last night is indeed the same chassis -- the first of only 77 to be produced -- in close-to-production form (bits of the interior are a little concept car-like).
In person, it's frankly not as pretty as the other Aston Martins, evoking the more visually challenging Zagato models from years past. Look closer, however, and the One-77's engineering and visual details are breathtaking. Most noticeable is the tiny number of exterior body panels. From the doors and C-pillar rearward, there is only one, giant carbon fiber panel. Ditto the right and left front fenders and "bumper," which wrap around the enlarged Aston grille. The side mirrors sprout from the doors (also carbon fiber), rather than being separate units. In other words, don't crash your Aston Martin One-77.
Look even closer and it's impossible to miss the car's inboard suspension. Though it employs double wishbones at each corner, pushrods are used to transfer vertical suspension movements to the horizontally mounted spring/damper units. This leads to a reduction in unsprung weight and the ability to more efficiently package the suspension components (as well as easily tune it for however the customer desires). Not only is this race-car-inspired design easy to spot in the engine bay, but Aston chose to showcase these way-cool components through cutaways under the gear glass. Also on display at back are the sexy carbon fiber structural supports.
According to Aston Design Manager Miles Nurnberger, there was a concerted effort to show off such mechanical features that would normally never be seen in a normal car. The same goes for the numerous spots of unpainted carbon fiber under the hood and in the door jams.
There was no additional news regarding exact a horsepower figure -- still "more than 700 horsepower" -- but I can report that the 7.3-liter V12 sounds ferocious. In the confined quarters of Club Aston, the engine and exhaust produce a guttural, piercing yowl that attacks the ears and pressures your chest cavity like standing next to the two-storey speakers at a Metallica concert. Hopefully, it'll actually be enjoyed someday rather than rotting away inside some man's 198-car garage in Bahrain.
The Aston Martin One-77 is truly a magnificent machine, and it better be for the roughly $2 million dollars needed to pick it up from under the gun barrel pedestal of Club Aston. -James Riswick, Automotive Editor
estreka says:
02:19 PM, 08/21/09
Nice car. Investment Dar is doing nice things with them, even more than Ford did.
billt9 says:
02:36 PM, 08/21/09
this thing looks too Chrysler.
With 2 million dollars, I'd get 6 Aston Martin DBS's... the DBS looks awesome...
slickersdrip says:
02:46 PM, 08/21/09
I think the issue is that if someone can pay $2 million for a vehicle, money ceases to be an issue altogether. So a One-77 and any number of DBS's wouldn't be out of the question.
This car is truly magnificent, I like how it's not freakish looking like the Bugatti Veyron that has a "LOOK AT ME I'M SO EXPENSIVE" sense to it just to grab attention. This is just a rolling sculpture with an engine note (I saw a video somewhere of it, but can't recall where) to delight my ears.
cah11705 says:
10:59 AM, 08/22/09
I don't think this car even need the body panels to be worth the money. Its carbon fiber frame is just incredible, along with one look at the engine bay. I was speechless when i first say that picture. It truly is incredible. I really don;t car how fast it is cause it looks amazing and apparently sounds amazing.
fuhteng says:
07:48 PM, 08/22/09
Really? It isn't freakish looking with those awful gills on the front and the odd bulging grille? I think it is awful, but if everything has a purpose, then so be it.
robbcptc says:
07:07 AM, 08/24/09
Freakish looking? and most Lambos arent'? Noble? Koenigsegg? Or any other supercar?
Freakishly expensive maybe. I think it is stunning and would by it if I had the funds to spare.
smihal says:
08:16 AM, 08/24/09
I guess that lounge is kinda cool. But whatever, my BMW dealer gives me free coffee. So yeah. Take that Aston martin owners...Although they did make me pay for a croissant while I was waiting to have my oil changed. Damn.