Design
The team that was given the brief to design a concept inspired by the DBR1 but still hinting towards the future of the Aston Martin brand, was lead by Director of Design Marek Reichman and Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger. The essential elements of the DBR1 that had to be distilled into the CC100 was the open cockpit, two seats, uninhibited driver vision and flowing exterior lines that form a smooth aerodynamic form.
Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez said: “CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. It represents our fantastic sporting heritage, our exceptional design capability, our superb engineering know-how and, above all, our adventurous spirit! I have nicknamed it ‘DBR100’ because of its affinity to the great 1959 race-winning cars and, of course, our 100-year anniversary in 2013. But this car is more, even, than a simple ‘birthday present’ to ourselves: it shows that the soul of Aston Martin – the thing that differentiates us from all the other car makers out there – is as powerful as ever and I very much hope that everyone who catches a glimpse of it at the Nürburgring today enjoys seeing it.”
The interior had to be suitable for a true track car yet had to be as luxurious as Aston Martin’s road cars. A unique weave of lightweight carbon fibre was used to provide structural rigidity. The CC100 has racing seats with full safety harness but these are clothed in the finest Bridge of Weir leather. The control buttons and the distinctive ECU starter buttons are all glass as seen in the road cars by Aston Martin model.
It would also seem Aston Martin has chosen to use leather handles to open the doors instead of conventional door handles to save weight. The interior also sport the proud ‘Q’ customization badge. The 100 Years celebration logo of Aston Martin is seen on the exterior as well as the interior.
Body, Powertrain
Aston Martin employed low volume specialists Multimac to craft the exterior and interior in carbon fibre. The CC100 is powered by the AM11 naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission. The transmission is controlled using steering column-mounted paddle shifts.
Aston Martin points out that this four and a half metre long car which is nearly two metres wide expresses the infinitely flexible nature of Aston Martin’s trademark Vertical Horizontal engineering philosophy.
