[Aston Martin News] It may trace its roots back to the 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1 racer, but the Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept serves as a showcase for the company’s future directions regarding design and the application of lightweight materials.
The nose of the minimalist two-seater speedster study, which was designed and built in less than six months, is a bold evolution of the well-known Aston face. According to Aston’s design director, Marek Reichman, the grille now forms part of the car’s overall bodywork, as opposed to an element that’s merely tacked onto the front of the vehicle.
It’s a modular feature with different grille inserts for different model applications. The more aggressive-looking grille insert shown on the CC100 is that earmarked for high performance models, while a subtler insert could be applied to the noses of models with a more luxurious bearing.
Another Aston styling signature, the vent strakes on the front wings, has also been transformed from a visual tack-on to an integral part of the car’s design that plays a role in enhancing aerodynamics.
According to Reichman, both of these features will be gradually applied to future Aston Martin products.
Much like the Vanquish, the CC100’s construction utilises carbon-fibre componentry bonded directly onto the aluminium VH architecture. Reichman claims that, despite its cost, this lightweight material must still play a critical role in the development of future performance models.
“Carbon-fibre has real flexibility in its form and rigidity in its structure, and it is torsionally stiff and light, but it also has a high price as its main downside,” said Reichman. “It is a material you won’t be able to avoid in sports cars in the future, although aluminium makers are responding with improved technology of their own as its in their business interests to do so.” Recent advancements in carbon-fibre forming also means that components can go from drawing board to production in next to no time.
