At the Frankfurt Motor Show, we get our first up-close look at the CC100 Speedster Concept, Aston Martin’s tribute to the legendary DBR1 racer and just one of its centenary celebrations.
[Not a valid template]It’s been a few months since we last caught up with the Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept, and we’ve had the V8 Vantage S and the DB9 to keep us busy since then.
The 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show though is the first time we’ve had a chance to get up close and personal with Aston Martin‘s tributary model, part of the company’s centenary celebrations which also involved landing a Vanquish on top of the Burj Al Arab.
Powered by a version of the 6.0-litre V12 powering the Aston Martin Vanquish, the CC100 hits 0-100kph in just over four seconds and a top speed of 290kph. Said unit is mated with a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission. The bodywork meanwhile, which measures four and a half metres nose-to-tail, is made of carbon fibre and is attached to an aluminium chassis. Aston has done away with the windscreen and doors (the frivolities of modern cars) and replaced the latter with rather nifty opening safety bars. The wind at Nordschleife speeds will probably whistle around your ankles though, so we recommend long socks.
Though designed with contemporary moxy (with lashings of lightweight carbon fibre to prove that), the CC100 also draws strong influence from Aston’s legendary DBR1, which won – among others – the World Sportscar Championship, the 1000km Nurburgring and the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, Aston Martin’s only outright victory at the event hitherto. Notable drivers of the DBR1 include Jim Clark, Carroll Shelby and Stirling Moss, the latter of whom took the Speedster for a demonstration lap at this year’s rather sodden Nürburgring 24 Hours alongside the DBR1 he used to win the same 1000km race in 1959.
| Aston Martin | CC100 Speedster Concept | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine: | V12 / 5935cc | |
| Transmission: | Six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual | |
| Weight (dry) | 1370kg | |
| 0-100kph: | 4 sec-plus | |
| Top speed: | 290kph |
– FULL GALLERY OF IMAGES FROM THE 2013 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW AVAILABLE HERE – CLICK –
– For more sneaky peeks at the Frankfurt Motor Show, be sure to check out the crankandpiston instagram, pinterest and twitter accounts.
