Aston Martin Roadster
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Aston Martin Roadster
They must be a brave bunch at Aston Martin. Despite having its own new supercar to display on the major international motor show circuit, the UK firm readily agreed to help one of the world's greatest designers suggest an alternative.
And when Giorgetto Giugiaro, stylist of classics such as the first-generation VW Golf and Maserati's 3200GT, put his plan to Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez, the necessary components - including full running gear and even the famous Aston Martin badges - were rushed to the stylist's Turin headquarters to help out.
Giugiaro sat down with his son Fabrizio to create a machine that would end the criticism of his recent concepts. He would build the most beautiful car in the world, a true 'bella macchina', from the DB7 V12's organs.
The result is the Italdesign Twenty-Twenty. To help you decide if he has succeeded in his quest, we took his pride and joy for an exclusive first drive. On the road, the car manages to make an even stronger impression than it does in Italdesign's studio, looking lighter and more aggressive on its 20-inch BBS wheels.
Compared with a standard DB7 Vantage Volante, Giugiaro's concept is 90mm wider, 40mm taller and 210mm shorter. These dimensions make it appear nimbler than any current Aston. Yet the Italdesign Twenty-Twenty manages to look unmistakably like an Aston Martin while establishing a distinctive, unique style. With external hinges, an exposed aluminium skeleton, gaping air vents and carbon fibre panels it's certainly a head-turner.
The exposed light alloy skeleton isn't just for looks, either - it forms the car's framework and helps to keep the weight down. Aston's own Vanquish is also based on an alloy chassis, but it is hidden - and that's a pity after seeing Giugiaro's solution.
Apart from the motorcycle-style instrument cluster, the interior is an equally elegant masterpiece, combining a simple dashboard with lacquered veneer, aluminium and soft leather. There's all the luxury and craftsmanship you would expect to find.
Although at first glance the Twenty-Twenty looks like a traditional two-seater, Giugiaro has cunningly hidden 'emergency' rear seats in the cabin. These are only for baggage or small children but unless the journey is very short, there will be complaints from the back. Besides the driver's seat being a little too high, its position is exceptionally good for a supercar with magnificent all-round visibility. But the steering wheel, with a leather-clad upper half and a thinner, lacquered lower rim, takes some getting used to.
Giugiaro's 'beautiful car' drives surprisingly well, particularly for a showpiece. At a test track we cruised at a steady 120mph with ease. The pleasing combination of the awesome engine noise, minimal air turbulence and well tuned suspension creates a smooth, relaxing drive. Do the same in most show cars, and they would disintegrate in a cloud of clay and balsa wood. Yet the Twenty-Twenty offers a level of driver and passenger comfort superior to that of any modern Ferrari.
Behind a standard DB7 windscreen, the occupants are very well protected, thanks to special deflectors built over the screen which push air over the top of the car. As a result, driving in poor weather is not as daunting as one might expect when there's no hard or soft-top available. Giugiaro's prototype steers willingly and with great accuracy, suggesting the Twenty-Twenty is naturally well balanced. Its behaviour is typical of a well planned, rear-wheel-drive supercar, the engine placed to give equal weight distribution, just like in the Ferrari 550, this car's natural rival.
There are a few niggles to show that this one-off model hasn't benefited from years of development, though. Imperfections in the road surface certainly make their presence felt through the steering wheel and the shudders and squeaks through the body suggest it lacks torsional rigidity, perhaps a by-product of the alloy structure and the huge tyres' unforgiving low profile. The engine is a tuned version of the current Aston V12 which, according to Fabrizio Giugiaro, produces 450-500bhp. That's an ambitious figure for a comparatively untested show car. The greatest disappointment for us was that the 5.9-litre, 48-valve unit sits under a sealed bonnet, hidden from the photographer's lens. Giugiaro knows that a sealed engine bay might be acceptable for an Audi A2 but not an Aston, so some intake manifolds can be glimpsed tantalisingly through bonnet vents.
Even with all that power on tap, for the traction control to step in the driver has to be brutal with the controls. Surprisingly, the car uses a six-speed manual gearbox, which isn't the most user-friendly on the road. We were soon wishing for the Vanquish's new auto box, which would suit this car's character very well.
Because of the larger wheels, first and second gears are a touch too long-legged compared with the DB7, which has the effect of making the engine seem just a little lazy at lower speeds. A shorter final-drive ratio is on its way from Aston's Newport Pagnell base to bring more low-speed verve.
Does all this help from Aston mean the car is set to power into production, or will it simply remain Giugiaro's dream? The concept is so convincing as a potential road car that Aston boss Bez now faces a quandary. In-house designer Ian Callum's recent work seems to bypass the need to use the services of Italian design houses such as Giugiaro's Italdesign.
However, the long history of Aston Martins styled and built in Italy means the possibility can't be ruled out, especially with the likes of Mercedes' SLR and the Ferrari 550 Barchetta just around the corner. With the Italdesign project getting a positive reception from Aston, maybe we won't have to wait too long to see Giugiaro's beautiful machine on sale.
Giugiaro set out to build the most beautiful car in the world. The result might not be to everyone's taste, but the technology of the aluminium structure is a huge leap forward. Italdesign's real achievement, though, is building a one-off that drives so well. It is as deftly finished as a production car. In fact, on the open road the 500bhp V12 could run rings around a Ferrari, and handles like a real supercar - quite a surprise when most concepts never move from the show stand. Perhaps Aston Martin's enthusiasm for it signals a return to such Italian-built specials.
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At a glance - Aston Martin concept car designed and built by styling legend Giorgetto Giugiaro
- Aluminium frame and carbon-fibre panels hide DB7 V12 parts
- Up to 500bhp; rear-wheel drive; six-speed manual
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05-24-2001, 10:00 PM
Good writeup igor
