Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary with the presentation of the CC100 Speedster Concept, a track-oriented one-off inspired by the brand’s racing heritage.

As the British carmaker reports, while the CC100 looks to the past – and in particular to the 1959 DBR1 – Aston Martin’s greatest sporting triumph on the Nürburgring track with Stirling Moss – it also gives some hints on the potential design direction for the future.

The CC100 is almost four and a half meters long, and more than two meters wide (including mirrors). Both the body and the interior were built in carbon fiber, supplied by low volume specialist Multimatic Inc.

At the front the CC100 adopts the brand’s trademark grille shape and headlights, with the large “mouth” underlining the car’s racing character.

The profile is characterized by a very low, barchetta-like stance, with the minimal windshield typical of speedsters, see-through doors and muscular rear shoulders.

The rear end has a distinctive design, with single, circular tail lamps mounted on a large carbon-fiber fascia, which integrates the diffuser.

The top view is quite distinctive: the twin separate cockpits are framed by dynamic, flowing lines that visually “cut” the main top surface with a shape that recalls the side openings’ contours, while two carbon fiber surfaces emerge from below the hood giving form to the dashes.

A similar treatment is adopted for the rear carbon-fiber shells integrating the roll-cages.

The main line-flows are underlined with racing-inspired yellow accents, while the “100” racing number hints at the brand’s Centenary.

The interior is essential and features a combination of carbon-fiber and leather, used for some trims and for rétro-looking stitched straps on the door panels.

The CC100 was designed and constructed in fewer than six months at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, working with key supplier Multimatic Inc, under the leadership of Special Projects.

The final look is the work of Design Director Marek Reichman working alongside the brand’s Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger.

Miles explained: “The brief was very simple, yet enormously testing: create something that reflects the 100 years of Aston Martin heritage and signals the future of the brand.

“The idea of an iconic speedster concept that nods to the Le Mans- and Nürburgring-winning cars of 1959 soon came, and we have had complete freedom to shape this car.”

Marek Reichman said: “I’m extremely proud of the entire team at Gaydon for creating this remarkable sports car concept in such a short time.

The concept is powered by the latest generation AM11 naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine coupled with a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission, with steering column-mounted paddles.

The CC100 accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in a little over four seconds, while the top speed is limited to 180 mph (290 km/h).

The concept was unveiled on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at the Nürburgring racetrack, where it completed a lap together with the 1000km race-winning 1959 DBR1.

(Source: Aston Martin)