We balanced the intake system so it runs in perfect symmetry," explains Porritt, a gregarious Mancunian with a happy knack for translating complicated engineering-speak into normal English. "Which reduces engine vibration and means it produces a full order note, a far purer sound than, say, a big American V8.
We took inspiration from DTM racers, the ultimate front-mid-engined supercars, says Porritt, levering the One-77's bonnet upwards revealing an engine bay to send engine geeks into raptures for the next decade. "Technologically, they're extraordinary. They're front-engined F1 cars.
The sleek One-77 might look several galaxies removed from the befinned Teutonic racing saloons, but its front suspension set-up borrows heavily from DTM cars: a horizontal push-rod system tucked efficiently under the front crash structure. At high speed, it lowers the One-77 by 15mm to improve aerodynamics, which stiffens the springs by around 15 per cent.
There's extravagance here too. Above the crank - which sits 10mm lower than on the DBS, thanks to a new dry sump - there's masses of carbon fibre and, decadently, sheets and sheets of crinkled gold leaf on the underside of the bonnet and surrounding the engine block. "It's the best heat-reflecting material around," says Porritt. "It worked for the McLaren F1. It works here."
The spirit of the F1 rings throughout the One-77: a fanatical dedication to the finest materials and engineering, regardless of cost (and for a million quid, you'd hope money would be no object). Each one of the bars on the front grille, bonnet vents and rear diffuser is unique: individually moulded, explains Porritt, to achieve the cleanest air-flow through and over the car's body.
"The motors for the windscreen wipers are the same as those used in fighter planes," says Porritt, warming to his theme. "You can choose to wipe with just one blade, or wipe one twice as quickly as the other. When we froze them for cold weather testing, we discovered we could write a ‘judder' into the program logarithm so the wipers will scrape ice from the screen..."
Getting the picture yet? The One-77 isn't an ultimate DBS with posh bits on. It's a showcase of just what the Aston engineers can do with a near-unlimited budget and none of the constraints of the production line.
Take the engine. Yes, it's based on the 6.0-litre V12 from the DB9, but revised to the point of unrecognisability: new cylinder heads, a bigger bore, new pistons and a new crank shaft means it's fully 60kg - almost 20 per cent - lighter. The original target output was 700bhp, but Porritt is confident that it'll put out nearer 750bhp - and well over 500lb ft of torque - in final production guise. Impressive numbers for a naturally aspirated engine, and good for a 0-60mph time of around 3.5 seconds: genuine hypercar pace, but not - to make the inevitable comparison - in quite the same league as the similarly priced Bugatti Veyron.
"We're not trying to make a Veyron competitor," sighs Porritt, in a tone indicating he's heard the comparison a few times before. "Bugatti had to make compromises to achieve the Veyron's speed - aesthetically, for one, and maybe on driver involvement. We're trying to do something different. Something Aston Martin."
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