Aston Martin sets the pulses racing with new Zagato concept
WARWICKSHIRE sports car manufacturer Aston Martin has set the pulses racing once again with the unveiling of its latest collaboration with Italian design-house Zagato.
The Vanquish Zagato Concept will make its global debut at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, held at Lake Como this weekend (May 21-22).
The car is the fifth to emerge from a collaboration that stretches back over five decades. There are no details yet on price.
The series began with the iconic DB4 GT Zagato in 1960 and ran through until the V12 Vantage Zagato, one of the stars of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
The latest concept was the result of a close collaboration between the Aston Martin Design team led by Marek Reichman and Andrea Zagato and his dedicated design team in Milan.
Developed and engineered at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, the concept remains a quintessential Aston Martin but with the added flair of the Italian design house.
The new bodywork is entirely shaped from carbon fibre, with the split lines on the body reduced by the use of large one-piece panels. New lights include round tail light reflectors that evoke the classic rear view of a Zagato design, incorporating the same ‘bladed’ LED technology as the Aston Martin Vulcan track-only supercar.
Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, said: “Over the years, we have developed and refined our own design language and we have always gone that little bit further with our special series cars like CC-100, One-77 and Aston Martin Vulcan. The Vanquish Zagato Concept shows how our two companies can come together and push the definition of Aston Martin design.”
“We pride ourselves on our strong partnership and the creation of the Vanquish Zagato Concept was a true shared experience,” added Zagato CEO, Andrea Zagato. “It represents the essence of an important design relationship that dates back over 50 years.”
Referencing elements of the brand’s contemporary design language, Vanquish Zagato Concept features One-77 inspired wing mirrors and a sculptural rear end similar to DB11’s aerodynamic profile, complete with retractable spoiler and rear hatch for access to the luggage compartment. A quad-exhaust nestles in the rippling carbon fibre sills that run around the lower body, creating a pronounced line from front to rear.
The windscreen wraps around the bodywork like a visor, enhancing its aggressive stance, while a new evolution of the classic side strake runs from wheel arch to door just like the new DB11 and a detail originally showcased on the celebratory CC-100. A sharp crease on the rear wheel arch transforms into the rear flanks, where it meets the cascading roofline.
The roof features the iconic ‘double-bubble’, its shallow radius dipping into the rear window glass to give the car an unmistakeable rear silhouette. A Zagato trademark since the early 1950s, originally arose from the need to accommodate racing helmets with a minimum impact on the aerodynamic profile.
To match the bold new exterior, the concepts normally aspirated V12 engine has been uprated to 600 PS, along with enhanced driving dynamics.
Inside, the Vanquish Zagato Concept embodies the fine tradition of Aston Martin craftsmanship, replete with many singular touches. Herringbone carbon fibre is paired with shadow and anodized bronze and aniline leather to give the facia, vents and rotary dials a rich material quality.
The car is also defined by the unique ‘Z’ quilt pattern stitch used on the seat and door sections, as well as the celebrated trademark Zagato ‘Z’ embossed on headrests and stitched into the centre console.
