Aston Martin unveils only its fifth collaborative model with Italian design house Zagato ahead of its debut this weekend: the Vanquish Zagato Concept.
[Not a valid template]Any Aston Martin fans making their way to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este this weekend will be in for a treat. Since 1960, the British marque and Italian coach-builders Zagato have collaborated on several design projects with their respective attentions recently turned to the Vanquish. This marks the fifth time the two companies have collaborated since 1960 and the first since the V12 Vantage Zagato of 2011.
At the base of the new concept lies the V12 Vanquish, and while most of the new design surrounds the aerodynamics, the 5935cc unit has also been upgraded to 600PS (592bhp), some 24bhp more than the ‘standard’ Vanquish. We’re still in the dark regarding updates to the torque and performance figures,, having been told only that the new Zagato receives unspecified ‘enhanced driving dynamics’.
Back to that ‘race-inspired design language’ from Aston’s Marek Reichman and Andrea Zagato, key features of which – alongside the obligatory ‘Z’ emblems on the front fenders – include one-piece panels on the all-carbon fibre bodywork, quad-exhausts and a newly revised glasshouse akin to a visor (again, race-inspired).
Of course this being Aston, there’s also some cheeky nods to models both past and present: the profile is very DB11-like, wing mirrors inspired by the One-77 hypercar, and strips in the LED taillights Vulcan fans should recognise. And there’s even a nod to the CC-100 where the side strakes from the front wheel arches meet the doors. Inside there’s more ‘Z’-stitched aniline leather than you could shake a carbon fibre accented stick at, all part of the ‘essence of an important design relationship that dates back over fifty years’ apparently.
Those of you currently looking online for last minute Concours tickets should know the event takes place on Lake Como in Italy across 21 and 22 May.
