325 units of pure power, beauty, and soul.
It seems like there’s a constant game of one-upmanship that goes on in the motoring world, with carmakers always doing their best to throw shade on their competitors, especially in terms of styling. To that end, very little can outdo an Aston Martin, let alone one that’s been retooled by hallowed Italian design house Zagato.
Aston Martin Zagatos are rare beasts, with the Coupé having been produced in just 99 copies for global sale. The Coupé has today been joined by the Zagato Volante, which takes the top off the already-stunning fixed-roof design and adds a healthy dose of drama. And as if that wasn’t enough, Aston Martin and Zagato took the opportunity to announce to the world that there will be two more children spawned from this marriage come 2018, in the form of the Zagato Speedster and Shooting Brake.
The Volante will take the place of the Coupé on the production line, with the latter completing its production very soon. Following that, the Speedster will make production, with the Shooting Brake to be built last, completing the quartet of stunning Zagato cars. All models, being based on the Aston Martin Vanquish S, see motivation from a sonorous naturally-aspirated V12 engine, producing no less than 441kW and about 630Nm. Putting power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic, the Aston Martin Zagatos are expected to balance refinement and excitement, while offering uncompromising luxury throughout.
“Zagato’s relationship with Aston Martin began with my grandfather and the DB4 GT Zagato, almost sixty years ago. To have a creative ‘marriage‘ thrive for three generations is something as unique as the cars themselves. My family name is associated with all kinds of wonderful designs, but for many enthusiasts and collectors around the world those that combine the Z of Zagato with the wings of Aston Martin are the most special. Collaborating closely on the design of four complimentary, yet completely different Vanquish Zagatos has been an incredibly exciting challenge. I’m proud to continue the story my grandfather started and thrilled that our partnership with Aston Martin continues to realise such exciting cars.” — Andrea Zagato, CEO, Zagato of Milan
The Speedster, with its unique body style replete with aerodynamically-efficient cowls behind the headrests, will be the most collectible of the 4 variants. With only 28 slated for production, this is about a third the production volume of the other three body styles, making it that much more special. The ‘Speed Humps’ we mentioned earlier help give the Speedster the same visual drama as the double-bubble roof that Aston-Zagatos are known for, made of carbon fibre to reduce weight. The 3D Zagato grille remains untweaked at the nose of the car, with the tail adorned with the ‘Blade’ taillights in a design inspired by the manic Vulcan hypercar.
“Why create a family of Zagatos? Well, many of our customers want different things. Some prefer the purity of a Coupe, but others love the idea of something more extreme, like the Speedster. And yes, some of them have ordered one example of each. There’s always an over-demand from our clients and patrons. We could easily fulfill demand for more cars than this, but we want Zagato to remain something very special. We’re creating collectibles, future concours cars. With only 325 cars worldwide, they are still the rarest of the rare.” — Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer, Aston Martin
Designed as a an “individual and exceptionally-practical GT,” the Shooting Brake’s more commodious body style actually spins a yarn that the interior doesn’t tie up. While some of you might be thinking that this could be the way you bring yourself and three passengers in exceptional style over a grand tour, the Shooting Brake remains a strict 2-seater like the rest of the Zagato family. Instead, the roofline has been designed to maximise practicality for cargo. The Shooting Brake’s roofline is peppered with Zagato design flourishes, like the double-bubble roof we’ve seen on other variants, complete with glass inlays to flood the cabin with light.
Unique design embellishments for the Shooting Brake include a “dramatic herringbone carbon fibre fascia,” bronze-treated rotary controls, quilting throughout the cabin in a unique ‘Z’ motif (no prizes for guessing why), and the option of fully-aniline leather upholstery. Included with the Shooting Brake is a tailored luggage set, which will help you keep all of your things safely and stylishly throughout your cross-continent trip.
With all 99 Coupés sold and Speedsters expected to run out fast, we’d suggest you get a move on if you want to play host to one of these highly-coveted drool-inducing machines. No details were given on pricing, but as the saying goes, if you have to ask…
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