Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Fifty years after the DB4GT Zagato, and following in the wheel tracks of several subsequent collaborations with the Italian design house, Aston Martin has unveiled the new V12 Zagato concept.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept (2011) Front Side

Its debut will be at the Villa D'Este Concours on 21st May 2011, which takes place near Lake Como in Italy. Aston Martin is going to use the occasion to ‘gauge customer interest’, despite already confirming that a strictly limited run of cars will be built.

But the V12 Zagato isn’t just going to be a road car. In the tradition of previous Aston Martin Zagatos a race programme is planned, starting off with the four hour VLN Nürburgring race on 28th May 2011, and then followed by a 24 hour event at the same venue on 25th and 26th June 2011.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept (2011) Rear Side

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept (2011) Side

Unsurprisingly for a Zagato creation, the looks are arguably more challenging than those of a series production Aston Martin.

Even Marek Reichman, Director of Design at Aston Martin, described it as ‘an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style. The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car's racing credentials.’

Regardless of whether the styling divides opinion, there’s no disputing the craftsmanship that has gone into building the car. Sitting atop the bonded aluminium structure (borrowed from the V12 Vantage) is a handmade aluminium body, assembled using traditional techniques. The front wings, for example, are each made from seven separate pieces of metal, while the roof panel alone uses five pieces.

No word on prices yet, but that probably won’t be of much concern to prospective owners.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato (Endurance Race Specification)
Body
Type Two door, two seat coupe
Chassis Bonded aluminium structure
Body Hand crafted aluminium
Roll cage FIA compliant; steel
Fuel system 120 litre endurance racing fuel tank
Suspension All-round independent double wishbone with fully adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers
Front brakes Ventilated floating grooved discs with 6 piston callipers
Rear brakes Ventilated floating grooved discs with 4 piston callipers
Engine
Type All alloy, quad overhead cam 48-valve 5,935 cc V12
Location Front mid-mounted
Power 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS)
Torque 570 Nm (420 lb/ft)
Compression ratio 10.9:1
Transmission
Drive Rear-wheel drive; limited slip differential; magnesium alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
Gearbox Six-speed automated manual gearbox with auto shift manual / select shift manual (ASM / SSM) electric hydraulic control system; rear-mid mounted
Clutch Twin plate competition

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Aston Martin is coolest
Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa

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