Aston Martin renews alliance with Zagato
Iconic British marque teams up with Italian design house to create a show car that could pave the way for a low-volume production modelItalian styling house Zagato has crafted many sublime low-volume specials for its Alfa Romeo and Ferrari compatriots, but the venerated studio has also collaborated with Aston Martin to create a limited number of now highly collectible classics.
The partnership sparked up 50 years ago with the conception of the gorgeous Aston DB4GT Zagato, and subsequent joint efforts included the 1980s V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato and DB-AR1 of the past decade.
More British-Italian goodness is now in store as Aston Martin and Zagato are set to reveal another specially coachbuilt model at the imminent Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on the shores of Lake Como this Saturday (May 21). The car will then make its racing debut at the Nurburgring on May 28.
For now, only the shadowy rendering alongside has been released, although Aston Martin boss Dr Ulrich Bez is promising a modern classic.
"The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world's most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration," said Dr Bez.
"Now is the right time for a new Aston Martin Zagato and in combining our design intelligence I think we can create something fitting of the iconic DB4GT Zagato that has gone before and since established itself as one of the most famous Aston Martins of all time."
The show car at the Villa D'Este Concours will be used to gauge initial customer reaction with a view to a production car following in its wheeltracks in 2012.
One may have thought Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman would have his nose out of joint by the styling project being outsourced, but it seems the contrary applies.
"Our designers are able to collaborate with a broad spectrum of organisations and individuals to seek new and exciting ideas and inspiration due to Aston Martin's independency," Reichman said.
"Working with Zagato again in 2011 is inspirational for the team -- certainly DB4GT Zagato is one of my favourite ever designs as it is with many of the designers in our studio. We can create a truly modern Aston Martin interpretation which stays true to the historical routes of the relationship with Zagato."
It's got big shoes to fill, as examples of the original DB4GT Zagato (all 19 still survive) nowadays command well in excess of $1.5 million at auction.
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