Lagonda Taraf not for Oz

Aston Martin has confirmed its Lagonda Taraf will be sold in markets outside the Middle East after all, but Australia won't be one of them.

That's because the famed British sports car brand has chosen not to undertake costly local design certification for the luxury limousine, which was released in Dubai exclusively for Middle East customers last year.

"It will not be homologated for here unfortunately," said the regional manager for Aston Martin in Australia and New Zealand, Kevin Wall, who would not say if there had been interest in the born-again Lagonda model from well-heeled enthusiasts Down Under,

Aston Martin Lagonda confirmed on the weekend that, beyond the Middle East, just 200 examples of the Taraf will be available to order in both left- and right-hand drive configuration in some of the richest nations in Europe, Asia and Africa.

They include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and Ukraine.

Because it will be sold through the company's VIP program, Aston Martin is keeping mum on the price of the Taraf, which it says will be "significantly different in each case due to very high levels of bespoke content".

Aston CEO Andy Palmer said making the Taraf available to more customers globally was "a high priority" for him since he joined the company late last year, when he said he would evaluate the possibility.

"I wanted to be able to offer this exceptional saloon to the potential owners from around the globe who have been enquiring about it, and I'm very happy that we have been able to expand the Lagonda proposition," said the former Nissan product chief.

"As a result of today's announcement we anticipate very quick expressions of interest from customers around the world, many of whom will want to add Lagonda to their luxury and sports car collections."

Dr Palmer said some Tarafs might even be sold to customers in Aston's UK domestic market.

"I'm also particularly pleased that we have been able to engineer Lagonda for right-hand drive markets meaning, of course, that I'm sure we will see the car in use on Aston Martin's 'home ground' of the UK in due course."

Like all Astons including the shorter and less commodious Rapide sedan, the four-seat Taraf is based on the company's VH architecture and powered by a version of the company's 5.9-litre V12.

Hand-made in a dedicated building that previously produced the One-77 hypercar at Aston's Gaydon HQ in Warwickshire, the Taraf makes extensive use of carbon-fibre body panels and is claimed to draw inspiration from the William Towns-designed Lagonda sold between 1976 and 1989.

"Aside from its confident style, many buyers will also recognise this Lagonda Taraf as a piece of automotive history, following in the tracks of its distinguished predecessor the William Towns Lagonda," said Dr Palmer,

A 2009 SUV concept of the same name was the last vehicle to wear the Lagonda nameplate, which began as the Lagonda Engineering Company in 1899.

Founded by American Wilbur Gunn in 1899, it made its first (three-wheeled) car in 1906 and its first four-wheeler three years later in 1909, before winning Le Mans in 1935 and being bought alongside Aston Martin in 1947.

Two more limited-edition Aston Martin models will make their world debuts at the Geneva motor show this week, in the all-new Vulcan supercar and the Vantage GT3.