Zagato revives a long-forgotten marque
Geneva show concept will blow the cobwebs off a historic - yet little-known - nameplateMost car buffs have heard of Zagato -- a famous Italian styling house that ranks alongside Pininfarina and Bertone -- but how many of you have heard of Diatto?
Well, the latter will be thrust into prominence at the imminent Geneva motor show because Zagato has decided to resurrect one of the one of the most historic, yet ironically forgotten brands of the Italian automotive industry.
According to the stuff of history books, Diatto manufactured its first car in 1905 and its path often crossed with that of Zagato.
Diatto cars were known for their innovative engineering and as early as the 1920s they were equipped with four-wheel brakes and four-speed gearboxes -- almost unheard of at the time. And way back in 1921, Ugo Zagato designed a lightweight and aerodynamic body for the Diatto 25 4DS chassis.
To commemorate the Diatto brand's 100th anniversary, Zagato was commissioned to design a Geneva show concept that rekindles the vaunted nameplate.
Given the Diatto marque's pioneering tradition, it's interesting to note that the Geneva-bound Zagato Diatto concept is relatively conventionally styled. It appears to draw inspiration from the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, as well as the superseded Jaguar XK.
No mechanical details have been released as yet, but word has it that its tapered snout conceals a supercharged Maserati V8.
Don't expect a production version, as the Zagato Diatto is a pure flight-of-fancy. Should be worth a look, though, and CarPoint will make sure to have a sticky beak when we lob in at the Geneva show.
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