Aston Martin V12 Zagato Revealed

Ville D'Este show debut heralds limited run of road cars

The new Aston Martin V12 Zagato...

Aston Martin will unveil the stunning new V12 Zagato endurance racer concept on the shores of Lake Como, Italy at the Villa D'Este Concours tomorrow - and has confirmed a batch of road cars is on the way.

The new machine - previewed on PH last week - revives a collaboration which has produced some of the most beautiful and sought-after cars in the world (says Aston's press release - and who are we to disagree?), the partnership takes inspiration from the past, to create a modern descendent of classics such as the DB4GT Zagato, V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato based on Aston Martin's ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range: the V12 Vantage.

...built by hand in traditional fashion

Work began in 2010, we're told, with initial meetings between Aston Martin and Zagato where sketches incorporating the design DNA of both companies were discussed and a decision was made to proceed with the project.

Director of design, Marek Reichman says: "The Design team at Gaydon spent time refining the concept using a mixture of the latest computer based modelling techniques along with crafting traditional clay models to give a real world idea of proportion, stance and detail."

"The V12 Zagato is 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."

You judge the results!

Working alongside the initial design team was a dedicated group of Aston Martin engineers led by Chris Porritt - previously responsible for the engineering of the One-77.

Featuring a new handcrafted aluminium body, the V12 Zagato would not be possible using pre-formed panel techniques - every panel is formed using an English wheel and traditionally crafted body bucks. Each front wing alone comprises seven separate pieces of aluminium, combined and then hand finished to give one flowing form.

Another iconic Zagato design cue is the double bubble roof created in this case from five separate pieces illustrating further the intensity of craftsmanship involved in the construction of the V12 Zagato.

The racing debut of the V12 Zagato will be at the VLN round at the Nürburgring on 28th May with a view to two cars racing at the 24 hour race on 25/26 June. And guess who'll be in the driving seat? Yep, Aston's chief executive Dr. Ulrich Bez.