RE: PH Blog: has Zagato finally lost it?

[JonRB]

The SZ definitely polarises opinion, and I'm one of those people who loves it so on that I agree with Chris.

But I quite like the look of this Zagato BMW, so on that I disagree with Chris.

Funny old world, isn't it.


Edit:

fourwheelsteer said:

As it happens, I quite like what they've done with the BMW Z4 but it looks more like a natural progression from the old Z4 coupé than a particularly Zagato take on BMW styling.

Totally agree.

[WorAl]

Hold on chaps, you can't possibly say that all Zagato stuff is hideous. I'm not a fan of the majority of their equipment but when I see these sort of images, it makes me feel like interfering with myself until I can't touch it any more.

http://www.netcarshow.com/aston_martin/2002-db7_va...

Edited by WorAl on Thursday 31st May 10:36

[myhandle]

It's great that this design house can polarise opinion; surely that's what pushes car design forward, like Chris Bangle did, starting with the Fiat Coupe? It's good that Zagato's designs are not everyone's cup of tea. At Silverstone 2 weekends ago there were some wonderful cars, but even so the Zagato TZ1 stood out as something special.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=alfa+tz1&um=1&a...

No-one has so far mentioned the Lamborghini Canto and Nissan Autech Stelvio. These are the Zagato designs that seem to polarise opinion the most. I have had a good look at both of these designs up close in the last couple of months, and they are absolutely fascinating in a whole variety of ways. The enormous air intakes on the Canto and the aerodynamic fairings over the front wing mirrors on the Stelvio are really like nothing else, not to mention the NACA ducts on the surface of the alloys.

Canto : http://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1999_lamborghini_c...

Stelvio : http://www.flickr.com/photos/yugo_lada/7177456848/

[B10]

Is not Zagato owned by Envisage / CPP of Coventry now?

[Warwick67]

A company living on the glories of the past, fairly much anything they've touched since the 80's, they've made worse, that V8 Aston Zagato looks like it was drawn on the back of a school homework book by a 10 year old...

[DanDC5]

WorAl said:

Hold on chaps, you can't possibly say that all Zagato stuff is hideous. I'm not a fan of the majority of their equipment but when I see these sort of images, it makes me feel like interfering with myself until I can't touch it any more.

http://www.netcarshow.com/aston_martin/2002-db7_va...

Edited by WorAl on Thursday 31st May 10:36

I shall reply to that with this picture -



And then proceed to point out that at no time in human history, has anyone ever been more wrong than you are now

[andyps]

I quite like this BMW Zagato, it has some good lines but I haven't seen a great picture of it yet.

As for previous ones, I have always wanted a Fulvia Zagato, I had (and still have) a model of it as a kid and would definitely have one if circumstances allowed. The Alfa SZ is also very high up my list of cars to own one day, for now I make do with the poster of it which is on my office wall.

[V8Triumph]

Podie said:

I would do practically anything to own and drive that beauty and drive it I would, unlike the majority of people who buy these types of things.

[jdubbya]

That BMW is a minger.

Their lunch was clearly fuelled by so much chianti classico that they got in a bit of a muddle with that one. Not only on the nose & tail, but in the middle too.

In my eyes, they've been teetering on the brink of automotive design lunacy for a while now, then they cement my thoughts with this 4 wheeled turd.

Love the SZ, DB4 GT & Hyena (was talking about that recently after reading the Integrale article in Octane) though.

[davepoth]

B10 said:

Is not Zagato owned by Envisage / CPP of Coventry now?

It seems so - their website has their company name as "CPP Milan s.r.l."

for anyone who wants to while away some time they have pictures of pretty much everything they made on their website.

http://www.zagato.it/ukclgall.htm

[theJT]

Lost it? I think I'm with the majority here that aren't really convinced they ever had it. There are far more misses than hits in their history.

[S10 GTA]

Hmmmm...

Edited by S10 GTA on Thursday 31st May 11:15

Edited by S10 GTA on Thursday 31st May 11:16

[635csi]

Chris, when you were in Hexagon did they have the grey Lancia Zagato flaminia Sport in there?
Pure beauty, though overpriced.

[M@1975]

It's just me that quite likes their interpretation of the Z4 then.. ?

[jon-]

trashbat said:

Sweet Jesus

[Agoogy]

Zagato seem to be on a march to annoy. Their portfolio up until maybe 2005 ish was pretty diverse, diversive, interesting, beautiful (like their competition), but now...well this is the 7th/8th model in quick succession that uses the same methodology.

Take an existing exclusive and beautiful car, elongate and add extra curve to the nose, mess with the grille, stretch wheelbase, add double bubble roof line, add the siganuture Z side/rear window line, shunt the tail into a Kam-look.

This BMW
Bentley GTZ
Perana Z one
575 GTZ
Maserati GS
DB7 Zagato
Zagato TZ3 Corsa and Stradale

IMO only the Aston V12 works, it doesn't improve the V12 but stands alone in looking ok...the others are lazy.

[Dakkon]

The Zagato effect on any car does nothing for me I am afraid, I think they have ruined a number of cars with their unique styling of late, the Z4 included.

[JSE993]

I rather like my new toy. Its lightness and detailing are a delight:

[DanDC5]

I think if a smaller bodyshop that specialised in modified cars in this country were to do similar thiings to the DB7 for example, they'd get ripped into without question. Sees the name helps Zagato get off quite lightly.

[garypotter]

Hey S10 GTA the botom picture - is that an AC or an old corvette? or none of the above please