Thursday 7th July 2011

Aston V12 Zagato: Production Version Now Official

We kind of knew they were going to make it anyway, but now Gaydon can confirm it's really true...

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Aston Martin has finally officially confirmed that it is to build the V12 Zagato as a road car.

Here's what Aston has to say about the car, which we've seen as a concept, on the race track, and that we already knew would cost £330k (plus taxes) for each of the 150 examples planned:

Aston Martin's press release:

• Following encouraging customer reaction, V12 Zagato road car to go into production in 2012
• Strictly limited run of up to 150 examples, prices from £330,000 GBP (exc. local taxes)
• Hand assembled at Aston Martin's global headquarters at Gaydon

7 July 2011, Gaydon: Aston Martin confirms production of a strictly limited number of the new V12 Zagato following its successful unveilings. After winning the award for Design in the Concepts and Prototypes class at the prestigious Villa D' Este Concours and then going on to prove its durability with the successful completion of the gruelling 39th ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hour race, Aston Martin confirms that there is overwhelmingly encouraging interest from customers to confirm production of the V12 Zagato.

Based on the acclaimed V12 Vantage and sporting a beautifully handcrafted aluminium and carbon fibre body, the V12 Zagato will be produced in very limited numbers for discerning customers. Orders are now being taken on a strictly first come first served basis and production is expected to commence during summer 2012 at Aston Martin's global headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Of the V12 Zagato, Aston Martin's Chief Executive Dr. Ulrich Bez, said: "Such style, exclusivity and fastidious craftsmanship ensures it will be one of the most highly coveted models in Aston Martin's 98-year history. A fabulous celebration of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the V12 Zagato is the perfect inspiration for the next 50 years of Aston Martin."

In honour of the performance and racing heritage of previous collaborations, the first two V12 Zagatos were developed as endurance race cars from the start and went into their track debut just a week after being shown to the public for the first time on the shores of Lake Como, Italy at the Villa D'Este Concours.

Entering the new V12 Zagatos in this year's Nürburgring 24 Hour on 25th/26th June extended the company's racing philosophy at the famous circuit. For five years Aston Martin has signed-off its new products by entering a car which is as close to the road car as possible and subjecting it to the toughest 24 hour test on what best simulates the extremities of public roads. This year went a step further by testing two cars at their prototype stage; combining forces to successfully cover more than 230 laps and over 3,700 miles in the 24 hour race at what Sir Jackie Stewart famously called 'The Green Hell'.

Since opening in 2003, 13 new major production car Aston Martins have been developed and successfully brought to production at Gaydon, demonstrating the company's ability to engineer and bring to reality cars in a shortened period of time. Design work on the V12 Zagato began in mid-2010 with initial engineering following in January 2011.

True to both Aston Martin and Zagato, the V12 Zagato is the pinnacle of a special and exclusive offering which matches its long standing heritage with the technology and craftsmanship of today.

Marek Reichman, Aston Martin's Director of Design said: "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."

Featuring a handcrafted aluminium and carbon fibre body, the V12 Zagato delivers a beautiful and muscular design not possible using pre-formed panel techniques. Using the influences and skill of nearly 100 years of heritage in the craft, every aluminium panel was formed using an English wheel and traditionally crafted body bucks. Iconic Zagato design cues include 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.

Designed for the focused driver, the V12 Zagato has been honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. The V12 Zagato combines Aston Martin's most dynamic bonded aluminium platform with the power of the 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque.

The strictly limited Aston Martin V12 Zagato is on sale now, priced at £330,000 GBP (exc. local taxes) with first deliveries expected from the second half of 2012.

[drabux]

Does anyone else think that Aston has really got itself stuck in a rut in the styling department? In short, they all look the same. The engines are the same as well.

[soad]

drabux said:

Does anyone else think that Aston has really got itself stuck in a rut in the styling department? In short, they all look the same. The engines are the same as well.

That's been said mentioned quite a few times previously

[MrTappets]

I think someone twigged in about 2007 that (aside from the Cygnet and One-77) Aston actually only makes two cars. I think we'll have to wait about two years yet before they launch anything genuinely new too.

[AreseV6]

Bar the price its the only new Aston I actually desire .

[mike88]

Looks like a Nissan GTR at the back. Notably the rear windows.

[tridave]

MrTappets said:

I think someone twigged in about 2007 that (aside from the Cygnet and One-77) Aston actually only makes two cars. I think we'll have to wait about two years yet before they launch anything genuinely new too.

YEs tey do look the same - its the way Prestige brands work.

Rolex watches - Have to look like Rolex watches
RR Cars look like - RR cars
Porkers look like - Porkers
Bentleys look like - Bentleys

What the point of buying a upmarket brand if now one knows its Brand identity

[Mako V12V]

drabux said:

Does anyone else think that Aston has really got itself stuck in a rut in the styling department? In short, they all look the same. The engines are the same as well.

So, for eg, how are 996's, 997's, Boxsters and Caymans different from the front number plate to the windscreen?
Please name a manufacturer that has 4 or 5 model lines where each model looks vastly different with all new panels/engines to the next??

[Vantagefan]

Mako V12V said:

So, for eg, how are 996's, 997's, Boxsters and Caymans different from the front number plate to the windscreen?
Please name a manufacturer that has 4 or 5 model lines where each model looks vastly different with all new panels/engines to the next??

In my opinion only Ferrari offer an obviously new design each time (I struggled to tell the new Gallardo and Aventador apart at FoS) but then you can go really wrong with people either loving the designs or hating them. At least with Aston they are all good looking!

[Denorth]

no one complains how Range Rover looks. and it's 10 years old.

[Frimley111R]

tridave said:

MrTappets said:

I think someone twigged in about 2007 that (aside from the Cygnet and One-77) Aston actually only makes two cars. I think we'll have to wait about two years yet before they launch anything genuinely new too.

YEs tey do look the same - its the way Prestige brands work.

Rolex watches - Have to look like Rolex watches
RR Cars look like - RR cars
Porkers look like - Porkers
Bentleys look like - Bentleys

What the point of buying a upmarket brand if now one knows its Brand identity

Yes. And whey they (re)started in the 90s the view was that the cars weren't that recognisable so by making them all look similar people would begin to associate the shape with the brand. People moan about it but its common marketing sense.

[Kazlet]

drabux said:

Does anyone else think that Aston has really got itself stuck in a rut in the styling department? In short, they all look the same. The engines are the same as well.

If you have created an iconic design why would you rush to change it? Why do you think Jag used tracing paper to come up with the XK?

[peter450]

I think they need to up the capacity/power a bit of the v12 aswell, I'm sure previous Zagato's had more powerful engines and this is a lot of money over a a standard V12 vantage

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Of all the current Aston models, this is by far the LEAST desirable aesthetically speaking. In fact, I find everything from the Vantage V600 on up to be more desirable than this pig-in-a-poke.

[M666 EVO]

drabux said:

Does anyone else think that Aston has really got itself stuck in a rut in the styling department? In short, they all look the same. The engines are the same as well.

I agree that they all have slight similarities but you can definately tell them all apart, I actually quite like this. It looks more muscular and brutal...

Same engine granted but its a good one right?

[Ipelm]

When I used to work in this business one of the really depressing things was the number of owners that bought 'special' models who didnt have a clue about craftsmanship or any other aspect of its inception or its manufacture, they were simply huge ego trips. The word exclusivity and the right badge was all that mattered.

I really cant get excited about this car. I also wonder about the fact that its been introduced just after the Nurburgring 24hours where they didnt exactly set the world on fire. This hardly constitutes any kind of significant racing history, whereby in future people can talk in hushed terms of its heritage and delight in the passion that this engenders. Its just a piece of 'ultra life style' flim flam. Chav property developers form an orderly queue here.

Edited by Ipelm on Thursday 7th July 22:13

[MrTappets]

Frimley111R said:

Yes. And whey they (re)started in the 90s the view was that the cars weren't that recognisable so by making them all look similar people would begin to associate the shape with the brand. People moan about it but its common marketing sense.

I agree with you and I think that in about 2006 they were at a point where that had worked, but I'm just saying that now, five more years down the line, marketing cars that occupy the same market sector and are effectively in competition with each other is not such a good idea. Surely the average layman looking to choose between DB9, Virage and DBS will see the same car in three different levels of 'newness'. There have been quite a few mutterings of this sort lately, which surely means the brand is getting weaker?

[Court Jester]

I am not sure I understand the points raised in this thread. Isn't the point of a Zagato that it is a handbuilt body on someone else's chasis, and therefore the underpinnings will always be the same. Lookswise the AM / Zagato combination is an evolution not a revolution otherwise the Coachbuilers enhancement wouldn't work. That is (from memory) how it has always been.

Personally I think it looks stunning. If I won the lottery I would have one as art that could be driven, probably with some sort of glass garage / house divider like that guys garage and Dino combo on here last year, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder!!!

[andyps]

Vantagefan said:

In my opinion only Ferrari offer an obviously new design each time (I struggled to tell the new Gallardo and Aventador apart at FoS) but then you can go really wrong with people either loving the designs or hating them. At least with Aston they are all good looking!

There are strong similarities in the appearance of the 458 and the FF - the shape of the lights and other areas especially (admittedly, the 458 does not have any element of estate car styling as the FF has!).

[andyps]

MrTappets said:

I agree with you and I think that in about 2006 they were at a point where that had worked, but I'm just saying that now, five more years down the line, marketing cars that occupy the same market sector and are effectively in competition with each other is not such a good idea. Surely the average layman looking to choose between DB9, Virage and DBS will see the same car in three different levels of 'newness'. There have been quite a few mutterings of this sort lately, which surely means the brand is getting weaker?

Is suspect there is a big difference the average layman sees when visiting the Aston showroom - the price. A DB9 does not occupy the same market sector as a DBS due to the price difference. The Virage fills the gap between the two. And it could almost be said that the Zagato fills the gap between the main models and the one-77.

[ikky85]

I love AML but £330k ???....Wheres my local Pagani dealership?