Wednesday 2nd January 2019

Aston Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake spied

A prototype for the 99-run Zagato provides us a best-yet glimpse of its exterior

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New year, new limited-run Aston Martin. Well, not entirely, because we've seen the Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake before. But this January sighting of a prototype is the first to offer a proper glimpse of a real, non-CGI car's exterior. And what an exterior it is, mixing the pretty face of the Vanquish with the gorgeous lines of a shooting brake penned by Italians.

Aston's clearly not too bothered about hiding this car's identity, with the camo a simple wrap devoid of cladding. That being said, the roof's centre section of glass looks to have been covered, perhaps because this test car has been running around since before Aston put images of the model's sumptuous interior out last month.

Since then, we've known it'll feature Zagato-embossed tan leather and no shortage of carbon fibre. The material covers the extended rear deck and is used for the construction of a strengthening strut in the back to remind you this isn't your average big-boot estate, but rather a supercar that's taken on a rather different form.

On that subject, since the Zagato uses the base of the Vanquish, power comes from Aston's old 5.9-litre V12 engine with 600hp. It's long been superseded by the turbocharged 5.2-litre, but there's little doubt the use of natural aspiration from this older engine will only serve to boost the Zagato's appeal and - perhaps more importantly for the clientele interested in one - its long-term appreciation potential. Because let's face it, very few of the 99 shooting brakes planned for production are likely to see much mileage.

Following the Zagato Shooting Brake will be a run of just 28 Speedsters, which will be the end of the Vanquish Zagato family - the Coupes and Volantes already having been produced - and, ultimately, the end of this Vanquish era entirely. We'll next see the name when it adorns an all-new mid-engined supercar due at the start of the next decade...

[Images: S. Baldauf/S.B. Medien]

[E65Ross]

I think the back end looks hideous, it's incredibly fussy. The side profile is OK aside from the bit sticking out at the top of the hatch/boot. The front isn't bad at all, although I'm not a fan of the round lights in the grille.

Not that my opinion matters, mind

[Doofus]

I think it looks fking stupid. AM blindly following Ferrari off the cliff of over-design, and plunging into the swirling abyss of badly dating aesthetics.

Nobody cares what I think either

[Fittster]

Will speculators be able to sell it on for a profit?

[Cotty]

What is going on with the roof? Is there a glass panel running down the middle of it?

[oilit]

i believe its a glass roof with some electronic trickery that changes its transparency for sun/heat protection - personally - i think the coloured roof makes the lines look very different - the black roof however is much neater imho at least see the two next to each other here ...

Edited by oilit on Wednesday 2nd January 14:22

[baconsarney]

Sadly, to me it looks like the love (or not) child of a Vanquish and an Evoque....

[Gus265]

Hideous and completely off the mark - not sure why anyone would want one except that its rare (but that doesn't mean its good!)

Seriously though - can you get anything in it anyway? The boot opening is tiny and it really doesn't look like there is much space?!

[JulianHJ]

If I'd have seen the pictures without knowing what it was I would have assumed it was Kia or Hyundai's latest attempt to move upmarket.

[Quickmoose]

PH, that camo'd thing isn't the best hint yet.... some Scottish bloke has picked up all 4 varying Zagato models, all in the same spec, and can be seen in all their glory(?) via Mr JWW's youtube channel. (even a 1 of 28 'speedster'....
The shooting brake for me is the least successful iteration.... there are some wonderful details, but the whole doesn't add up to the sum of it's parts.
A couple of stand out bits for me, regardless of model - potentially the last use of the NA V12, and there are no bumper shut lines...

Either way, an FF/GTC4Lusso knocks this for six imo.

[scottygib553]

oilit said:

Edited by oilit on Wednesday 2nd January 14:22

Not like this..........not like this

[TrickyTrevM5]

Everything from the A pillar back is terrible.

Its like a mix of old-shape megan RS roofline plus the hind quarters of hyundai coupe thing with three doors from a few years ago - you know the one i mean.

Its got more scoops than mister whippy

I'll pass.

If i had the cash, it would be on the lovely little Alfa 8C which was featured earlier in December. A flawed but very beguiling little V8

[0a]

The front end of a DB11, the back end of a Hyundai Veloster. Vile!

[Hackney]

It's a Scirroco with an Aston grill isn't it?

[Turbotechnic]

I quite like it.

[Boydie88]

0a said:

The front end of a DB11, the back end of a Hyundai Veloster. Vile!

Exactly what came to my mind. Seems a Veloster has rear ended a DB9.

I quite like the Veloster but the proportions of this look so wrong.

Edited by Boydie88 on Wednesday 2nd January 15:46

[blue_haddock]

Quickmoose said:

Either way, an FF/GTC4Lusso knocks this for six imo.

Yep if i was in the market the Ferrari FF is where my money would be going.

[E65Ross]

blue_haddock said:

Quickmoose said:

Either way, an FF/GTC4Lusso knocks this for six imo.

Yep if i was in the market the Ferrari FF is where my money would be going.

Definitely, I'd love a GTC4Lusso!

[Panjy]

I like it, although not in pink.
I get a feeling it's not going to have a very big boot though, which sort of defeats the whole point of the exercise.

[FourWheelDrift]

One car that definitely needs reversing cameras.

[mhurley]

A rich mans Ferrari FF