Aston Martin Vanquish Gets The Zagato Treatment

The Vanquish Zagato is the fifth Aston model to get Z badges since the collaboration began in 1960 with the iconic DB4 GT Zagato. Unlike that car – which premiered in production form at the London Motor Show before going on to have its racing debut at Goodwood in 1961 – the Italian Vanquish is being shown as a concept only, though Aston concepts – and certainly all Zagato versions – have a habit of reaching production.

As a styling concept, it “pushes the definition of Aston Martin design” according to Aston design chief Marek Reichman who led the project with with Andrea Zagato. The car is unveiled on 21 May at the Concorso d’Eleganza in the most classily Italian of settings, at the Villa d’Este on Lago di Como.

The car – as red in the publicity pictures as any car out of Italy has ever been – is essentially a 600bhp V12-powered Vanquish reclothed in carbon-fibre to incorporate Zagato design elements and also forge a link to the next new Aston to hit the showrooms, the DB11. A side strake from wheelarch to door confers a similar aerodynamic profile to the DB11, says Aston, while the rear gets the DB11 look too, complete with retractable spoiler. Other design elements are from the One-77 and Vulcan track supercar.

The result is that overall this is not the most “Zagatoed” (read: controversial) of Aston Martins, though of course the “double bubble” roof gets a look in; along with the ruler-straight window line it provides a design signature that could only be Zagato’s. The roof’s twin bulges are purely aesthetic, there being no need in the cabin for the extra helmet-wearing clearance that inspired the Italian design house to introduce the feature in the 1950s.

The V12 – normally-aspirated, not the new twin-turbo – has been uprated to 600bhp, and the dynamics suitably upgraded. The interior gets the Zagato touch with carbon and anodized bronze among the materials used, along with plenty of embossed “Z” logos in the leather.

For today this is a this is a beautiful piece of work to celebrate just for its own sake, but its message – that the Vanquish is very much alive and kicking – shojuldn’t be missed. With the relentless pace of Aston new model development recently (Vulcan, Vantage GT8 and GT12, DBX concept and new DB11 – not to mention the Red Bull/Aston hypercar) the Vanquish was perhaps in danger of getting overlooked. Then as now, get Zagato to reclothe an Aston and a high profile is guaranteed…