Aston Martin’s design language is getting a bit long in the tooth, but the automaker’s products are still some of the most beautiful people-carriers on Earth. The Aston Martin look is handsome, refined, and quintessentially British, but to give it some extra spice, the brand turned to Italy.
Aston Martin has officially debuted the Vanquish Zagato Concept, a one-off showstopper combining the company’s bullish good looks with the legendary artistry of Italian design house Zagato. Starting on May 21, the car will be showcased at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, a classic car exhibition held on the banks of Italy’s Lake Como.
The stunning Vanquish is the latest offspring in a long-standing relationship between Aston Martin and Zagato — one that has spawned several standouts, including the DB4 GT Zagato and the Virage Shooting Brake. For the latest example, craftsmen from all over Europe shaped an entirely new body from carbon-fiber, one that includes an enlarged grill, a cascading “double bubble” roof, and classic side strakes above the front wheels. The Italian influence is especially evident out back as there are four exhaust outlets instead of two, and the rear fascia features rounded tail lamps in true Zagato style. Look a little closer and you’ll see “bladed” LEDs akin to the Vulcan supercar.
“Over the years, we have developed and refined our own design language and we have always gone that little bit further with our special series cars like CC-100, One-77, and Aston Martin Vulcan,” said Aston’s executive VP, Marek Reichman. “The Vanquish Zagato Concept shows how our two companies can come together and push the definition of Aston Martin design.”
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Inside, the spiffy grand tourer boasts a quilted Z pattern across the upholstery, and there are accents of anodized bronze, aniline leather, and carbon-fiber just about everywhere you look. It’d be a shame if such talented artisans did all this without touching the engine, but don’t worry — the 6.0-liter V12 under the hood has been upgraded to 592 horsepower.
