Tag: Aston Martin V12 Zagato

  • Aston Martin V12 Zagato

    Aston-V12-Zagato-thumbBehold a finished product – images of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato are here. Geneva Motor Show goers next month will witness the debut while production is set to start later this year. But this not much of a car as it is a blend of complex emotions and passion on wheels.

    The V12 Zagato has two tasks to fulfill – 1. it is basically purpose built to honor a generation of magnificent GT cars and the historic DB4GT Zagato in particuliar. 2. it also needs a perspective – setting new boundaries with innovative technology and style is a must if the V12 were to be a success. That’s why it shares so many components with the stunning One-77. In all essence, the V12 is an advanced HP printer in vintage overalls.

    Looking at the V12 Zagato we see the exposed elements of carbon fiber on the front splitter, A-pillars, rear lamp pods, diffuser, door mirror cases and rear wing and we get that instant sense of modernity and purposefulness. Yet the bold new grille formed in a unique three-dimensional composite material mesh brings back the Zagato’s famous ‘Z’ moniker.

    A pleasant place to be (a wild guess) would be also the inside of the Aston. Satin-finish carbon fibre on the dashboard and center stack is perfectly set next to piano black accents and satin black rotary switchgear. Carbon fiber sill plaques with ’V12 Zagato’ inlaid metal script provide a distinctive finishing touch.

    It all sounds rally delightful but there are two problems with it: Price stands at £330,000 ($522,258) so it is pricy. Also it will be extremely rare – no more than 150 will be commissioned.

    But when we see how much ‘Soul, Beauty, Power’ goes into making one the steep price kind of makes sense. The process of creating a V12 Zagato takes approximately 2,000 man-hours to complete. Hand-crafted aluminum and carbon fiber are the main composites that form the whole of the car. Hand-stitched quilting adds to the time and effort but it does leave that feel of passion and luxury usually felt with Italian cars. The Aston Martin V12 Zagato however, is all British and it will worth its every penny.

    Aston Martin V12 Zagato (2013)
    Aston Martin V12 Zagato (2013)

    Source: Aston Martin

  • Aston Martin V12 Zagato at the Kuwait Concours D’Elegance

    Aston Martin will exhibit the V12 Zagato at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance. This is the only event of its type in the Middle East and plays host to some of the world’s finest automotive art from over 19 countries.

    “We are excited to show the new V12 Zagato for the first time in production form at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance. Over 50 years since the introduction of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin and Zagato have collaborated to create this modern interpretation which remains true to the original focus of craftsmanship, performance and exclusivity.”, commented Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin .

    Aston Martin V12 Zagato will be run in limited edition series of just 150 units. The sports car comes with the company’s acclaimed 6.0-litre V12 engine – 517PS (380 kW) and 570Nm (420 lb-ft).

    The price for this masterpiece is £330 000, excluding local taxes.

    Aston Martin V12 Zagato
    Aston Martin V12 Zagato

    Source: Aston Martin

  • 2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato

    Aston Martin V12 Zagato will be appearing in September at the 64th IAA International Motor Show at Frankfurt. Along with the largest display of contemporary Aston Martins ever seen at a Motor Show, two V12 Zagatos, both having completed their engineering sign-off at the Nurburgring 24 hour race, will be shown for the first time at a mainstream event.

    Hand assembled at the company’s global headquarters in Gaydon, England, the V12 Zagato is based on the highly acclaimed V12 Vantage and features a beautiful ’handcrafted‘ aluminium and carbon fibre body. Combining traditional craftsmanship and high technology, the V12 Zagato also boasts Aston Martin’s most dynamic bonded aluminium platform and the power of the company’s acclaimed 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque.

    Following extremely positive initial customer reaction, the V12 Zagato is being offered for sale at £330,000 GBP (excluding local taxes) and will go into strictly limited production of up to 150 cars in summer 2012. 50 years on from the introduction of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin and Zagato have collaborated to create this modern interpretation which remains true to the focus of craftsmanship, performance and exclusivity which underpinned the original collaboration.

    2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato
    2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato

    Launched successfully in late May at the famous Villa D’Este Concours on Lake Como, Italy, the V12 Zagato saw off tough competition to be awarded the coveted Design Award for the concept and prototypes class. Just a week later, the V12 Zagato made its racing debut at the 53rd ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup VLN race at the historic Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. Following other appearances in the series, both prototypes of the V12 Zagato were entered into the gruelling 39th ADAC Nurburgring 24 Hour on 25/26 June, successfully amassing a combined 230 laps and over 3,700 miles of intense durability testing – both taking the chequered flag to maintain Aston Martin’s 100% finish record in the race.

    The first of the two V12 Zagatos being shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, finished in its distinctive green livery is the full endurance race car concept specification as campaigned at the Nurburgring. The car, nicknamed ‘Zig’ by the factory team features a full aerodynamic package including front splitter, dive planes, large rear diffuser and spoiler designed to make the most of the Nurburgring’s multitude of corners and lengthy straights.

    The second of the cars, nicknamed ‘Zag’, was originally shown at the Villa D’Este before being converted into the same full racing specification as the sister car. Since the 24 hour race, Zag, has been returned to its original show specification which, although showing a racing car interior, has an exterior more representative of the exclusive road car currently offered for order. In addition to this, Aston Martin today releases the first conceptual illustrations of the road car variant that will go into production from mid 2012.

    The pair of V12 Zagatos will join the Aston Martin stand at Frankfurt in September alongside the stunning One-77 supercar and the recently launched Virage and Vantage S.

    Source: Aston Martin

  • Aston Martin V12 Zagato at the Nurburgring

    Aston Martin is putting the final touches to its race preparations for the toughest 24 hour race of them all – the annual ADAC Nurburgring 24 Hours on 25 and 26 June. Two V12 Zagato cars will compete in this challenge.

    The first one is the show car from Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D’Este, which has been transformed into the number 3 race car, nicknamed “Zag” (red). It will be piloted by Aston Martin CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, the company’s Nurburgring Test Centre Director, Wolfgang Schuhbauer and automotive journalists Horst von Saurma and Matthew Marsh.

    The second V12 Zagato is a green race car – nicknamed “Zig” with number 5, which will be raced by One-77 Chief Engineer Chris Porritt, experienced sports car driver Oliver Mathai, automotive journalist Richard Meaden and experienced amateur racer Peter Cate.

    Aston Martin V12 Zagato - Zag
    Aston Martin V12 Zagato – Zag

    Furthermore, at the race track will be a V8 Vantage GT4 nicknamed “Smurf” – which will be driven by Aston Martin Racing works driver, Darren Turner, journalist and experienced 24 hour driver, Shinichi Katsura, Australian racer Rob Thomson and seasoned Nürburgring pilot Jurgen Stumpf.

    Aston Martin V12 Zagato Nurburgring - Zig
    Aston Martin V12 Zagato Nurburgring – Zig

    “Our entries this year extend our Nürburgring racing philosophy. For five years now we have signed-off our 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 we go a step further by testing a car at prototype stage.”, commented Aston Martin’s Head of Motorsport, David King.

    “As ever, the race will present an enormous challenge in a vast and increasingly competitive field which will be fraught with all the unpredictable elements associated with racing at the Nürburgring. However, we are excited by the potential we have seen from the V12 Zagato in the testing we’ve completed and that gives us great hope for the task ahead. We look forward to a safe, successful and enjoyable race for our teams and customers.”, he added.

    V12 Zagato has a new handcrafted aluminium body and is powered by a smooth 6.0 liter V12 with 517PS (380 kW) and 570Nm (420 lb-ft) of torque. It also has a specially developed chassis for maximum performance.

    Source: Aston Martin

  • Aston Martin V12 Zagato Nurburgring

    Aston Martin has prepared two endurance race car concepts, which will return to the Nurburgring this weekend for final tests before the 24-hour race.

    This warm-up race – used as a test session ahead of the Nürburgring 24-hour race which takes place between 25th – 26th June – will be the first time two new V12 Zagato race cars have been in action together after one of the pair enjoyed its first running under race conditions at the 53rd ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup VLN race last month. This weekend will be used to refine race setup and allow further driver familiarisation with the new cars on the 25.378km circuit.

    Introduced as a modern interpretation of the famous Aston Martin and Zagato collaboration in the 50th anniversary year of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, the V12 Zagato revives a collaboration which has produced some of the most beautiful and sought-after cars in the world. The partnership takes inspiration from the past to create a modern interpretation based on Aston Martin’s ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range: the V12 Vantage.

    Aston Martin V12 Zagato Nurburgring
    Aston Martin V12 Zagato Nurburgring

    The 51st ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen VLN5 four-hour race starts at noon Central European Time on Saturday 11th June with live updates on the progress of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato available by following @astonmartin – the company’s official Twitter feed.

    Source: Aston Martin