Aston Martin has just unveiled the first images of its Zagato cars, the new DBS GT Zagato and the old DB4 GT Zagato Continuation, cars which can only be bought as a pair.
If your astronomically expensive Aston Martin is missing a certain something, there’s two solutions: either send it to Q at Mi6 to get the Bond treatment, or send it over to Italy to get the Zagato treatment. That first solution may be a bit far-fetched so most people opt for the Zagato.
The first Zagato-ified Aston came around in 1960 with the DB4 GT, fast forward to now and Aston Martin’s Heritage Division has worked to recreate the car with modern touches. The DB4 GT Zagato Continuation maintains all the classic features of the original, while adding modern touches like a carbon fibre interior and a larger engine.
The re-imagined classic car sits alongside another new Zagato – the DBS GT Zagato. Built from the DBS Superleggera, the new car adds some more power and some more individual styling choices. The front grille has been reshaped with sharper slats, the body has been given more curves, and the back end of the car has been totally redesigned with a double-bubble roof and ‘rocket’ taillights.
The special car uses the same 5.2 litre twin-turbo V12 as the DBS Superleggera but beefs up the 715 brake horsepower (bhp) stat to 760 bhp. The classic side of the pairing, the Zagato Continuation, upgrades the 3.7 litre engine from the 60s to a modern 4.7 litre engine capable of 360 horsepower (hp).
The DBS Superleggera
The DBS GT Zagato
The DB4 GT Zagato Continuation
Zagato is an Italian coachbuilder that has been collaborating with British Aston Martin since 1960 with the original DB4 GT. Zagato takes an already perfect Aston and makes it perfect-er, reducing weight, adding power and speed, and introducing sleek and artistic design choices. In fact, Zagato has worked with the likes of Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and Porsche.
The coachbuilder specialises in introducing classical elements into modern cars, with the 2000s being recognised as the point where Zagato works on more ‘neoclassical cars’. The brand derives its design philosophy from the 50s, where low-profile two door sports cars were all the rage.
“The design studio at Aston Martin has risen to the task magnificently, working alongside Andrea (Zagato) and his team. They have taken the already fabulous DBS Superleggera and shaped it into something which retains its Aston Martin identity, yet expresses itself as only a Zagato can,” Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said in the GT Zagato’s announcement.
The modern car’s interior is finished in red leather, with the trim being a mix of carbon fibre, steel, and 18-carat gold. The badges on the exterior of the car are made entirely from gold, and the interior finishes of the car are hand polished.
The two cars can only be bought together and only 19 such pairs exist, priced around US $7.8 million
