The mystery project between Aston Martin and Zagato is no longer a mystery. Tomorrow at the Villa D'Deste Concours, Aston Martin will unveil the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, a special version of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, bound for competition and then limited production.
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The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is, as its name suggests, a collaboration between Aston and Zagato. Dr. Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin CEO, said that "(t)he Zagato design language is a perfect complement to our design and engineering expertise.... Matching the technology of the age with the traditional skills vital to deliver such a bespoke and exclusive sports car will lead to a strictly limited run of road going V12 Zagatos."
Indeed, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato will be even more handcrafted than the ordinary--if there is such a thing--V12 Vantage. The design team for the new aluminum body included a crew of engineers led by Chris Prorritt, who previously was responsible for engineering the ultra-exclusive Aston Martin One-77, but the body is being assembled in the time-honored techniques of nearly 100 years of experience.
Every aluminum panel of the V12 Zagato was formed using an English wheel and traditionally crafted body bucks. Each front fender is made up from seven separate pieces of aluminum that are combined and then hand finished into its final form. Five pieces are used to form the iconic "double bubble" Zagato roofline.
The car revealed tomorrow will compete at the ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup 12-hour race at the Nurburgring on May 28th and will be joined by another for the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring on the 25th and 26th of June. The team driving the cars will include, as have recent Aston Martin racing teams, include Dr. Bez. It's good to be CEO.
To conclude, it will be good to be among the select who will get to own one of the street versions of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato.
Photo: Aston Martin
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