We haven’t even gotten around to digesting the full breadth of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato and we’re already getting a close look at the race-spec version of the new Aston supercar. Or at least something like it.
In preparation for the car’s racing debut at the Nurburgring later this week, Aston Martin gave the eager public a first-hand look at the race-spec version of the V12 Zagato. It might only be a rendering of the car, but at the very least, it gives us an idea on what to expect when the car officially makes its track debut on May 28, 2011 at the 53rd ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup VLN race.
Judging from the rendering, the race-spec V12 Zagato looks pretty much like the street-version with a couple of notable additions, including the prominent rear wing, the table-top front lip, and the black wheels.
That’s as much as Aston is willing to share for now. But at least the wait won’t be that long before we see the race-spec version in the flesh. Good timing too, considering that the 24 Hours of Nurburgring is scheduled for June 25 and 26, 2011 and Aston Martin will be fielding two V12 Zagatos in the annual endurance race.
UPDATE 07/14/2011: Aston Martin has unveiled a new official video in which they reveal the two V12 Zagato racers at the Nurburgring 24hr race. Check out the two cars as they take part in a grueling test of endurance, engineering, and driver skill. Enjoy!
Full story
Aston Martin has official confirmed on their Italian Facebook page that the V12 Zagato will be put into limited production. There will be only 150 units built, each priced at about $530,000. This confirmation comes after last week the car has been officially listed into the Aston Martin web page.
The new Aston Martin Zagato is the perfect combination between technology, tradition and exclusivity. The car has been designed in collaboration with the legendary Italian design studio and features a lightweight aluminum body built by hand, with carbon fiber panels and is equipped with excellent performance and road handling, proven by the success on the track. The V12 Zagato is the perfect inspiration for the next 50 years of Aston Martin.
The V12 Zagato is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine that delivers a total of 510 HP and 420 lb ft of torque. Performance numbers haven’t been announced just yet.
Aston Martin will be celebrating the iconic DB4GT Zagato’s 50th anniversary with a new concept car developed in collaboration with the Italian design house Zagato. The concept car made its first appearance at the Villa D’Este Concours on May 21st, 2011 and will make its racing debut at Nürburgring on May 28th.
Dr. Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive said: "The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world’s most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration. Now is the right time for a new Aston Martin Zagato and in combining our design intelligence I think we can create something fitting of the iconic DB4GT Zagato that has gone before and since established itself as one of the most famous Aston Martins of all time."
The original Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato made its first appearance in 1960 at the London Motor Show. It was essentially a much lighter DB4 GT that got worked on by the Italian Coachbuilder to include a 3670 cc straight-6 DOHC engine that produced 314 HP with a top speed of 154 mph.
UPDATE 07/01/2011: The V12 Zagato has finally been listed on the Aston Martin web page, giving us an official confirmation that it will soon go on sale. According to the web site, "only a strictly limited run of road going cars will be built" and we will get more details about in the next few weeks.
UPDATE 07/0711: Now this is what we’re talking about! Aston Martin has finally given the pricing for the V12 Zagato. But that’s where the good news ends, at least as far as those that will have a hard time affording it. Anybody who wants to score this limited edition piece of beauty will have to shell out £330,000, which is around $528,000 based on current exchange rates. Gulp.
UPDATE 08/12/11: Aston Martin announced today that the V12 Zagato concept next with the One-77 supercar will make their American debuts in Monterey from August 17th to 21st. The V12 Zagato will debut in the evening of Wednesday August 17th at McCall’s Motorworks Revival and Aston Martin has confirmed once again that a strictly limited production run of the V12 Zagato will commence in summer 2012.
"Guests will be given the rare opportunity to test drive our latest model range, including the new Virage and Vantage S, as well as the four-door Rapide" commented Julian Jenkins, Vice President Aston Martin the Americas. "We are very excited about the program this year including the debut of the V12 Zagato, and we look forward to welcoming current owners, new customers and automotive enthusiasts to share our celebrations at The Aston Martin Estate."
Hit the jump to read more about the new V12 Zagato endurance racer concept.
Full story
Here at Topspeed, we love to keep our readers as involved in our pieces as possible and we figured there was no better way to do that than by engaging in a good ’ol hypothetical game of "Car-In-Your-Garage." Okay, so the game is completely made up, but it’s still something that gets us in the mood to think of five cars we’d love to have in our garages. As with any other game of this magnitude, though, there are some rules that we need to follow:
First, the price total of all five cars combined should not exceed $500,000.
Second, at most you can only pick up to two supercars. Third, you need to have FIVE cars on your list in the interest of variety and back-and-forth discussion. Fourth, you don’t have to hit the $500,000 limit exactly. If you’re happy with $300,000 worth, then that’s your call. You’ll be wasting $200 grand in fake money, but who’s really counting, right?
Once you’ve figured out your list, indulge all of us and put it down in the comments section below. If you feel the need to explain why you picked the car, feel free to elaborate.
Happy fake car shopping everyone!
Check out my list after the jump.
Full story
One of the most impressive commercials ever have been brought to our attention today. It is called Aston Martin ’Reverie’ and was made by Gentleman Scholar, a multimedia production studio based in Los Angeles. As you guessed it the video is about an Aston Martin model, but not any Aston Martin: a V12 Vantage.
The idea behind this commercial was to create something that encapsulated the ’power’, ’beauty’, and ’soul’ of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage. And they did. Next to speed and energy, the production company added stunning visual-effects, heavy explosions and morphing buildings, impressive landscapes and artistically lit cityscapes and they have created something that really manages to bring to our attention the essence of the V12 Vantage.
"From there we began to build our shots; moving cameras, animating the car, figuring out what and where our environments should be and look like. Our references introduced the car at dusk with a storm building on a desert horizon – taking on a sense of danger and anticipation. The use of CG allowed our imaginations to run free in terms of elegant camera moves and story-telling perspectives without worrying about the expense of helicopter shots and process trailers."
