2011 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept

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Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: "The Zagato design language is a perfect complement to our design and engineering expertise. After 50 years of the two companies being associated with each other the partnership has produced some of the world's most iconic cars.

"Of course, fifty years ago Italian design houses were widely seen as leading the way with new designs but now and supported by our independency, Aston Martin has its own in-house design ability so this new venture with Zagato is more collaborative than it perhaps would have been in the past.

"The task for us has been to create a concept that is a natural successor to those iconic cars that have gone before. 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."

Aston Martin and Zagato Collaboration

Work began in 2010 with initial meetings between Aston Martin and Zagato where sketches incorporating the design DNA of both companies were discussed and a decision was made to proceed with the project.

Director of Design, Marek Reichman added: "The Design team at Gaydon spent time refining the concept using a mixture of the latest computer based modelling techniques along with crafting traditional clay models to give a real world idea of proportion, stance and detail."

"The V12 Zagato is an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style. The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car's racing credentials."

Working alongside the initial design team was a dedicated group of Aston Martin engineers led by Chris Porritt - previously responsible for the engineering of the One-77. With the skills and knowledge gained from such specialized projects this team has worked to bring the unique design of the V12 Zagato to reality in a very short period of time.

Design and Manufacturing Process of the V12 Zagato

Featuring a new handcrafted aluminum body, the V12 Zagato delivers a beautiful and muscular design not possible using pre-formed panel techniques. Using the influences and skill of nearly 100 years of heritage in the craft, every aluminum panel was formed using an English wheel and traditionally crafted body bucks. Each front wing alone comprises seven separate pieces of aluminum, combined and then hand finished to give one flowing form. Another iconic Zagato design cue is the double bubble roof created in this case from five separate pieces illustrating further the intensity of craftsmanship involved in the construction of the V12 Zagato.

Update: 7/8/2011: Aston Martin will put its sensational V12 Zagato into production and is taking orders now for deliveries beginning in the second half of 2012. Base price is 330,000 GBP (or $526,977 at current exchange rates). The news of a production V12 Zagato is hardly surprising; Aston Martin paraded two (fully engineered) race-spec Zagatos around this year's Nürburgring 24-Hour race, and the car itself is based upon Aston's V12 Vantage. The 2012 V12 Zagato will be hand-built at Aston Martin's Gaydon facility, and apparently nothing about the car will change in the transition from concept to production.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept: Review (2/2)