Aston Martin teases its new "collaboration" with Zagato.
A half century after they first teamed up on the legendary DB4 GT, Aston Martin and Zagato are joining forces once again, this time on a “collaboration,” as they are describing it, that will make its debut at the upcoming Villa D’Este Concours, on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como.
The project, the partners hint, will go on to have a “racing debut” at the grueling Nurburgring circuit, in Germany later in May.
Insiders suggest that Aston is testing the waters for the design – shown in this teaser shot – and few places reach more potential buyers than Villa D’Este, and annual showing of classic cars that draws some of the world’s wealthiest gearheads.
Aston and Zagato’s first effort, the 1961 DB4 GT was followed by an ‘80s-era version of the V8 Vantage, and a more recent variant of the DB7.
“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,” said Dr. Ulrich Bez, Aston’s chief executive.
Should the reaction to the May 21 debut along Lake Como match expectations, Aston suggests it will have a production version ready for market in 2012.
Only 19 copies of the original DB4 Zagato were produced, including three specially designed for racing – with legends like Jim Clark successfully piloting them to victory.
Anticipate only slightly higher volumes if the new “collaboration” proves fruitful.