New Aston Martin Zagato

By Sam Hardy

11th May 2011

Aston Martin has confirmed it will be collaborating with Italian design house Zagato on a new car – and this is the first image of the machine.

Set to be unveiled at the Villa D'Este Concours event on May 21 on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, the new model will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DB4GT Zagato (pictured) – the first collabortive model which was produced in 1961.

Aston Martin will use the Villa D'Este event to gauge customer reaction to the car with a view to putting it into limited production in 2012. Before that, though, the firm will take the newcomer racing at the Nurburgring 24hrs at the end of May.

So far Aston Martin has released nothing more than this single shadowy image, but the new Zagato model appears to be based on the current Vantage. New bodywork includes a low front splitter but the most remarkable addition is the enormous set of rear wheel arches, which hint at a much wider track and larger wheels. Expect a revised grille and fresh front and rear lights.

"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," said Aston Martin boss Dr Ulrich Bez.

The first Aston Martin partnership with Zagato produced the DB4GT Zagato, which benefitted from aerodynamic, lightweight bodywork. In 1986, the two companies joined forces again to produce the V8 Vantage Zagato, while the most recent project is the DB7 Zagato.