Aston Martin Debuts V12 Zagato Concept Ahead Of Nürburgring Endurance Race

News I By John Beltz Snyder I May 24, 2011

Aston Martin unveiled its newest collaboration with Zagato, this time based on the V12 Vantage. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DB4GT Zagato, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato debuted over the weekend at the Villa D’Este Concours in Italy. Next month, it will compete in the 24 Hours Nürburgring race.

The V12 Zagato uses a 6.0-liter V-12 making 510 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. That power is put to the rear wheels via a six-speed automated manual transmission. The aluminum bodywork is handcrafted, with many of the elements being pieced together by hand, such as the double bubble roof. The design features a blending of styles from both Aston Martin and Zagato.

On Sunday, May 28, the V12 Zagato will have its racing debut at the four-hour VLN race at the Nurburgring. Then, on June 25 and 26, two examples of the V12 Zagato will compete in the 24 Hours race. The car will eventually be produced as a limited-run road vehicle.

Scroll down for more information in the press release.

Aston Martin unveils new V12 Zagato

• In 50th anniversary year of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin introduces a modern interpretation of the famous Aston Martin and Zagato collaboration

• New V12 Zagato concept to be premiered at the Villa D’Este Concours on 21st May to gauge customer interest

• The V12 Zagato will appear in the form of an endurance race car to compete at the Nürburgring 24 hour race on 25/26 June; following tradition of recent new Aston Martins

Gaydon / Lake Como, 20 May 2011. Aston Martin will unveil the stunning new V12 Zagato endurance racer concept on the shores of Lake Como, Italy at the Villa D’Este Concours tomorrow.

Reviving a collaboration which has produced some of the most beautiful and sought-after cars in the world, the partnership takes inspiration from the past, to create a modern descendent of classics such as the DB4GT Zagato, V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato based on Aston Martin’s ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range: the V12 Vantage.

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 inhouse 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.”

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 specialised projects this team has worked to bring the unique design of the V12 Zagato to reality in a very short period of time.

Featuring a new handcrafted aluminium 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 aluminium panel was formed using an English wheel and traditionally crafted body bucks. Each front wing alone comprises seven separate pieces of aluminium, 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.

Designed for the focused driver, the V12 Zagato has been honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. The V12 Zagato combines Aston Martin’s most dynamic bonded aluminium platform with the power of the 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW/517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque.

The V12 Vantage which forms the basis of the V12 Zagato has been proven on the race track as early as 2009 with a class win in its debut race at the 24 hour race at Nürburgring whilst being close to production standard with only essential safety modifications, reduced weight and re-tuned suspension but no additional aerodynamic enhancements. In 2011 the car has gone on to form the basis of the new Aston Martin GT3 race car unveiled last month.

The first DB4GT Zagato shown to the public in late 1960 spent much of its life as a racing car after launch. Later perhaps the two most famous DB4GT Zagatos, registered ‘1 VEV’ and ‘2 VEV’ were raced with success by such names as Jim Clark and Roy Salvadori. The fascinating story of these cars and the nature of high performance and low weight which drove the Zagato projects gave the inspiration for the first two V12 Zagatos to be created as endurance race cars.

The racing debut of the V12 Zagato will be at the four hour VLN race at Nürburgring on 28th May with a view to two cars racing at the 24 hour race on 25/26 June. The cars will be driven by a team with great experience of Aston Martin race cars, led for the sixth year by Chief Executive Dr. Ulrich Bez. Both cars follow Aston Martin’s philosophy of racing in close-to-production form but with full FIA safety compliance. V12 Vantage Zagato specification includes a bonded aluminium platform modified with a bespoke steel roll cage, front and rear double wishbone suspension with fully adjustable Multimatic DSSV Dampers and a 120ltr endurance racing fuel tank.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato will be shown for the first time at the Villa D’Este Concours on Saturday 21st May 2011

– Ends –

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Endurance Race Car Specification

Body:
Two door, two seat coupe body
Bonded aluminium structure
Bespoke steel roll cage.
Hand crafted Aluminium body

Engine:
All alloy quad overhead cam 48 valve 5935cc V12
Compression ratio 10.9:1
Front mid-mounted engine, rear wheel drive

Transmission:
Rear mid-mounted, six-speed automated manual gearbox with auto shift manual/select shift manual (ASM/SSM) electric hydraulic control system
Magnesium alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
Twin Plate competition clutch.
Limited slip differential.

Suspension:
All round independent double wishbone with fully adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers.

Brakes:
Front: Ventilated floating grooved discs with 6 piston callipers
Rear: Ventilated floating grooved discs with 4 piston callipers

Fuel System:
120 litre endurance racing fuel tank

The Guide to Road Racing: Winding Road Magazine's ultimate guide to getting your start in racing.

Table of Contents

Related Articles

MGM Resorts Leads the Charge at Las Vegas Grand Prix with Exclusive Events and Star Power

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 25, 2024 – As the checkered flag waves on the second year of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, MGM Resorts International has once…

November 25, 2024
2026 Kia Sportage Debuts at LA Auto Show Advancing Design, Innovation, and Technology

Kia’s Top Selling Model Offers Enhancements Across All Three Powertrains – ICE, HEV, PHEV “Opposites United” design philosophy takes on a more confident and refined…

November 21, 2024
All-new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Debuts with Bold Design and Premium Interior

Los Angeles, CA, November 20, 2024 — Today, Volkswagen of America Inc. unveiled the all-new 2025 Tiguan, the automaker’s best-selling nameplate in the U.S. The…

November 20, 2024
Global Debut for TWR’s V12 Super-GT ‘Supercat’

New TWR Supercat breaks cover in public debut Contemporary carbon-fibre body constructed on classic Jaguar XJS foundations Supercharged V12 engine with confirmed output of 660bhp…

November 20, 2024
Stylish, Spacious, and Sporty: 2025 Lexus TX Adds F Sport Handling

F SPORT Handling grade now available on TX 350 AWD models 12.3-inch multi-information display (MID) now standard on TX 350 models Three powertrains, including a…

November 15, 2024

EMAIL SIGN UP

Get the latest driving and racing news straight to your inbox.

no thanks

Begin typing your search above and press return to search.