Aston Martin V-12 Zagato

Just because I want one doesn't mean that I can rationalize stashing an Aston-Martin V12 Zagato in the garage....but a guy can wish, right? 

The nice folks at O'Gara Coach Company/Beverly Hills Aston-Martin invited me down to pour Martian Ranch wines at the premiere of the Aston-Martin V12 Zagato last week. This is a car designed for racing, although there will be 150 examples constructed for the 2013 model year. Whether they'll be street-legal in the USA is still up in the air, but I kinda think it'd be nice to have one of these around for track days, y'know? We're not talking mass production here by any means, since they're essentially handmade cars with a price that is going to be around $550,000, depending on where the dollar is at that time in comparison to the Euro. I would suspect that a sizeable deposit would be required, so I'll remain on the sidelines, waiting for one to hit the secondary market. (ahem)

Based on the V-12 Vantage, two prototypes were constructed and have been on the show circuit, making appearances at Frankfurt and Pebble Beach. This car was built for the Nürburgring 24 hour Endurance Race (they took 5th & 6th in their class). The 6-liter, 48-valve, V-12 engine is mated to a 6-speed automated (that sounds cooler than "automatic") transmission and when fired up (which they did at one point in the evening), the sound of the car is awe-inspiring. It's fitted with Brembo ceramic brakes and custom-designed wheels. This prototype wore the black rims but I prefer the look of the chrome wheels shown on the Aston-Martin V-12 Zagato website. 

The interior of the car is pretty businesslike right now - this is a race car and it's difficult to integrate a roll cage and make it look real sexy, unless you like that sort of thing. The website promises "V12 VANTAGE INTERIOR WITH ZAGATO STITCHED LOGOS AND PLAQUES" so maybe they'll paste that stuff onto some carbon fiber, black leather, alcantara, or some other exotic covering. It's not the sort of car you'd buy if you want a sedate sort of ride so the designers have a lot of leeway in what they do without having to worry too much about sound deadening. I reckon that the sound of the engine and exhuast would be pleasing enough. 

BTW, before things got going at the event, someone pulled up in a Lamborghini Aventador. Nice looking car, and appropriately menacing. More on that next week, since I'm pouring wine from Uvaggio after its premiere at O'Gara on Friday. 

(is that a 1965 Volvo 1800 S in the background?)

Comments

[Simon Schempp]

When it comes to beautiful, sporty, and elegant designs, there is only one authority: Zagato. Their cars are jaw-dropping. James Bond himself would fall in love with that Aston Martin, although I'm sure he would choose the battleship grey color. The Aventador looks like a cross between the Batmobile and a stealth fighter. It's just mean-looking.

[John Prue]

The Zagato is one macho car! I doubt anyone lacking James Bond-like bearing can handle a classy Aston Martin!