When Italian design house Zagato turned 100 this year they didn’t get a letter from the queen. Instead, they celebrated and collaborated with one of their closest paisanos: Aston Martin, and gifted the world the DBS GT Zagato supercar.
Based on the DBS Superleggera, the next evolution in Aston Zagato design is well apparent here, though signature touches such as the double-bubble roof remain. Now carbon fibre, that roof flows from the front wraparound windshield to the rear. Problem is there is no rear windshield. The solution? A digital rearview mirror.
Finishing off the exterior is a wide dynamic grille, made up of 108 (we counted) diamond-shaped carbon fibre pieces that remain in place when the car is parked, and open up when the engine sparks up. Said engine is the flagship GT 5.2 litre twin-turbocharged V12, only power has increased from an already macho 533 kW to a Tarzan swinging 566 kW. The interior is lined with kinky red leather throughout, with elements of carbon fibre or gold-coated stainless steel added; all formed via 3D printing — similar to the titanium carbon used by McLaren.
While pretty untouchable, its main enemy is the Ferrari Monza SP. It too is a tribute to a classic — the 750 Monza. Featuring a 6.5 litre V12, it delivers 39 more horses than the Zagato, but 134 less pound-feet of torque. Ferrari will make roughly 500 Monza SP’s, so they’re not as exclusive.
Only 19 GT Zagatos will be built, but won’t be available for purchase on their own. Aston Martin is offering it as a package deal with a 1960s DB4 GT – calling the duo the ‘DBZ Centenary Collection’.
It’s been a while since the Brits have shown no mercy for their competitors; maybe it’s time for them to take on the Italians full–time.
Spec check
2020 Aston Martin DBS GT Zagato
Engine: 5.2 litre Twin Turbo V12
Transmission: 8 speed automatic
Power: 567 kW
Torque: 664 pound-feet of torque
Top Speed: 340 km/h
0-100km/h: 3.3 sec
Price: $11 million (incl. 1964 DB4 GT)
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