Built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the iconic DB4GT Zagato (far below), Aston Martin introduces their brand new V12 Zagato concept. Premiered this Saturday at the Villa D’Este Concours, the V12 Zagato will also appear as an endurance race car at the Nürburgring 24 hour race on June 25/26. The premier Italian design house has penned several iconic Aston Martins in their collaborative history, including the V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato. “The V12 Zagato is an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style,” explains Aston’s Director of Design, Marek Reichman. “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.” Part of what makes the V12 Zagato so special are its handcrafted aluminium body panels, which are fashioned using an English wheel and traditionally crafted body bucks — a painstaking technique compared to using the more pervasive pre-formed panels. This allowed Zagato to shape the body panels in ways impossible otherwise, resulting in the gorgeous lines of the concept vehicle (which has the potential of going into limited production). The exotic performance car also features a double-bubble roof, bespoke steel roll cage and an aggressive 6.0-litre V12 engine that generates 510 bhp and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque.

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