Italian coachbuilder Zagato has paid tribute to Aston Martin’s 100th anniversary with the announcement of two special projects: the Aston Martin DBS Coupe Zagato Centennial and the Aston Martin DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial.
Zagato describes the DBS Coupe Centennial edition as an “exotic cross of Aston Martin DNA with Italian flair and Milanese inspiration”.
The coupe’s double bubble roof is reminiscent of Zagato cars of the 1950s, while its flowing body and smooth tail aim to blend the notions of sportiness and elegance.
Zagato chief designer Norihiko Harada admitted redesigning the DBS was a difficult job.
“The DBS is already one of the most beautiful modern sports cars around,” Harada said.
“Our challenge was to bring sporty styling together with a more Mediterranean luxury GT feel, all with typical Zagato quality.”
The story of the second project, the DB9 Spyder Centennial edition, harks back to 2001, when the Zagato team joined forces with American Aston Martin enthusiast and collector Peter Read to create the DB7 Zagato, of which 99 were sold prior to production at that year’s Paris motor show.
Due to that vehicle’s success, the same team, with the approval and collaboration of Aston Martin, came together to design, develop and produce the one-off DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial.
Read says the final design “personifies the timelessness of the Aston Martin/Zagato marque”.
“The DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial perfectly merges Aston Martin and Zagato’s DNA by combining the elegance of design, typical of Zagato, with the soul, power and prestige of Aston Martin, all developed over the last 100 years,” Read said.
