Aston Martin Reveals Vanquish Zagato Speedster, Teases Shooting Brake

Following a series of spy photos of the Zagato Speedster caught running the Nürburgring and many of the B-roads in Germany, Zagato and Aston Martin have finally revealed the group’s latest stunning creation.

The Vanquish Zagato Speedster is based on the Aston Martin Vanquish and marks the third in Zagato’s Vanquish series of limited-production cars. The Speedster uses the same 580-hp naturally aspirated 5.9-liter V-12 engine as the standard Vanquish (and the other Zagatos), which comes mated to Aston Martin’s slick Touchtronic III transmission. This means it can hit 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds and likely a top speed of 197, although Zagato hasn’t disclosed exactly what the open-top speedster can muster.

The main selling point of the Vanquish Zagato Speedster is undeniably its look. Choosing style over function, the speedster uses an “uncompromising roofless design that expresses the raw excitement of an open-top ultra-high performance sports car,” anchored by the car’s rear speed humps which rise “to form streamlined cowls that flow back from the seats, representing Zagato’s signature double-bubble roof,” according to Aston Martin.

Differentiating itself from the standard Vanquish, the Vanquish Zagato Speedster receives a new front fascia with integrated twin fog lights, new rockers, and fenders, as well as a slightly modified hood with a larger bulge and twin air extractors. But it’s at the back, past the speed humps where the Vanquish Zagato Volante truly sheds its Aston Martin roots.

To set the rear of the car off, it uses Aston Martin Vulcan-inspired “Blade” taillights that look like Star Trek warp nacelles ready to blast into the 23rd century, or like Tony Stark’s arc reactor from The Avengers. The rear tailpipes have also been repositioned with a new undertray that helps produce downforce.

Speaking ahead of the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where the Vanquish Zagato Speedster will strike a pose, Andrea Zagato, CEO of Zagato, said “Zagato’s relationship with Aston Martin began with my grandfather and the DB4 GT Zagato, almost sixty years ago. To have a creative ‘marriage’ thrive for three generations is something as unique as the cars themselves.” Furthering that relationship, Zagato has also released the first teaser for its final Vanquish-based model, the Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake.

According to the company, the Shooting Brake is still a strict two-seater, “But one conceived as an individual and exceptionally practical GT. The extended roof of the concept sketch bears the iconic Zagato double-bubble surfacing complete with glass inlays to let light flood into the cockpit. The sculptural roof culminates in a powered tailgate that opens onto a luxuriously trimmed rear cabin area…and is a fitting complement to the Coupe, Volante, and Speedster.”

Zagato will build just 325 Vanquish-based cars total; 99 Coupes, 99 Volantes, 28 Speedsters, and 99 Shooting Brakes. No word on what the cars will cost, but rumor has it the price tag is pegged at over $1,300,000 per car, all of which have reportedly already been sold.