Aston Martin has a long history in building luxury and sports cars and, in particular, a combination of both as we know from several James Bond movies. Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford founded the British company in 1913 and ever since their sports cars have been considered a British cultural icon.
However, it is well known that the company is currently struggling. 2019 has been a tough year so far for Aston Martin. In the first six months, it incurred a loss of around GBP 63 million (EUR 69 million) as the car manufacturer, which competes with Ferrari and the VW subsidiary Porsche among others, announced on 31 July 2019 in London. For investors, the premium carmaker’s stock have been a pure disappointment so far. Starting from its issue price of 1,900 pence in October 2018, it has since fallen by almost 76 percent. In addition to the company’s own problems, there is still the uncertainty of the planned withdrawal of the Brexit.
So, what does a great and iconic car brand do when struggling? They reveal a top-notch super car at Audrain’s Newport Concours in the United States to remind the world why Aston Martin has been the brand it is for so many years. I am talking about the DBS GT Zagato. The most powerful Aston Martin will be available for collectors in 2020. Could this be the turning point for the British car manufacturer?
Aston Martin DBZ Centenary Collection
There is no wonder that Aston Martin equips their new flagship supercar, the DBS GT Zagato, with the most powerful engine they’ve ever made. The 5.2-liter V12 twin-turbo has a power output of 760 horsepower. That’s an increase of 45 horsepower in comparison to the DBS Superleggera, whose frame is used as basis for this supercar. Aston doesn’t say how fast it is (yet), but I expect a slight improvement on the Superleggera’s 0-100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds.
The new alloy wheels with golden spokes and the details in the interior painted in gold are all charming elements. An eye-catcher at the rear is the carbon strip as well as the typical DBS taillights. The highlight, however, is the carbon roof, which extends down to the rear. There is no rear window which is why a camera-supported interior mirror is installed. The DBS Zagato features a revised grille with sharp-edged opening slats as you can see in the pictures. Beautiful, isn’t it?
Only 19 DBS GT Zagatos will be built and in order to get one you have to purchase it together with the DB4 Zagato Continuation – a replica of the historic model from the early 1960s. The DB4 comes without road approval but with a FIA roll bar. The first model is painted in “Rosso Maja”- red, following one of the original colors.
Each pair, also known as the DBZ Centenary Collection, starts at GBP 6 million (USD 7.39 million at current exchange rates) without tax. And, guess what? All 19 pairs have already been sold.
I am sure this car will be appreciated among car collectors and the whole community. It’s going to set the bar very high for Aston Martin and their future cars. But, to be honest, this is something I expect from a truly iconic global brand such as Aston Martin ….and hopefully they will be able to continue for many decades to come.
Summary
Brand:
Aston Martin
Model:
DBZ Centenary Collection consisting of the DBS GT Zagato & DB4 Zagato Continuation (replica model)
Price:
Package price is GBP 6 million (USD 7.39 million at current exchange rates) excluding taxes
Limitation:
19 packages (i.e. 19 units of each car)
When to drive:
I cannot imagine a better day for driving a DB4 Zagato than along the British countryside on a rainy day. With the DBS GT Zagato, on the other hand, I can imagine driving around London city, posing for some young car spotter.
What we love about the car:
With the DBZ Centenary Collection, Aston Martin proves they are still able to combine British class and power engineering at the highest level.
Images: Aston Martin
