New Aston Martin Zagato Concept Car in the Works

In order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DB4GT Zagato, British automaker Aston Martin and the renown Italian design house are currently working on a new project that is to be shown for the first time at the Villa D’Este Concours on May 21, 2011. The vehicle in question is to make a racing debut at Nurburgring later in the month (May 28).

The concept car, teased in the adjacent image, could be inspired by the newly launched Virage, and previews a production version that will follow in 2012. “Working with Zagato again in 2011 is inspirational for the team. We can create a truly modern Aston Martin interpretation which stays true to the historical routes of the relationship with Zagato,” said Aston Martin Design Director, Marek Reichman.

The DB4GT Zagato was first previewed in late 1960 at the London Motor Show, with orders and production started a year later. Of the original 19 DB4GT Zagato built, all are still in existence within some of the worlds greatest car collections. Three of these 19 units were built to a lightweight racing specification designated within Aston Martin as DP209 (Design Project Number).

“The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world’s most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration,” Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin CEO, said in a release.

“Now is the right time for a new Aston Martin Zagato and in combining our design intelligence I think we can create something fitting of the iconic DB4GT Zagato that has gone before and since established itself as one of the most famous Aston Martins of all time,” he added.