Italian atelier Zagato pays tribute to Aston Martin’s 100th Anniversary with the announcement of two very special projects: the DBS Coupe Zagato Centennial and the DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial. The first car is created for a young and prestigious Japanese entrepreneur and the second – for the well known American car collector Peter Read.
The Aston Martin DBS Coupe Zagato Centennial is an exotic cross of Aston Martin DNA with Italian flair and Milanese inspiration, sporting a ‘double bubble’ roof, reminiscent of Zagato cars from the 1950s.
Norihiko Harada, Zagato’s Chief Designer explains: ‘Redesigning the DBS was a difficult job. The DBS is already one of the most beautiful modern sports cars around. Our challenge was to bring sporty styling together with a more Mediterranean luxury GT feel, all with typical Zagato quality.’
As for DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial, it has an interesting history. In 2001, Dr. Ulrich Bez approved a design for the DB7 Zagato, which was inspired and financed by a team of three persons: Andrea and Marella Zagato and Peter Read. The model was very successful – all 99 units were sold at the Paris Motor Show prior to its production. Due to this success and with the approval and collaboration of Aston Martin, the same team designed, developed and produced a one-off DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial.
The team’s vision is best expressed by Peter Read: ‘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. This car personifies the timelessness of the Aston Martin/Zagato marque.’
