Zagato Speedster: Aston Martin's Italian cousin

Aston Martin has added another model to its ultra-exclusive Zagato range with its new million-pound Vanquish Speedster. The car is due to make its public debut at the Pebble Beach motor show in California next week.

The Speedster is based on the standard Aston Martin Vanquish, although it's been redesigned by the Italian design house Zagato, a company known for producing some of the most luxurious cars in the world.

Zagato has already redesigned a coupe as well as convertible versions of the Vanquish. The Speedster is the latest addition to the line-up.

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What separates the drop-top Speedster from its Italian siblings is a pair of carbon fibre flying buttresses behind the driver and passenger's head.

It's also expected to be a "fixed open-roof creation", says AutoExpress. Older Zagato Speedster models suggest Aston Martin won't offer a "temporary cover that could keep the cabin dry when the car is parked."

Under the bonnet sits the same 592bhp 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine from the regular Vanquish, says the magazine, but Zagato models get a "bespoke" suspension setup.

The British carmaker has also announced a Shooting Brake variant of the Vanquish Zagato, which has a longer roofline compared to the coupe for better boot space. Despite its extra practicality, Autocar says the Shooting Brake will be a two-seater.

The Speedster is due to appear at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance next week, but fans will have to wait a little longer before Aston Martin takes the wraps off its Shooting Brake variant.

Only 28 examples of the million-pound Speedster are set to reach production, the magazine says, and all of these have been sold. The Shooting Brake is expected to have a price tag of around £650,000. Production will be upped to 99 units.