Zagato Speedster: Aston Martin's Italian cousin

Drop-top grand tourer will be joined by a Shooting Brake estate at a later date

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster
(Image credit: Aston Martin)

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.

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.

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