Aston Martin reveals divine-looking DB4 GT-inspired DBS GT Zagato

As Aston Martin’s DBZ Centenary Collection nears reality, the British luxury high performance brand has released images of how the DBS GT Zagato part of that £6 million ($7.5 million at today’s conversion rate) commemorative pairing will look in production form.

We already know how the other half of the Collection will look—the form of the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation car has been known since the original Zagato-bodied DB4 was made in the 1960s. Just 19 pairs of the double-bubble-roofed cars will be made, and the two vehicles cannot be bought separately. As you may be able to guess from the name of the Collection, it is intended to celebrate Zagato’s 100th year in operation, and also commemorate 60 years of collaboration between the two companies.

To distinguish it from the more mundane V-12-powered DBS Superleggera on which the DBS GT Zagato, designed jointly by Aston Martin and Zagato, is based, the DBS GT Z will have a new grille and an electronic rear-view “mirror” to go with its full-length carbon-fiber roof.

Jaguar and Audi have been doing some startup sequence theater for the past few years, particularly on those firms’ higher-end vehicles. The car greets you, as it were, with vents and controls moving to operational positions. Aston Martin takes that a step further with what it calls a “dynamic grille.” When stationary, the grille’s 108 distinct diamond-shaped carbon-fiber elements lay flush with the car’s flowing lines, but will “flutter into life” upon startup, to allow air flow to the radiator and the V-12 engine’s induction system.

Marek Reichman, who heads design for Aston Martin Lagonda, said in a statement, “This is a car that is not only focused around beauty, but drama too. Our dynamic grille gives us an opportunity to provide the car with two very different identities. When parked, DBS GT Zagato will almost look like it’s resting, but with the rear of the car still appearing muscular and primed for action. Only on start-up will the car truly become alert and ready to perform, delivering both an aural and visual treat for onlookers.”

Since the full-length carbon-fiber roof is indeed full-length, that means there is no back window as the roof flows gracefully right to the rear deck lid. To provide for visibility, a rear-mounted video camera provides imagery to a digital screen where the rear-view mirror would normally go.

With Aston Martin concentrating on first completing the 19 Continuation DB4 GT Zagatos this year, production of the companion DBS GT Zagatos will begin in 2020.