Aston Martin V12 Zagato ready to rock at the Nurburgring

Aston Martin V12 Zagato at Nurburgring - Zag at play

We’ve had plenty to look at with the Aston Martin V12 Zagato in the last few weeks, especially when it turned up, resplendent in red, at Villa d’Este and walked away with 2011 Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes.

But it’s an Aston Martin, so beauty is a given. But what about performance? Yes, the Zagato has a V12 lump, but as far as we know it’s all regular fodder – engine specs are bog standard. But at its heart this is still a proper Aston Martin V12 Zagato Racer.

So Aston Martin took the V12 Zagato off to the Nurburgring to have a little play – straight after Villa d’Este – and we managed to grab some shots of a Kermit green Zagato arriving at the ‘Ring to play. Because it turned out that Aston Martin had actually made two Zagatos (well, CPP had) and called them Zig and Zag.

But that first visit to the ‘Ring was just playtime; the serious stuff is about to start as Zig and Zag get ready to take on the rather more challenging ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Since its outing at Villa d’Este Zag has acquired a revised red and white paint job, and a thumping great rear wing. It will be driven by Dr. Ulrich Bez, Aston’s Nürburgring Test Centre Director, Wolfgang Schuhbauer and car journos Horst von Saurma and Matthew Marsh.

Zig, the Kermit green Zagato, will be driven by One-77 Chief Engineer Chris Porritt, sports car driver Oliver Mathai, car journo Richard Meaden and gifted amateur Peter Cate.

So we thought that the least we could do is grab some photos of Zig and Zag in all their racing finery – and a video of both V12 Zagatos playing out on track – so you can see just how good Aston Martin has made the V12 Zagato look and perform.

Of course, all this publicity is leading up to the announcement that the V12 Zagato will be a limited edition road car, following on when production of the One-77 ends. But what price an Aston Martin V12 Zagato? Our best-placed sources tell us £300-350k and 99 cars in total.

Time to break out the piggy-bank again?

(18 photos – click any thumbnail to see full gallery)

By Cars UK