Aston Martin adds a soft top to the stunningly beautiful new Vanquish Zagato, the Volante.

To accompany the North American debut of the Vanquish Zagato Coupe at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Aston Martin is proud to announce a striking partner for this very special car; the Vanquish Zagato Volante.

Driven by overwhelming customer interest for the previously revealed Coupe, the Vanquish Zagato Volante will be strictly built to a limited production run of 99 cars at Aston Martin's headquarters in Gaydon, England.

Vanquish Zagato Volante is the latest creation from a collaboration that reaches back over nearly six decades, beginning with the beautifully muscular DB4 GT Zagato race car of 1960 and includes the DB7 Vantage Zagato of 2002, 2011’s V12 Vantage Zagato and the most recent Vanquish Zagato Coupe announced earlier this year.

Previous Aston Martin Zagato convertibles have included the striking V8 Vantage Volante, first shown in Geneva in 1987 and the DB AR1 in 2003. Developed as an open-topped Zagato-bodied DB7 and also limited to 99 units, DB AR1 was similarly designed for the North American market and is considered today an established collectible by automotive connoisseurs worldwide.

The Vanquish Zagato Volante will be a powerful addition to the Aston Martin and Zagato lineage, embodying Aston Martin's inherent refinement and capabilities, as well as Zagato's characteristic design details. Both cars share an enhanced version of Aston Martin's iconic V12 powertrain, increasing its output to 592bhp with a projected 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds.

The Vanquish Zagato Volante shares its proportions with the Coupe, a quintessential Aston Martin form with a classic Zagato twist, evoked by round tail light reflectors that use the same 'bladed' LED technology as the Aston Martin Vulcan supercar. The twin cowls on the rear deck blend into the leading edge of the luggage compartment, concealing a bespoke folding hood derived from the mechanism used in the Vanquish Volante. Carbon fibre sills around the lower body create a pronounced horizontal emphasis that runs from front to rear.

“Just like the Coupe, we have emphasised the way surfaces change and intersect to create a muscular form. We’ve endeavoured to create an elegant, flowing shape that really works to emphasise the car’s sculpted rear haunches” says Aston Martin’s EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman.

Inside, the Vanquish Zagato Volante continues the fine tradition of Aston Martin craftsmanship. Aston Martin's specialist 'Q' division can add further personalisation and enhancement to a cabin finished with rich and highly luxurious materials, including herringbone carbon-fibre, anodized bronze detailing and the finest Bridge of Weir leather. The Volante features the unique signature ‘Z’ quilt pattern stitch on both seat and door sections, as well as the celebrated trademark Zagato ‘Z’ embossed on the headrests and stitched into the centre console.

“The Vanquish Zagato Volante illustrates the ways in which Aston Martin design can evolve in collaboration with such a trusted and long-standing partner,' says Reichman. “Vanquish Zagato Volante continues Aston Martin's new century of innovation and creativity, strengthening the association between these great automotive marques in the process”.

Customer deliveries are set to begin in 2017.

MG expands it's design team to cope with all the new models that will be coming out of China, Thailand and Longbridge.

A growing company with a growing product line-up calls for more designers to play their part in developing new models.

MG Motor UK’s design centre, based at Longbridge, Birmingham, has expanded and is continuing to expand its team of designers who play a key role in the MG models on the road of today and the future.

Director of Design, Anthony Williams-Kenny, is now back in the UK after being based in Shanghai for three years. Anthony will be focusing on MG Motor in the UK, as well as on a global level.

The expansion of the team has allowed the design centre to take on more work and to focus on continually improving the products as well as keeping up with trends.

The newest members of the team are Pierre Luigi Ferrari, exterior team lead, and Paul Matthew, interior team lead. Both Pierre and Paul will lead the two teams to design and develop new models as well as ensure that market trends are kept up with and the quality of the products designed is exceptional.

The digital model and clay model teams have expanded, almost doubling in size. Colleagues from China also often come to work in the studio, allowing the team to benefit from cultural influences and shared learning.

Carl Gotham, Chief Designer Advanced, said: “Whilst we have to remain tight-lipped about the products we’re working on, it is certainly an exciting time for MG as we look ahead to future models.

“By bringing in our new team members, we’ve gained incredible talent with a vast amount of experience that can ensure we keep on top of areas such as quality and interior.”

There are currently over 50 people permanently based in the design centre at Longbridge, Birmingham. 

Aston Martin today announces a limited series production of the exhilarating Vanquish Zagato Coupe.

Aston Martin today announces a limited series production of the exhilarating Vanquish Zagato Coupe; the latest creation from its long-standing partnership with the prestigious Italian design-house Zagato. 

The Vanquish Zagato Concept was unveiled to great acclaim at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este at Lake Como, Italy in May 2016. Thanks to unprecedented customer interest, a strictly limited production run of 99 cars will be built to order at Aston Martin's production facility in Gaydon, England.

Vanquish Zagato is the fifth car to emerge from a collaboration that stretches back over five decades, pairing Aston Martin's acclaimed dynamic and material qualities with Zagato's signature design language. As well as spectacular sporting ability, Vanquish Zagato showcases the very best of Aston Martin’s bespoke luxury.

The collaboration with Zagato began with the beautifully muscular DB4 GT Zagato racing car of 1960 – now valued at over £10 million -, and includes the V8 Vantage Zagato launched in 1986, the 2002 DB7 Vantage Zagato and the V12 Vantage Zagato revealed in 2011.

The Vanquish Zagato is a powerful addition to that portfolio; a GT car that blends Aston Martin's inherent refinement and capabilities with Zagato's characteristic design details, born out of racing and honed over many years of creating elegant luxury sports cars. Aston Martin's 6.0L V12 powertrain has been uprated to increase its output to 600PS¹, capable of delivering a projected 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds. This added performance matched to a unique suspension setup will create a unique GT driving experience specific to the Vanquish Zagato model.

The design of the production Vanquish Zagato will be closely related to the concept exhibited at Villa d'Este. With proportions that remain quintessentially Aston Martin. The new bodywork is entirely shaped from carbon-fibre, with the split lines on the body significantly reduced by the use of large one-piece panels.

Other design details include new lights with round tail light reflectors that evoke the classic Zagato rear view, using the same 'bladed' LED technology as the Aston Martin Vulcan, while the wing mirrors are closely related to the units developed for the One-77. The Vanquish Zagato's sculptural rear end has a close relationship to DB11's aerodynamic profile, complete with retractable spoiler and rear hatch for easy access to the luggage compartment. Rippling carbon fibre sills run around the lower body to create a pronounced line from front to rear, with a quad-exhaust nestling within the curvaceous shapes.

The Vanquish Zagato’s glasshouse wraps around the bodywork like a visor, enhancing its aggressive stance. A new evolution of the classic side strake runs from wheel arch to door just like the new DB11 and a detail originally showcased on the celebratory CC-100. A sharp crease on the rear wheel arch transforms into the rear flanks, where it meets the cascading roofline.

The roof features the iconic 'double-bubble', its shallow radius dipping into the rear window glass to give the car an unmistakeable rear silhouette. A Zagato trademark since the early 1950s, originally arose from the need to accommodate racing helmets with a minimum impact on the aerodynamic profile.

Inside, the Vanquish Zagato embodies the fine tradition of Aston Martin craftsmanship, replete with many singular touches. Herringbone carbon fibre is paired with shadow and anodized bronze and optional aniline leather to give the facia, vents and rotary dials a rich material quality. The Vanquish Zagato is also defined by the unique ‘Z’ quilt pattern stitch used on the seat and door sections, as well as the celebrated trademark Zagato ‘Z’ embossed on headrests and stitched into the centre console.

The Vanquish Zagato is a significant new chapter in the history of the two marques, a truly exclusive sporting GT that promises to be an iconic and highly sought after Aston Martin. Customer deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2017.

Aston Martin and Italian design-house Zagato are proud to announce the Vanquish Zagato Concept.

Aston Martin and Italian design-house Zagato are proud to announce the Vanquish Zagato Concept, the latest creation from their long-standing partnership. The Vanquish Zagato Concept will make its global debut at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, held at Lake Como in Italy from 21 – 22 May 2016

The Vanquish Zagato Concept is the fifth car to emerge from a collaboration that stretches back over five decades, pairing Aston Martin's acclaimed sporting, dynamic and material qualities with Zagato's signature design language.

From the iconic DB4 GT Zagato of 1960 through to the V12 Vantage Zagato of 2011, every collaboration has accentuated key aspects of Aston Martin's design journey and brought them together with Zagato's own race-inspired design language. The result is a group of four sports cars that represent some of Aston Martin's most avant-garde expressions.

The Vanquish Zagato Concept was designed in close colaboration between the Aston Martin Design team led by Marek Reichman and Andrea Zagato and his dedicated design team in Milan. Developed and engineered at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, England the concept features proportions that remain quintessentially Aston Martin and emphasises a dynamic, forward-looking stance. 

The new bodywork is entirely shaped from carbon fibre, with the split lines on the body reduced by the use of large one-piece panels. New lights include round tail light reflectors that evoke the classic rear view of a Zagato design, incorporating the same 'bladed' LED technology as the Aston Martin Vulcan track-only supercar.

Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman said 'Over the years, we have developed and refined our own design language and we have always gone that little bit further with our special series cars like CC-100, One-77 and Aston Martin Vulcan. 

The Vanquish Zagato Concept shows how our two companies can come together and push the definition of Aston Martin design.'

'We pride ourselves on our strong partnership and the creation of the Vanquish Zagato Concept was a true shared experience,' says Zagato's CEO, Andrea Zagato, 'it represents the essence of an important design relationship that dates back over fifty years.'

Referencing elements of the brand’s contemporary design language, Vanquish Zagato Concept features One-77 inspired wing mirrors and a sculptural rear end similar to DB11's aerodynamic profile, complete with retractable spoiler and rear hatch for access to the luggage compartment.  

A quad-exhaust nestles in the rippling carbon fibre sills that run around the lower body, creating a pronounced line from front to rear.

The Vanquish Zagato Concept’s glasshouse wraps around the bodywork like a visor, enhancing its aggressive stance. A new evolution of the classic side strake runs from wheel arch to door just like the new DB11 and a detail originally showcased on the celebratory CC-100. 

A sharp crease on the rear wheel arch transforms into the rear flanks, where it meets the cascading roofline.

The roof features the iconic 'double-bubble', its shallow radius dipping into the rear window glass to give the car an unmistakeable rear silhouette. 

A Zagato trademark since the early 1950s, originally arose from the need to accommodate racing helmets with a minimum impact on the aerodynamic profile. To match the bold new exterior, the concepts normally aspirated V12 engine has been uprated to 600 PS, along with enhanced driving dynamics.

Inside, the Vanquish Zagato Concept embodies the fine tradition of Aston Martin craftsmanship, replete with many singular touches. Herringbone carbon fibre is paired with shadow and anodized bronze and aniline leather to give the facia, vents and rotary dials a rich material quality. 

The Vanquish Zagato Concept is also defined by the unique ‘Z’ quilt pattern stitch used on the seat and door sections, as well as the celebrated trademark Zagato ‘Z’ embossed on headrests and stitched into the centre console.

Acura will have the world Premier of the Acura Precision Concept, a look at the future of Acura Design.

Created by Acura's U.S. design team, Acura Precision Concept points to performance focus of future Acura design

Acura will unveil the Acura Precision Concept at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 12 at 8:00 am ET, the brand announced today. 

Created by the Acura Design Studio in California, the Acura Precision Concept will help set the direction for future Acura design; in particular, the next generation of performance-luxury sedans.

"The Acura Precision Concept will signal the stronger and sharper focus of Acura styling on our core DNA we call 'precision crafted performance'," said Dave Marek, global creative director for the Acura brand. 

"It is our intention to more strongly express performance through design and the Acura Precision Concept will serve as the inspiration for the styling and proportion of the next-generation of Acura vehicles, especially for our sedans."

Acura today also announced details of its launch plans for the next-generation NSX supercar, coming to market next spring. Acura is on track to post its fourth consecutive year of U.S. sales growth in 2015, and best sales since 2007, with sales up 6.9 percent through November.

Jaguar F-Type Shooting Brake Rendering Is Scorching Hot

Release the hounds, we have a hunt on our hands gentlemen! It’s hard to believe that we’d ever come to a point where shooting brakes are used to carry guns and brandy, but they do look positively scrumptious.

Every time a new convertible comes out, we come to the conclusion that it would look better as a shooting brake-style wagon. Despite all the begging and groveling we’ve done, Mazda hasn’t made one out of the MX-5, nor has Toyota delivered the cargo goods in the GT 86.

Jaguar’s F-Type Coupe has just received its big boot thanks to the photo shop skills of Theophilus Chin. It’s a sexy brute of a car, looking like a Ferrari FF for a quarter of the money.

Should it happen? Well, yes and no. It doesn’t look as cool as the Coupe, but perhaps the benefits on a long vacation outweigh the design flaws. There’s also the heritage to consider, but Jaguar already has a Shooting Brake in the F, so maybe they will do it.

Since we’re so undecided, we might as well ask you guys what you think, because if the demand is there, Jaguar will surely build any car.

TMW THOUGHTS

Should this car be made, damn YES, the F-Type is a stunning car in its own right, this rendering by Theophilus Chin shows how a shooting break would look, and this truly looks stunning, it has everything, from graceful lines, the Jaguar haunches along with the most beautiful face to grace a sports car for some while.

Now while this is the first of no doubt many photo shop SB's, i am in now doubt that Ian Callum and his highly talented team have already looked at this concept and made conceptual designs. The F-Type, is stunning, but it does lack space for, well, anything, its just got no storage to speak of, so this could easily address those issues, and to be honest of Ferrari can do a Shooting Break, when jaguar should most definitely do this.

REPORT HERE