Zagato’s latest creation, the AGTZ Twin Tail, made its debut at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed, showcasing a unique blend of modern innovation and classic design inspired by the Alpine A220 Le Mans racer of the 1960s. Partnering with La Squadra, Zagato has unveiled a limited run of just 18 examples of this Alpine A110-based special, with each commanding a price tag starting from €650,000 (approximately £557,000) before taxes.
Design Inspiration and Features
The Alpine A220 may not have the same level of fame as its contemporaries from Ferrari or Ford, but that didn’t deter Zagato from paying tribute to this iconic ’60s sports racer. The AGTZ Twin Tail is a coachbuilt masterpiece that draws design cues from the A220, featuring a meticulously modified body that exudes elegance and performance. While elements of the A110 can still be recognized in its design, virtually every body panel has undergone some level of transformation.
The Twin Tail boasts a lengthened nose with new cooling ducts reminiscent of the A220 Short Tail, along with bespoke headlights that add a touch of modernity to the classic design. The glasshouse and roofline of the A110 have been reshaped to resemble the original A220, with the most striking addition being the long tail that pays homage to the racing heritage of the past. What sets the Twin Tail apart is its versatility – the rear bodywork can be removed to convert it to Short Tail specification, offering buyers the best of both worlds.
Performance and Technical Specifications
While Zagato has kept performance figures and technical specifications under wraps, it’s known that the Twin Tail shares the same mid-mounted 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the A110. With the engine tuned to deliver 296bhp and 236lb ft of torque in its highest state, the Twin Tail is expected to offer a thrilling driving experience that matches its striking aesthetics. With a curb weight close to the A110’s approximate 1100kg, the Twin Tail may weigh slightly more due to the bodywork modifications, promising a blend of power and agility on the road.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a modern recreation of the A220, as Alpine itself drew inspiration from the model with its virtual Vision Gran Turismo concept in 2015. However, the Twin Tail stands out as a collaborative effort between Zagato and La Squadra, a Polish firm renowned for enhancing the ownership experience of prestigious automotive brands like Pagani, Koenigsegg, Bugatti, and Alpine. While Zagato spearheaded the design and development of the Twin Tail, La Squadra took on the roles of sales and marketing to ensure the success of this exclusive project.
Production and Future Prospects
Zagato plans to produce only 18 units of the Twin Tail globally, with production already underway and first deliveries scheduled to begin in October 2024. Each exemplar will bear a price tag starting from €650,000 (approximately £557,000) before taxes, making it a rare and sought-after collector’s item for automotive enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. As the automotive industry ushers in a new era of innovation and technology, the Twin Tail serves as a poignant reminder of the timeless allure of classic cars from the past, inspiring new generations to create their own stories and legends on the road.
Zagato CEO Andrea Zagato expressed the significance of preserving automotive heritage, stating, “As a new dawn for the automobile arrives, people wish to remind themselves of the past, and therefore the epic cars of the 1950s and ’60s. Stories of iconic cars from history simply must be told today. It is a crucial task if we are to inspire new generations to create their own stories. Without knowing the past, you cannot invent the future.” This sentiment encapsulates the essence of the Twin Tail – a fusion of heritage and innovation that embodies the spirit of automotive excellence.
In conclusion, the Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail represents a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, paying homage to the legendary Alpine A220 while showcasing cutting-edge design and engineering. With its limited production run, exquisite craftsmanship, and timeless appeal, the Twin Tail stands as a testament to Zagato’s dedication to crafting automotive masterpieces that transcend generations and captivate enthusiasts worldwide.