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Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato set to dazzle Villa d'Este

Aston Martin and iconic Italian design house Zagato teamed up to create a striking carbon-fiber-bodied concept set to debut at a glitzy concours on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, this weekend. The Vanquish Zagato will be on display at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, marking the fifth time that Aston and Zagato have collaborated on a car over five decades, beginning with the DB4 GT Zagato in 1960. The Vanquish Zagato concept has taillights that use traditional Zagato styling, but also use the bladed LED technology from the Vulcan supercar. The rear styling evokes the DB11 and features a quad-exhaust system and retractable rear spoiler. A carbon-fiber sill runs around the body. The roof has a double-bubble profile that's a hallmark of Zagato design that dates to the 1950s. The cabin is loaded with more carbon fiber and leathers, and the seats have a Z quilted stitch pattern with more Zs in the headrests and the center console. Power comes from a naturally aspirated V12 uprated to 592 horsepower. "We pride ourselves on our strong partnership, and the creation of the Vanquish Zagato concept was a true shared experience," Zagato CEO Andrea Zagato said in a statement. "It represents the essence of an important design relationship that dates back over 50 years." Related Video: Featured Gallery Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato View 10 Photos Design/Style Aston Martin Coupe Performance Supercars aston martin vanquish concorso deleganza villa deste aston martin vanquish zagato

Aston Martin considering US plant for DBX production

Aston Martin could be the next foreign automaker to begin production in the United States, according to the latest report from the Financial Times. The British automaker is reportedly considering a number of possibilities to handle assembly of the production version of the DBX crossover concept presented in March. Among them is the prospect of building a new plant in a Southern state like South Carolina or Tennessee, which could bring with it significant tax breaks and other incentives that would ease the process and make it financially attractive. Aston's main plant at Gaydon, UK, is reportedly nearing capacity as the company ramps up production, with a series of new models on the way. It moved production of the Rapide, its only model produced overseas, back to Gaydon in 2012 after it was initially handled off-site by Magna Steyr in Austria. That doesn't mean that the US proposal will necessary get the nod, though. Another possibility Aston is considering is taking over the former Jaguar facility at Browns Lane in nearby Coventry. The DBX concept was unveiled as an electric crossover coupe at the Geneva Motor Show last month, showing the way forward for the brand. The production version is expected to adopt a more conventional setup with four proper doors and an internal-combustion engine.

Aston Martin may have filed a trademark for a new logo [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Aston Martin did indeed file a trademark for the logo below, but company CEO Andy Palmer has confirmed it will be used for merchandise and won't replace the classic winged logo on cars. Here's Palmer's tweet: For those who reached out, we have no intention to remove/change the Aston Martin Wings.This logo is for merchandise https://t.co/iWdejAwO00 — Andy Palmer (@AndyatAston) January 23, 2017 "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours." Those words were spoken by Cary Elwes in the classic 1987 film The Princess Bride. Or, if you prefer, they were written by William Goldman in his book from 1973 by the same name. Either way, it doesn't matter. The point is, there aren't many things in this world that are perfect, and that have stood the test of time without alteration. The Aston Martin logo is one of those rare things. Apparently, Aston Martin filed a trademark application for a new logo. You can see it below. It's unclear where this design might make an appearance. If it's on pens, watches, or some other non-vehicular form, that's fine. If it's on the bonnet of a new supercar rolling down the line at Aston's plant in Gaydon, well... that's another matter entirely. Please, Aston Martin, your logo is perfect and has stood the test of time. Don't even think about changing it. Related Video: