Zagato’s Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake is the world’s sleekest hatchback

By Stephen Edelstein Published September 8, 2014

Beginning with the 1960 DB4 GT, the collaboration between Aston Martin and Italian design studio Zagato has produced some amazing cars, and more than 50 years later, the two companies are still at it.

The Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake Zagato was unveiled at Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours d’Elegance in France, and is based on the short-lived Virage.

A tweaked DB9, the Virage lasted just one year. It probably would have stayed in showrooms longer if it looked like this.

Zagato ditched the current Aston Martin face in favor of a squared-off visage that resembles the 1990s Virage and, to an extent, Aston’s newly-minted Lagonda super sedan.

Related: Aston Martin DB9 replacement could be called DB11

The midsection is still recognizably DB9-Virage, but the rear end sports what may be the world’s sleekest hatchback. This two-door wagon body style is what makes the Virage Zagato a “Shooting Brake.”

Zagato didn’t reveal any mechanical upgrades, but the stock Virage packed the same 6.0-liter V12 used in every other current Aston, producing 480 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.

The Shooting Brake completes a trilogy of recent Zagato Aston Martin projects, along with the DBS Coupe Zagato Centennial and DB9 Spider Zagato Centennial, both of which celebrated Aston’s 100th anniversary.

All three cars were built for individual buyers and won’t enter series production, but with a second Italian styling house (after Bertone) rendering a shooting brake, maybe Aston will eventually build one itself.

Stephen Edelstein

Former Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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