Inspired by a classic Le Mans racer, the AGTZ Twin Tail will be limited to just 19 examples
February 21, 2024 at 15:33
Italian coachbuilder Zagato has unveiled its latest project, a modified version of the Renault group’s Alpine A110 sports cars that is inspired by one of the brand’s oft-forgotten racecars from the 1960s. Limited to just 19 examples, the AGTZ Twin Tail cashes in on the recent obsession with long-tail supercars, while adding its own twist that is inspired by history.
From the picture above, it’s easy to see why the new car is called the “Twin Tail.” The model is sold with a removable carbon fiber appendage that the owner can install to give it a dramatic long-tail silhouette, or they can leave it in their garage if they want to make parking easier.
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The unique feature is more than just an aesthetic complication, though. Zagato says it is inspired by the Alpine A220, a long-tail racecar that was designed with a view to winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, it never achieved its lofty goal and, in an effort to earn some silverware, Alpine cut the tail off one example (chassis 1731) and sent it out to compete in hill climbs and other competition, which ended up allowing the car to earn some podium positions.
While the majority of the attention belongs to the unique rear end, Zagato has, of course, modified other parts of the car, too. The standard Alpine A110’s grille and headlights have been reworked, and a new inlet has been added at the rear haunches. The side window also features an upturned lower edge, a bit like the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato, and the roof has been reworked to give it a subtle double-bubble shape.
Unfortunately, Zagato has not yet shared performance specifications, nor has it revealed if the Alpine A110’s 1.8-liter engine will be modified. However, the standard model produces 252 hp (188 kW/255 PS), while the top-of-the-line A110 R generates 297 hp (221 kW/301 PS). Although delivering exciting performance will certainly be a focus, CEO Andrea Zagato emphasizes that, like the coachbuilder’s other vehicles, the AGTZ Twin Tail is intended to be a grand tourer, not a racecar like its inspirational predecessor.
The Alpine A220 from the late 1960s
“Zagato was always a Grand Touring coachbuilder, producing cars capable of racing but which you could use every day on the road or grace a Concours of Elegance lawn with,” he said. “This is the reason behind the name ‘AGTZ’ and the mission of our project.”
Limited to just 19 examples, Zagato says that the order books for the AGTZ Twin Tail are filling up fast despite its loft price tag of €650,000 (around US$703,200 at current exchange rates). The new Zagato model will make its physical debut in May, in Lake Como, Italy, and deliveries are expected to begin in October 2024.