Zagato has always had close ties with the Villa D’Este Concours d’Elegance, and next weekend, for the 2006 edition, it will be no different as 10 Zagato models will be taking in the classic and concept categories, headlined by the world première of the 575 GTZ which is set to be the star of the show.

“The Zagato brand has close ties with the Villa D’Este Concours d’Elegance as it was here that we celebrated our 85th Anniversary in 2004, with 50 different models dating from 1927 to 2004. This year, 10 Zagatos will be taking part at Villa D’Este, out of a total of 65 competing classic and concept cars," says Andrea Zagato.

"Zagato has always been distinguished for the sporting elegance of its motor cars, created for gentleman drivers who wished to race at the weekend and use the car on the road during the rest of the week: ultra light bodywork and sleek lines matched with simple yet extremely elegant interiors. This vocation has earned the brand major accolades for 'design coherence in a functional key' which, since 1919, has defined its history (such as, among others, two Compasso d’Oro awards for design awarded in 1960 and 2000).

"Functionalism, rationalism and minimalism are not adjectives usually associated with a Concours d’Elegance, where chrome, ornamentation, embroidery and colour schemes are the order of the day, as they are believed to be more in keeping with classical concepts of elegance. In contrast, sporting elegance is more strictly bound to simple forms, to a focus on volumes rather than details and on the purpose for which the car is designed. As Ferrari said: “the winning car is the most beautiful”.
 

"Zagato cars now command some of the highest prices in the collectors’ world. While this is in part due to the extensive use of aluminium and the very limited production runs typical of true craftsmanship, it is also in recognition of their functional coherence. Zagato has almost never “added art to industry” or, in other words, made use of Applied Art. Rationalism together with typically Lombard, Germanic thinking and Applied Art, with typically Piedmontese thinking of French origin are two complementary philosophies worthy of the same historical merit and are expressions of the most celebrated names in Italian design. In this context, the Zagato brand has expressed the concept of sports elegance since 1919, with a uniquely Lombard functionalist/rationalist approach.

"Zagato is a world renowned atelier as it is an expression of Italian excellence in the creation of exclusive motor cars in extremely limited production runs: from 9 to 99 units. An atelier in the Third Millennium must be able to reconcile time honoured workshop expertise, acquired over almost 90 years of coachbuilding for the most prestigious car manufacturers, with state of the art design and development technologies. Zagato cars are conceived on the designer’s drawing board, then developed using the most advanced rendering systems available, and are finally hand beaten and finished by expert panel beaters. The true strength of the brand today is its ability to complement the age old coachbuilder’s art with today’s highly valued role of designer, but it is also its ability to dialogue with its clients, who are no longer gentleman drivers but collectors and car manufacturers.

"Two months ago at Geneva, we surprised almost everyone by presenting a 1956 Ferrari 250 GTZ on our stand, rated as the tenth most sought after car amongst collectors and, perhaps, the most valuable car in the show. Until now, no details have been released regarding our latest car, except for the fact that it is destined for a famous Japanese Ferrari collector. Your press pack contains the first official photo of the car together with its proud owner.

"At Villa d’Este, the Ferrari 575 GTZ will be making its debut. The car, commissioned by Mr. Hayashi, is inspired by the 1956 250 GTZ, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The bold decision not to present the car at the Geneva show was made in light of the fact that a true handcrafted gem such as this Ferrari Zagato would be in its ideal element at Villa d’Este. This is also a tribute to the rebirth of the Italian Concours d’Elegance which, it is my sincere hope, will be repeated over the years to come," concludes Andrea Zagato.