In a world where cars have become increasingly homogenized, designed by committees and shaped in wind tunnels, there occasionally appears something so outlandish, so utterly unique, that it stops you in your tracks. The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake is exactly that kind of car - a magnificent anomaly in an age of conformity. Imagine if Michelangelo and Enzo Ferrari had a child, and that child decided to design a grocery-getter. That's essentially what we're looking at here - one of just 99 examples ever built, a car so rare that spotting one in the wild is about as likely as finding a unicorn in your local supermarket car park. The Shooting Brake variant is perhaps the most intriguing of the Vanquish Zagato family, which also includes the Coupe, Volante, and Speedster. It's what happens when someone looks at a sleek, powerful GT car and thinks, "Yes, but could I fit a labrador in the back?" It's gloriously, unashamedly contradictory - a 595-horsepower dog carrier, a practical vehicle that does 0-60 in under 3 seconds, a family car that costs the same as a decent-sized house in most parts of the country. 1 0f 99 Vanquish Shooting Brake: Interior & The Zagato Touch What makes a Zagato special isn't just its rarity - it's the unmistakable design language that sets it apart from even the standard Aston Martins (which are themselves hardly common sights). The "double-bubble" roof, originally designed in the 1950s to accommodate racing drivers' helmets, has become the Italian coachbuilder's signature feature. On the Shooting Brake, this element extends rearward, flowing into an elongated roofline that somehow manages to look elegant rather than awkward. The carbon fiber bodywork is a masterclass in the art of automobile design. Every panel is a one-piece affair, giving the car a seamless appearance that production vehicles simply cannot match. The front grille - wider and more aggressive than the standard Vanquish - dominates the front end, while those "blade" LED taillights borrowed from the Vulcan hypercar ensure that even as you're being comprehensively outrun by this British-Italian hybrid, you'll at least have something pretty to look at. We were fortunate enough to see a similar example at Sotheby's December auction at the Emirates Golf Club, and I can confirm that photographs simply don't do these cars justice. There's a presence to them that can't be captured on camera - a three-dimensional quality to the sculpted flanks and aggressively proportioned haunches that needs to be experienced in person. It's like seeing a famous painting in a museum after only having viewed reproductions - suddenly, you understand what all the fuss is about. 1 0f 99 Vanquish Shooting Brake: Engine, Powertrain, & Performance Of course, a Zagato isn't just about the aesthetics. Under that sculpted carbon fiber bonnet lies Aston Martin's magnificent 6.0-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine, producing 595 horsepower and 697 Nm of torque. In an era of downsized, turbocharged engines, there's something gloriously old-school about a massive, naturally breathing twelve-cylinder powerplant. The power is sent to the rear wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission, propelling this practical art installation to 100 km/h in approximately 2.85 seconds, with a top speed of 340 km/h. These are ridiculous numbers for any car, let alone one designed to accommodate both passengers and luggage. Inside, the cabin manages to blend Aston Martin's traditional craftsmanship with Zagato's distinctive touches. The herringbone carbon fiber trim is complemented by aniline leather of the highest quality, while the unique 'Z' quilt pattern stitched into the seats and door panels serves as a reminder that this is no ordinary Aston. The Zagato 'Z' embossed on the headrests and stitched into the center console completes the effect - subtle branding for those who know what they're looking at. 1 0f 99 Vanquish Shooting Brake: Price and Exclusivity Let's be clear - the Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake is not for everyone. At AED 2,799,999 (approximately $760,000), it's firmly in the realm of those who don't need to check their bank balance before making a purchase. Its brown exterior and interior - unconventional choices for a supercar - further underscore that this is a vehicle for those who march to the beat of their own drum. Some might question the practicality of a two-door shooting brake with limited rear headroom, or wonder about the wisdom of paying three times the price of a standard Vanquish for what is, mechanically speaking, largely the same car. These are valid points, and they entirely miss what makes this car special. The Vanquish Zagato isn't about rational decision-making or value propositions. It's about emotion, about craftsmanship, about owning something truly unique. It's a beautiful work of art that happens to have an engine and four wheels. You don't buy one because you need transportation - you buy one because it stirs something within you, because it represents the pinnacle of two storied automotive brands collaborating at the height of their powers. In a world increasingly dominated by autonomous driving features and electric powertrains, cars like the Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake serve as reminders of what the automobile can be at its most expressive. It's not practical, it's not sensible, and it's certainly not affordable - but then again, neither is a Picasso, and people seem to appreciate those well enough. I own a beautiful example of a 2009 DB9, and that thing gives me a headache every time I turn it on. But there’s just something about it. And there’s just that (something) about any Aston really. Given that the company is bleeding cash at the rate of about 1.5 million GBP a day, this is probably one of the last “proper Astons” that we’ll see. Before the company comes up with a cash grab SUV version 2 that is.
