AGTZ Twin : In the rarefied world of coachbuilding, few names carry the weight and history of Zagato. The Italian design house, founded in 1919, has long been synonymous with automotive artistry that transcends mere transportation. Their latest creation, the AGTZ Twin Tail, represents not just another limited-production supercar, but a thoughtful bridge between motorsport history and contemporary design philosophy. This stunning vehicle pays homage to the iconic Alpine A220, a French racing marvel that captured imaginations in the late 1960s, while establishing its own distinctive identity in today’s automotive landscape.
The Birth of a Modern Classic
The story behind the AGTZ Twin Tail begins not in Italy, but in the minds of collectors who appreciate both automotive history and innovative design. Zagato has always operated at this intersection, creating vehicles that reference the past while pushing boldly into the future.
“We didn’t want to simply recreate the Alpine A220,” explains Andrea Zagato, grandson of founder Ugo Zagato and current CEO of the company. “That would be too literal, too simple. Instead, we wanted to capture its spirit—the daring engineering, the distinctive proportions, and especially that unforgettable twin-tail design—and reimagine it for the 21st century.”
The result is nothing short of breathtaking. The AGTZ Twin Tail emerges as a thoroughly modern supercar that nevertheless carries unmistakable DNA from its French racing inspiration. The process took nearly three years from concept to completion, involving countless hours of design work, aerodynamic testing, and engineering refinement.
“Each car we create tells a story,” Andrea continues. “With the Twin Tail, we’re telling the story of Alpine’s brave experimentation in the golden age of endurance racing, but we’re telling it in our own language, with our own aesthetic vocabulary.”
The Alpine A220: An Endurance Racing Pioneer
To understand the AGTZ Twin Tail fully, one must first appreciate its inspiration. The Alpine A220 debuted in 1968 as Alpine’s ambitious entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Designed by Jean-Claude Guenard under the direction of Alpine founder Jean Rédélé, the A220 represented the pinnacle of French motorsport engineering at the time.
The car featured a lightweight fiberglass body wrapped around a tubular space frame chassis, powered by a Gordini-tuned 3.0-liter V8 engine mounted amidships. But what truly distinguished the A220 was its aerodynamic profile—particularly its distinctive twin-tail configuration, designed to maximize downforce at high speeds on the Mulsanne Straight.
Despite its innovative design and promising performance, the A220 program was plagued by reliability issues. None of the A220s that competed at Le Mans in 1968 and 1969 finished the race. Nevertheless, the car achieved cult status among motorsport enthusiasts for its ambitious design and spectacular appearance.
Malcolm Wilson, a vintage racing enthusiast and owner of one of the few remaining original A220s, explains the car’s enduring appeal: “The A220 represents a fascinating moment in motorsport history. It was revolutionary but flawed—a beautiful experiment that didn’t quite succeed on track but succeeded enormously in capturing people’s imaginations. You can see why Zagato would be drawn to it as an inspiration.”
Zagato’s Design Philosophy
The partnership between Alpine’s history and Zagato’s design sensibility seems, in retrospect, almost inevitable. Both companies have deep roots in motorsport, both value lightweight construction and innovative aerodynamics, and both have produced vehicles that defy conventional categorization.
Zagato’s approach to coachbuilding has always emphasized what they call “functional beauty”—the notion that a car’s aesthetic appeal should emerge naturally from its engineering requirements rather than being imposed upon them. This philosophy aligns perfectly with the original ethos behind the Alpine A220.
“At Zagato, we don’t believe in decoration for its own sake,” says Franz Hilmer, Zagato’s chief designer. “Every line, every curve must serve a purpose. The twin tails of the original A220 weren’t there to look distinctive—although they certainly did that—they were there to create downforce. Our approach with the AGTZ follows the same principle. The form follows function, but we ensure the function creates beautiful forms.”
This commitment to functional beauty is evident throughout the AGTZ Twin Tail. The sculpted side intakes channel air not just for dramatic effect but to feed the mid-mounted powerplant. The distinctive double-bubble roof—a Zagato signature since the 1950s—provides additional headroom while reducing frontal area. And of course, the twin tails themselves generate significant downforce while creating the car’s most recognizable visual feature.
Technical Specifications and Performance
The AGTZ Twin Tail is built around a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, with carbon fiber body panels throughout. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 634 kW (850 horsepower) and 800 Nm of torque. This prodigious output reaches the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission developed specifically for the car.
Performance figures are suitably impressive: 0-100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, a top speed of 345 km/h, and lateral acceleration exceeding 1.2 g. But Zagato insists that the AGTZ Twin Tail was never conceived as a numbers car.
“We weren’t chasing specific performance targets,” explains Paolo Bazzoni, Zagato’s engineering director. “Of course, the car needed to be fast—that’s fundamental to its character. But we were more concerned with how it delivers that performance, the sensations it creates for the driver, the connection it establishes between human and machine.”
This approach is reflected in the car’s dynamic setup, which prioritizes driver engagement over outright lap times. The AGTZ Twin Tail uses a fully adjustable pushrod suspension system with double wishbones front and rear. The steering is hydraulically assisted rather than electric, providing unfiltered feedback to the driver’s hands.
“We could have made it faster around a track by using more aggressive aerodynamics and a more computerized interface,” Bazzoni admits. “But that wouldn’t have been true to the spirit of the original A220, which was raw and demanding. The AGTZ is a more refined experience, certainly, but it still requires skill and attention to drive well.”
A Limited Production Masterpiece
As with all Zagato creations, the AGTZ Twin Tail will be produced in extremely limited numbers. Just 19 examples will be built, a nod to the founding year of Zagato (1919). Each car is priced at €1.7 million (approximately AUD 2.8 million), and all were sold before the car was publicly unveiled—a testament to Zagato’s prestige among collectors.
“Our clients aren’t just buying a car,” Andrea Zagato notes. “They’re buying a piece of automotive art, a rolling sculpture that happens to deliver extraordinary performance. They’re also buying entry into a very exclusive club. Zagato owners tend to form strong bonds with each other, united by their appreciation for what we do.”
The exclusivity extends beyond the limited production numbers. Each AGTZ Twin Tail is extensively customizable, with buyers able to specify unique color combinations, interior materials, and even subtle modifications to the bodywork to ensure their car is truly one-of-a-kind.
“No two examples will be identical,” confirms Norihiko Harada, Zagato’s customization specialist. “We work closely with each client to create a car that reflects their personality while remaining true to our design vision. It’s a collaborative process that can take many months, but the result is something truly special.”
The Australian Connection
While the AGTZ Twin Tail’s Italian-French heritage might seem removed from Australian shores, there are surprising connections between this exclusive hypercar and the land down under. Two of the 19 production slots have been secured by Australian collectors, making our country disproportionately represented in the ownership circle.
One of these Australian buyers is James Harrington, a Sydney-based property developer and longtime motorsport enthusiast. “I’ve followed Zagato’s work for decades,” Harrington explains via telephone interview. “Their collaboration with Aston Martin produced some of my favorite cars ever made. When I heard they were creating something inspired by the Alpine A220—a car I’ve admired since seeing one at Goodwood Revival years ago—I knew I had to be involved.”
Australia also played a small but significant role in the development of the AGTZ Twin Tail. Some of the aerodynamic testing was conducted using the advanced wind tunnel facilities at Monash University in Melbourne, where Zagato engineers worked alongside Australian aerodynamicists to refine the car’s complex airflow management systems.
Professor Helen Zhang, who heads Monash’s Aerodynamic Research Center, recalls the collaboration fondly: “It was fascinating to work with Zagato’s team. They brought this beautiful blend of artistry and engineering to the project. Most automotive aerodynamicists focus purely on numbers—coefficient of drag, downforce figures, that sort of thing. The Zagato people certainly cared about those metrics, but they were equally concerned with how the air visibly flowed over the bodywork, the visual drama of the aerodynamics.”
The Coachbuilding Renaissance
The AGTZ Twin Tail emerges at a time when traditional coachbuilding is experiencing something of a renaissance. After decades when mass production techniques dominated the automotive industry, recent years have seen renewed interest in bespoke, handcrafted vehicles created for the most discerning collectors.
This trend has been driven partly by economics—the unprecedented concentration of wealth among ultra-high-net-worth individuals has created a customer base willing and able to commission unique automotive creations—and partly by technology, as advanced design software and manufacturing techniques have made low-volume production more viable than ever before.
“Twenty years ago, creating a car like the AGTZ Twin Tail would have been prohibitively expensive,” Andrea Zagato acknowledges. “The engineering costs alone would have made it impossible as a nineteen-unit production run. But today, with computational fluid dynamics replacing some physical testing, with 3D printing allowing us to create complex components without expensive tooling, the economics make more sense.”
This technological evolution hasn’t diminished the human element in Zagato’s work, however. “We still shape clay models by hand,” Hilmer points out. “We still have master craftspeople forming aluminum panels with traditional techniques. The technology supports the human creativity rather than replacing it.”
The Future of Automotive Artistry
As the automotive industry undergoes its greatest transformation since the invention of the assembly line—with electrification, autonomy, and connectivity reshaping the very concept of what a car is—companies like Zagato occupy an interesting position. They simultaneously preserve traditional craftsmanship while exploring how new technologies can enable fresh expressions of automotive design.
The AGTZ Twin Tail, with its internal combustion engine and driver-focused philosophy, might seem like a celebration of automotive tradition rather than a glimpse of the future. But Andrea Zagato sees it differently.
“Of course, we recognize that the industry is changing,” he says. “And Zagato will change with it—we’re already exploring concepts for coachbuilt electric vehicles. But what won’t change is our commitment to creating cars that stir the emotions, that connect with people on a level beyond mere transportation. Whether the power comes from petrol or electricity, that fundamental mission remains the same.”
This perspective suggests that vehicles like the AGTZ Twin Tail aren’t the last gasps of a dying tradition but rather bridges between automotive past and future—cars that honor history while acknowledging the inevitable evolution of the form.
A Driving Experience Like No Other
Few journalists have been granted the opportunity to experience the AGTZ Twin Tail from behind the wheel, but those who have describe a driving experience that blends vintage character with modern capability.
“It’s an extraordinary machine,” writes Paolo Tumminelli, the respected Italian automotive journalist, after a test drive in Sardinia. “There’s a directness to the controls that recalls sports cars of the 1960s, but with a precision and capability that’s thoroughly contemporary. The engine dominates the experience—not just through its prodigious power but through its voice, a complex symphony that ranges from bass rumble to tenor shriek as the revs build.”
The interior continues this theme of traditional craftsmanship enhanced by modern technology. The cabin is trimmed in hand-stitched leather and brushed aluminum, with minimal digital displays. The driver faces a large central tachometer flanked by analog gauges for oil pressure, water temperature, and fuel level. A small digital screen provides additional information but can be dimmed or switched off entirely for a more focused driving experience.
“We wanted to create a cockpit, not an office,” explains Hilmer. “The emphasis is on the primary controls—steering wheel, pedals, gearshift—with everything else subordinate to them. There’s no head-up display, no drive mode selector with twenty different settings. Just the essentials, beautifully crafted.”
The Sound of History
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the driving experience is the AGTZ Twin Tail’s exhaust note. Zagato worked with acoustic engineers to develop a sound that references the distinctive wail of the original Alpine A220’s Gordini V8 while meeting modern noise regulations.
The result is a multi-layered soundtrack that changes character dramatically throughout the rev range. At idle, there’s a purposeful burble that hints at the power in reserve. As the revs build, the note hardens into a purposeful snarl before culminating in a high-pitched shriek near the 8,500 rpm redline.
“The sound was absolutely critical to the character of the car,” insists Bazzoni. “We spent almost as much time tuning the acoustics as we did the suspension. A car like this needs to create drama for all the senses—visual, tactile, and especially auditory.”
This attention to the sensory experience extends beyond sound. The AGTZ Twin Tail uses specially developed Pirelli tires with a compound formulated to maximize feedback to the driver. The gearshift mechanism was redesigned numerous times to achieve precisely the right mechanical action. Even the leather for the steering wheel underwent multiple treatments to find the optimal texture and grip.
More Than a Supercar
The AGTZ Twin Tail exists in a rarefied category of automobiles that transcend conventional classification. It’s not merely a supercar, though its performance certainly qualifies it as one. It’s not simply a homage, though it clearly honors the Alpine A220 that inspired it. And it’s not just a collector’s item, though its limited production and hand-crafted nature make it inherently collectible.
Perhaps the most accurate description is the one offered by Andrea Zagato himself: “It’s a rolling manifestation of automotive passion—passion for design, for engineering, for history, and for the pure joy of driving. Every decision we made in creating the Twin Tail was guided by that passion.”
In an era when cars increasingly risk becoming commoditized transportation appliances, the AGTZ Twin Tail stands as a compelling counterargument—a reminder that automobiles can still be objects of desire that engage our emotions as powerfully as any work of art.
For the fortunate nineteen who will own an AGTZ Twin Tail, including the two Australian collectors, the car represents not just an investment or a status symbol but a tangible connection to automotive history reimagined for the present day. For the rest of us, it offers something different but no less valuable: proof that in the right hands, the art of coachbuilding remains as vibrant and relevant as ever.
As the automotive world races toward an uncertain future, the AGTZ Twin Tail reminds us to appreciate the journey as much as the destination—a fitting legacy for a car inspired by one of endurance racing’s most beautiful challengers.