Aston Martin cuts V12 Zagato production

Aston Martin has cut the number of V12 Zagato it plans to build from 150 to 101 – because, it argues, the cars take so long to hand-build.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato revealed

Each V12 Zagato, revealed a spokesman, takes over 2,000 hours to produce. Because of the “relatively limited window we have set ourselves in which to build V12 Zagato”, it means Aston simply doesn’t have the extra 98,000 man hours spare to produce the now-depleted 49 cars.

Speculators will, of course, argue that disappointing demand for the £400,000 car may also be behind Aston Martin’s decision, but the firm’s statement does seem convincing.

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Big developments at Aston Martin are mooted following the unveiling of the new Vanquish, set to debut the firm’s revised platform at the Paris Motor Show in September.

New Aston Martin Vanquish 2012

This will, it is hoped, form the basis of many more distinct Aston Martins in the future: its new carbon fibre bodywork production technique means the firm has the ability to differentiate much more distinctly between models.

There may also be entirely new model plans afoot: it has recently been revealed that Aston Martin is still working on its Lagonda SUV concept, first seen at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, for example.

The Aston Martin spokesman did add that orders for the V12 Zagato are still open, but “buyers should act pretty quickly if they want to ensure they get a build slot.”