Stunning cars and haute couture go together well. This apt observation is perfectly proved by the Concours d’Elégance held at Chantilly. Among attractions of the forthcoming edition, presentation of the AGTZ Twin Tail will take place, also featuring some fashion the car has inspired.
It is going to be 10th time already that the astounding Château de Chantilly, situated north of Paris, just 25 minutes by train from the French capital, will host the event known as Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille. This exceptional elegance show and competition, attracting classic cars owners and the most prominent brands of luxury as well as sports vehicles, brings automotive treasures together with the world of fashion which has been one of national symbols for France. Each event is concluded by Sunday parade where cars are admired accompanied by presentations of the world’s top fashion designers.
This year’s feast of the motoring at the grounds of the Château de Chantilly will start on Thursday 12th of September and will last four days. True stars of the 2024 edition will include the AGTZ Twin Tail born from collaboration between La Squadra and Zagato – as well as Alpine A220 from 1968, in short tail guise. Next to both cars, fashion they have inspired will be presented: gowns by Vionnet Paris fashion house. Designers of that legendary brand, dating back to 1912, have fittingly prepared both “long tail” and “short tail” versions of their gowns, thus aptly reflecting the idea that underpins the innovative AGTZ Twin Tail.
The innovative collaboration between the iconic French Haute Couture brand Vionnet Paris and the renowned automotive Atelier Zagato comes to life thanks to their established relationship within the ChimHaeres group. The new project, the AGTZ Twin Tail car, created by Zagato in collaboration with La Squadra, offers an unparalleled opportunity to build a partnership with Vionnet Paris that is a perfect match. This collaboration is a testament to their common values — heritage, high craftsmanship and a visionary spirit. Together, they are highlighting the pinnacle of excellence and creativity in both fashion and automotive design.
(photo: Mathieu Bonnevie/Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille)
Over the second weekend of July the Goodwood House estate in England has turned into the key point on the global automotive map. Goodwood Festival of Speed is a grand feat for any passionate of cars and other vehicles. Highlights of this year’s edition included the first-ever official running of AGTZ Twin Tail – the one-off model co-created by La Squadra dealership group based in Katowice, Poland, and Milan-based Zagato design atelier. The car was driven by Polish racing drivers.
Since its first edition back in 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed has grown up to become one of the greatest events of the automotive world. Starting as an informal petrolheads’ picnic, it has turned into a splendid arena for debuts of new models and spectacular outings of priceless historical gems. One thing that really distinguishes the festival is that all the machinery presented here are not just standing still: instead, they are presented dynamically, running over the 1.9 km long route of the former hill climb, outlined across the grounds of the Goodwood House estate belonging to the event founder, Earl of March. The annual Festival of Speed combines the most refined face of the automotive world with high-end style of the British social élite and with art to match, represented by majestic sculptures of Gerry Judah – always a new one, purpose-made for each subsequent edition of the festival. The feast attracts as many as 150 thousands spectators and the action taking place, once photographed and filmed, goes straight into the annals of the history of global motoring.
The Polish trace
One of the key attractions of this year’s edition was the dynamic launch of the AGTZ Twin Tail: a one-off creation of the visionary dealership group La Squadra from Katowice and the oldest surviving Italian carrozzeria, designing and manufacturing car bodies to individual orders: Milan-based Atelier Zagato, founded in 1919. Their joint breakthrough project sets trail for the creation of collector’s cars where the dealer becomes the initiator and supervisor of the creative process. The very form of the work is no less revolutionary as it comes with two alternative rear bodywork sections: long- and short-tail, depending on the demands of any given route or on the owner’s fancy. The latter one is free to fix the long tail whenever he likes – it only takes one person, a few minutes and some tools included in the set to complete the easy transforming operation.
With this unprecedented solution, the car has a story to tell: one about a historical vehicle, protagonist of motorsport chronicles, that had become inspiration for the Polish-Italian project. The car was Alpine A220 from 1968 that enjoyed most of its success in competition after a radical decision was made to have its aerodynamic long rear end shortened by 30 cm. It was after the modification that it began to collect remarkable results in rallying and hill climbs – not unlike the one being the setting for the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This car, almost sixty years old now and kept in its original condition, accompanied the new AGTZ Twin Tail during its virgin runs of the route.
The dynamic launch of the AGTZ Twin Tail in Goodwood has also been a follow-up to the model’s successful European tour that has begun with its private show at the Atelier Zagato in Milan and then a public presentation at FuoriConcorso on the Lake Como. Further stops of the tour included a British Supercar Driver Secret Meet at the Silverstone racetrack, and at Heveningham Hall concours of elegance. Therefore, whereas it was the car’s artistic facet that could be admired so far – as a sculpture on four wheels, mobile but held static – the event at Goodwood House estate allowed the AGTZ Twin Tail to finally also reveal its dynamic competence. And the latter one is notable, thanks to the car’s race-bred construction, featuring a unitary carbon fibre chassis driven by mid-mounted engine delivering 300 hp. Over four days of the Festival of Speed in Sussex, England, the car was driven by several Polish motorsport drivers. Gosia Rdest, recently competing in the Alpine Cup Series, was one of them.
Quotes
The opportunity to run as a driver at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024 has to be seen as tremendous distinction and one of my life’s greatest dreams that now I can reckon come true. Indeed, I found myself within a privileged group of the world’s most famous racing drivers and reveal, next to them, the capabilities of one of the present market’s most spectacular new models. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an event for fans of motorsport, but not only. Along with the emotions of the hill climb competition, this is also the place of the launch of road-going models, meetings of the most prominent constructors and dealers in the global automotive industry. This exceptional atmosphere can be felt all the time – being there you just sense it. For the entire weekend the AGTZ Twin Tail attracted the attention of automotive experts and admirers of technical beauty. The car’s joint runs in the company of the Alpine A220 have proven that even a seemingly half-forgotten history can be revived, can enjoy a breath of new life and rightly get back to the spotlight. As far as concerns the driving, the job done on the car’s suspension and exhaust system brought impressive effects. The AGTZ Twin Tail proved to be one of the best-sounding vehicles on the hill climb route which really is quite a feat considering how formidable the competition was. The way it handled also has to be judged really at the level of pure racing cars: the chassis worked phenomenally along the twisty, technical, demanding section of road. The route is famous for excusing no mistakes with its narrow, insidious tarmac, at places covered with fallen leaves and scattered hay. As usual, this year’s edition again saw a couple of crashed cars. This put a serious pressure, both upon me and the AGTZ Twin Tail, however the car behaved impeccably. With its extremely lightweight structure and very direct, immediate reactions, it allows its driver to feel as one with the machine. This was an experience I am going to hold dear forever.
Gosia Rdest.
The production of the AGTZ Twin Tail takes place as an edition strictly limited to 19 cars for the world’s most respected automotive collectors. The first models, featuring the hand-built at Atelier Zagato, will find their way to customers as soon as this October.
From design sketches to static debut in 12 months. AGTZ Twin Tail is dynamic in every sense of the word, taking the style and swagger of a 1960s racing icon and transforming it into a modern-day celebration of coachbuilding.
Dedicated use of carbonfibre sees its weight cling closely to that of an A110, while improved aerodynamics target a top speed beyond 250km/h (155mph). Just 19 examples will be made, with their paint, trim and wheels all customisable. Prices start at €650,000 euros before taxes.
This is no novelty pastiche – AGTZ Twin Tail is a thoroughly modern GT car unafraid to continue the legend of its forebears in theatrical style. Combining the nous of La Squadra with the delicate hands of Zagato, it unites our collective knowledge and multinational cultures by clothing A110, a modern-day mid-engine icon, in a dramatic new suit.
Only the close-knit combination of our collective talents could create such a dynamic design, a piece of art that can be sensationally transformed by its removable rear bodywork. The tailored elegance of a longtail or the muscular punch of a shorttail – with our trailblazing AGTZ Twin Tail, the choice is unequivocally yours. Limited to just 19 truly special cars, our collaboration enjoys its world premiere at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May 2024.
The A220 central to our inspiration shifted the goalposts without fear. An attitude we’re delighted to replicate over 50 years later. The wonderful world of coachbuilding enters a bold new era, traversing a new automotive landscape where design diversity and truly provocative styling will be the key barometers.
Celebrating its racecar ancestor’s legacy is a unique proposition, a modern GT car that melds two designs into one. The gorgeous profile and stunning aerodynamic intent of the original A220 longtail lives on. Sitting beneath it, full of latent potential, is an ode to the muscular A220 shorttail.
AGTZ Twin Tail – one unforgettable car telling two arresting stories.
The transformation is no longer destructive; it’s repeatable on the owner’s whim with the uniquely removable longtail ready to enliven their garage as a piece of exquisite automotive sculpture when they opt to travel in shorttail mode.
But one car stands proud.
Motor racing’s most beautiful designs aren’t always the biggest winners. They are born of dreamers; engineers and designers taking a flight of fancy to push boundaries and free their most ambitious ideas. While stopping short of being a beautiful failure, the A220’s sporting record doesn’t quite match its movie star looks. But one car stands proud.
Chassis #1731 is that car. When the A220 missed its lofty target of 24H Le Mans victory, its designers committed a wilful act of destruction to carve out something beautiful, slicing its bodywork to create a 30cm-shorter tail. This lither design refocused the car’s attention on shorter circuits and rally stages. Podium finishes quickly followed and while they could not prolong the car’s life, they underlined its place in the history books. A place we’re thrilled to revisit.
But one car stands proud.
It’s entirely fitting we make a respectful nod to the car which kickstarted our creative journey. Among the striking aesthetic options for its trailblazing Twin Tail body is an emotive homage to the race livery of the 24H Le Mans racecar at the epicentreof our inspiration.
The blue, white and red of the French ‘tricolore’ takes centre stage with period-correct iconography providing a thrilling visual flourish. But every AGTZ is a blank canvas and our 19 discerning buyers will each craft a truly special car with us, composing a unique piece they will cherish for decades.
The trailblazing nature of AGTZ Twin Tail is mirrored by this impactful new livery. Contrasting shapes, lines and colours playfully salute our iconic racecar inspiration while underscoring the bold outlook of La Squadra and Zagato’s collaboration.
Limited to just 19 units, AGTZ Twin Tail can switch between long and shorttail modes repeatedly on its driver’s impulse. The unmistakable and transformable bodywork majors on carbonfibre and presents a stirring canvas to suitably creative minds.
Our truly special partnership sees Zagato focus on car design and production while La Squadra handles sales and marketing for our unmistakable collaborations. By thinking exclusively in very limited production numbers, we bring the classic coachbuilding spirit right into the modern era, responding to clients’ needs with unrivalled focus and a smart, technological backbone. We will cater to the desires of discerning collectors who seek exclusive and provocative cars which push design boundaries; cars which incorporate futuristic aesthetics and novel design elements to combine form and function in jaw-dropping fashion.
Andrea Zagato
jakub pietrzak
Founded in Milan, Italy in 1919, the story of Zagato is already over a century old. Its unique mix of engineering pragmatism and artisanal craftsmanship has seen Carrozzeria Zagato achieve results which go beyond the usual understanding of car design. Crucially, it has never designed or produced mainstream models but instead focused exclusively on bespoke creations manufactured only in strictly limited numbers. Zagato occupies a unique position in the automotive world as a specialist in limited-edition and collectible automobiles, applying its own signature to exotic performance cars manufactured by other companies.
www.zagato.it
Jakub Pietrzak created La Squadra in Katowice, Poland in 2013 to bring together folk with an unbridled passion for cars. It distributes esteemed brands such as Ferrari, Pagani, Koenigsegg, Bugatti and Alpine, fulfilling its customers’ automotive dreams by connecting them with dynamic works of art that’ll form a crucial part of their family years to come. As well as taking care of their valuable service history, La Squadra encourages its clients to fulfil the potential of their cars at unique events that galvanise an enthusiastic community.
www.lasquadra.pl