Unveiled this weekend at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, Zagato's latest creation is already causing teeth to gnash... or eyes to shine. Based on the legendary Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, the Italian coachbuilder has created a unique piece: the Zagato 8C DoppiaCoda. But was it really necessary to dare touch up one of the most beautiful Italian cars of this century?
A special order, executed Zagato-style
Commissioned by an Italian collector, this one-off was entirely designed and built by Zagato, 15 years after production of the 8C ended. While the original was designed by the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo with Wolfgang Egger at the helm, this modern interpretation borrows two of Zagato's most emblematic stylistic codes.
Its name, DoppiaCoda, refers to its redesigned rear section: a blend of racing-inspired "coda tronca" (truncated tail) and softer, rounded shapes. Andrea Zagato, the company's president, explains that he wanted to create a "real fusion between two types of design", while retaining the functional advantages of each.
The 8C, a myth revisited
No mechanical treachery here: the carbon chassis and naturally-aspirated 4.7-liter V8 engine (the famous Ferrari/Maserati F136 block) are those of the original. With its 450 hp and its lyrical flights to 7,000 rpm, the heart of the 8C still beats, transmitted to the rear wheels via a 6-speed robotized gearbox. A logical choice that preserves the soul of the model.
But it's the bodywork that divides us. While the original 8C, of which only 500 were produced as a coupé, is revered today for its timeless lines, this Zagato version pushes the sculpture even further, even if it means losing some of the refined simplicity that made the Alfa Romeo model so charming.
A masterpiece or a heresy?
Difficult to decide. On the one hand, Zagato once again demonstrates its audacity, its eye for detail and its ability to create the exceptional in an increasingly homogeneous automotive world. On the other hand, some purists cry sacrilege, arguing that you can't touch up a car as iconic as the 8C with impunity.
Designer Norihiko Harada justifies his approach by citing the need to adapt the "Kamm-tail" to the size and elegance of a large GT coupe: "A race car rear end would have looked too visually heavy on an 8C. Hence the idea of a specifically developed shape."
Verdict: you be the judge
While this Zagato 8C DoppiaCoda will remain unique, delivered to its wealthy owner as soon as the competition at Villa d'Este is over, it perhaps marks a new stage in the dialogue between tradition and stylistic reinterpretation.
A sculptural homage or one liberty too many? Masterpiece or sacrilege? To each his own. But one thing is certain: Zagato has once again struck hard.
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As much as the Giulia SWB Zagato is a masterpiece, the Zagato 8C DoppiaCoda is an ugly 8C, a sacrilege compared to the 8C.
Interesting comparison, for me it's all the same! The rear ends of these two cars are new, but the front ends could have stayed the same because they're so trashed ^^.
I like the little scudetto and the preserved trilobo, it's more elegant than the 95% of current production. The rear end is quite fluid, the spoiler quite well integrated. The history of the Italian prestige car is full of more or less conclusive bodywork tests, but here we're in the plus category. As a reminder, Wolfgang Egger now works for SAIC, and it would be great to have him back.