Aston Martin has confirmed it will once again make a Lagonda super-saloon – but only for Middle Eastern markets.
The details of Aston’s secret plans to resurrect its luxurious nameplate for a small production run of luxury saloons were revealed in the July 2014 issue of CAR amgazine after our spy photographer captured a wedgy four-door saloon testing on the roads around Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ in Warwickshire.
Aston Martin Lagonda returns: what we know about Aston’s super-saloon
The mule we snapped, like the production car set to arrive in 2015, is based on Aston’s familiar VH architecture that underpins the four-door Aston Martin Rapide. The Lagonda is also expected to adopt the Rapide’s 5.9-litre V12 and automatic gearbox.
In the Rapide, the V12 produces 550bhp and 457lb ft. In a lighter Lagonda body (thought to be made extensively of carbonfibre) it could see the super-saloon sprint to 62mph in less than 5.0 seconds and have a top speed of 200mph.
Join the Q: The people behind the One-77 created the Lagonda
Aston Martin’s new super-saloon is made by ‘Q’ – the same special projects department responsible for the One-77 supercar, V12 Zagato and last year’s CC100 Speedster Concept.
Q began working on the Lagonda off the back of demand for a more exclusive and luxurious Rapide.
Hand built on the same production line as the One-77, Aston is keeping tight-lipped about how expensive the Lagonda will be. You won’t be able to walk into a Middle Eastern Aston dealer and buy one. Instead, potential buyers are invited to purchase the car, maintaining its exclusivity.
The arrival of the Lagonda pre-empts the deal Aston Martin made with Mercedes last year to use its AMG engines and technology for all future Astons.
Aston Martin’s product renaissance seems in full swing. Recently it teased us with the amazing mid-engined DP-100 supercar concept, while behind the scenes is believed to be in negotiations with Mercedes to borrow its GL platform to underpin a future Aston Martin SUV – possibly badged Lagonda, too.