First images of the production car version of the new Lagonda super saloon
In July 2014, Aston Martin confirmed a bespoke product programme for a new super saloon that will see the revival of the historic Lagonda nameplate in a strictly limited series.
As has traditionally been the case, the Lagonda badge will once again sit proudly on a luxurious and exclusive super saloon.
The stunning luxury super saloon revives the Lagonda ethos of ‘the finest of fast cars’ and will be offered exclusively in the Middle East, as a result of specific market demand.
The return of Lagonda follows in the wake of other headline-grabbing projects such as the One-77 hypercar, V12 Zagato and last year’s CC100 Speedster Concept – then seen as the ultimate Q by Aston Martin car – which started out simply as a centenary celebration design concept and, as a result of exceptional demand, later turned into two customer commissions.
Based on the brand’s existing flexible VH architecture, the new car draws inspiration from the highly sought-after William Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976 and features many of the same cutting edge engineering techniques seen in modern Aston Martin sports cars such as the use of carbon fibre in the body panels.
It will be hand-built by the finest craftsmen and women at Aston Martin’s modern manufacturing facilities in Gaydon, Warwickshire in a dedicated building previously given over to the creation of the One-77 hypercar.
The new super saloon will be offered for sale by invitation only and, while precise pricing details remain confidential, the asking price will be commensurate with the car’s exclusivity, quality and luxurious nature.
Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman said: “The debut of this luxury super saloon in the Middle East market will be an exciting moment not only for Aston Martin, but for discerning customers who are seeking the ultimate in luxury and personalisation.
“The new model, like its exclusive siblings the One-77 and V12 Zagato, has been created as a piece of exceptional automotive art. It has been designed and developed entirely in keeping with the spirit and ethos of previous Lagonda super saloons – notably the William Towns Lagonda – and as a tribute to this car it proudly bears the Lagonda nameplate.”
ASTON MARTIN EXPANDS LAGONDA TARAF LUXURY SALOON
- New Lagonda Taraf will be offered to customers outside the Middle East
- Series production remains limited to 200 bespoke limousines
- Super saloon will be available in left or right-hand drive
28 February 2015, Gaydon: Aston Martin is today announcing that the luxurious new Lagonda super saloon will be made available, in strictly limited numbers, to more customers around the world.
Aston Martin will now accept orders for the Lagonda Taraf – the latest in a proud line of saloons revered worldwide as ‘the finest of fast cars’ – from prospective owners in more major markets. It is now available to clients in EU legislation-compliant Continental Europe, the United Kingdom and South Africa, with the Lagonda Taraf now re-engineered to be available in either left or right-hand drive.
CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: “Opening up the Lagonda Taraf to an increased number of customers around the world was a high priority for me as soon as I joined Aston Martin late last year. I wanted to be able to offer this exceptional saloon to the potential owners from around the globe who have been enquiring about it, and I’m very happy that we have been able to expand the Lagonda proposition.”
Initially available only to buyers in the Middle East, where it was launched in Dubai late last year, the Lagonda Taraf is being built in a strictly limited small series of no more than 200 cars.
The return of Lagonda follows in the wake of other bespoke special projects by Aston Martin such as the creation of the extreme Aston Martin Vulcan supercar, Vantage GT3 special edition, One-77, V12 Zagato and the CC100 Speedster Concept.
Based on the brand’s almost infinitely flexible VH architecture, the saloon draws inspiration from the highly sought-after William Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976 and features many of the same cutting edge engineering techniques seen in modern Aston Martin sports cars, such as the extensive use of carbon fibre body panels.
The car is hand-built by the finest craftsmen and women at Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Gaydon, Warwickshire, in a dedicated building previously given over to the creation of the One-77 supercar.
The 6.0-litre V12-engined super saloon is being offered to clients through Aston Martin’s VIP sales programme with precise pricing details remaining confidential, and likely to be significantly different in each case due to very high levels of bespoke content. Naturally, each Lagonda customer will have the option of ensuring their car is truly unique by personalising it via the popular Q by Aston Martin bespoke service.
Dr Palmer said: “As a result of today’s announcement we anticipate very quick expressions of interest from customers around the world, many of whom will want to add Lagonda to their luxury and sports car collections.
“Aside from its confident style, many buyers will also recognise this Lagonda Taraf as a piece of automotive history, following in the tracks of its distinguished predecessor the William Towns Lagonda.”
He added: “I’m also particularly pleased that we have been able to engineer Lagonda for right-hand drive markets meaning, of course, that I’m sure we will see the car in use on Aston Martin’s ‘home ground’ of the UK in due course.”
Lagonda fact sheet
- Lagonda was founded in 1906 by Wilbur Gunn
- The company was named after Lagonda Creek in Springfield, Ohio
- Lagonda produced its first luxury sports car, the 14/60, in 1925
- John Hindmarsh and Luis Fontes won the iconic Le Mans 24hr race in 1935 in a Lagonda M45 Rapide
- In 1961 Lagonda unveiled the Lagonda Rapide, based on a DB4
- Today’s Lagonda was in part inspired by the William Towns-designed Lagonda Series 2 (1976)
- The Series 2 was launched at the 1976 Motor Show at Earls Court and shown for the first time on 12 October 1976 at the Bell Inn, Aston Clinton
- Production began in 1978 and 650 William Towns-designed Lagondas were produced between 1978 and 1989, with a significant number sold into the Middle East market
- At launch, it featured cutting edge electronic instrumentation and switchgear developed at the Cranfield Institute of Technology including LED digital instruments, touch-sensitive switches and electronic memory seats
- The new Lagonda luxury super saloon was designed and engineered by Aston Martin and based on the flexible VH architecture
- The car is known as the Lagonda Taraf with the name translating broadly as ‘ultimate luxury’
- First customers cars will be delivered to the Middle East in Q1 2015
- At the heart of the Lagonda Taraf is an Aston Martin 6.0-litre V12 engine
- Modern engineering techniques such as carbon fibre body panels, already seen in current Aston Martin sports cars, are included in the Lagonda
- It is expected that customers will request a significant amount of Q by Aston Martin content for their bespoke car. As such, the majority of Lagondas will carry the Q by Aston Martin badge in addition to their Lagonda nameplate