I confess at this point that I did not slot the driveline in RWD and hang the Zag out around Ostschleife, or any other bend. Time was short and our follow-the-leader lapping wasn’t an appropriate format for that. But there’s little reason to doubt that, on the road, in rear-drive mode, and with the dampers in Sport Plus, this car wouldn’t be fluidly entertaining.
It is softer than an M4, yes, but has the same core tautness and this gives it predictability and precision. In terms of dynamic character, the blend of insouciance with underlying control and effortless torque make it tempting to compare the Zagato with something like a revitalised Ferrari 550 Maranello.
We’ll have to drive this rare machine on the road to know for sure, but with only 99 examples planned, there is no guarantee we’ll get the chance. Do feel free to envy the owners, though. Lord knows they’re paying for the privilege, but in the Zagato, they’ll own a beautifully finished, indecently pretty but unostentatious coupé in the mould of the classics, and one that’s sensibly sized and undemanding to drive fast. The Bovensiepens have gone back to the future.
Price £319,000 (approx) Engine 6 cyls in line, 2993cc, twin-turbocharged, petrol Power 602bhp at 7200rpm Torque 516lb ft at 2500rpm Gearbox 8-spd automatic, 4WD Kerb weight 1875kg0-62mph 3.3sec Top speed More than 186mph Economy 27.2mpg CO2, tax band 235g/km, 37% Rivals Aston Martin DB12 S, Ferrari Amalfi
