Aston Martin DBZ trademark could hint at new Zagato special
British automaker Aston Martin has recently applied to trademark the ‘DBZ’ name in Europe, hinting at a new collaborative special model.
Aston's trademark application first appeared in the European Union's Intellectual Property Office's public database this month, with the name intended for “passenger cars; racing cars; car bodies”.
While it is true that not all trademarks mean a new model is on the way, this move could suggest that Aston Martin is planning to release another DB-badged special to sit alongside the upcoming DB11 supercar.
Above: Aston Martin DB11
A likely candidate for the DBZ nameplate is a Zagato-designed version of a DB model - Z for Zagato. Last month, Aston Martin and iconic Italian design house Zagato unveiled the 2016 Vanquish Zagato concept, complete with a bespoke carbon-fibre exterior design and special trim highlights throughout the already sumptuous cabin.
Zagato and Aston Martin have collaborated numerous times over the years, which further fuels rumours of a DBZ-badged model - possibly a redesigned DB11.
Another possibility is that the name could be reserved for the upcoming hypercar that Aston Martin is currently developing in partnership with Red Bull.
Above: A teaser sketch of the AM-RB 001 hypercar
The road-legal hypercar, dubbed Project AM-RB 001, is promised by company boss Andy Palmer to be the “quickest-ever track car”, and as quick as a current-era Formula One racer around the famous Silverstone race circuit.
However, the DB nameplate is normally reserved for Aston Martin’s core sports cars - think DB7, DB9 and DB11 - and the last flagship hypercar it made was called the One-77.
With no official confirmation of an upcoming model wearing the DBZ nameplate, we’ll just have to wait and see if any future Astons don the trademarked badge.
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