Editorial

Just as desirable but, unlike the subject of many a Delta Bluesman’s attentions, the latest soft-top Aston Martin does not ‘shake just like a willow tree’: it’s as strong as an English oak with as long a heritage, and three very enjoyable days behind the wheel reveals a car that combines style and performance without too much macho hairy-chested posturing.

The colour was a little yellow (OK, it was yellow - period) but in a more subdued hue I think you’d have a pretty sophisticated sunny-clime convertible that would make a morning’s ascent of the Alpes-Maritimes for a lunchtime assignation a highly satisfying experience.

It’s Villa d’Este this weekend, and once again Zagato is using the occasion to premiere a fully functioning design study, commissioned by a collector in the manner of the Ferrari 575M Zagato revealed last year. This time they’ve taken Maserati’s very good outgoing GranSport model, and converted a Spyder chassis into a coupe, one with the Carozzeria’s trademark ‘Double Bubble’ roofline. Watch Classic Driver next week for the car’s debut at this most exclusive event.

And finally, BMW have thrown their hat into the ring that is luxury ‘four-door coupés with attitude’, a market currently dominated by Mercedes and the CLS, and one soon to be joined by Messrs Porsche and Aston Martin. The new Concept CS will be shown at next week’s Shanghai Auto show. It’s big, wide and low with a broad shark-like grille. Will it be made? Probably. And can this marketplace bear another entrant? Quite possibly, and the launch venue gives a little cue as to where many of these cars will end up.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com