Some concepts debut at an auto show and are never heard from again. Some make the rounds of minor local car shows. A small number make it into production. But it’s full speed ahead for the Aston Martin V12 Zagato.

The collaborative effort between Aston Martin and Zagato was unveiled at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original DB4GT Zagato. A stunning creation, the show car handily won the award for concepts at the Italian lakeside concours. The next step? Racing.

Right from the start, Aston announced that the V12 Zagato would be hitting the race track in no less rigorous a test than Germany’s Nürburgring. And so it will, starting this weekend and returning in tandem next month for a second outing. But before it does, Aston’s released these images of the car.

The car that debuted in Villa d’Este ditched the diamond-finish wheels from the advance pictures for blacked-out ones, but it has kept the front splitter, full roll cage and sliding plastic driver’s-side window. The image above shows an even larger splitter, along with a giant rear wing. Otherwise, the racecar looks essentially the same as the coupe that won the Concorso D’Eleganza Design Award at Villa d’Este, but it’ll likely feature a full competition livery when it makes its race debut this weekend. Check out the updated image gallery and the award announcement after the jump.

Feast, children. Feast your eyes on the new Aston Martin V12 Zagato. The product of a reborn partnership between the British sportscar-maker and the Milanese design house that goes back fifty years, the V12 Zagato has just been revealed on its way to the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como. And man, does it look the business.

Just over a week ago we brought you initial news of the collaboration in the making, retracing half a century of collaboration between Aston Martin and Zagato with a new project based on the V12 Vantage. Now fully revealed, the design blends some familiar queues with fresh lines. Zagato’s signature double-bubble roof (initially adopted to offer extra headroom for a racer’s helmet) is there, while the grille recalls that of the classic DB4 GT from which this car draws its inspiration. The flank recalls the taut muscularity of the Vanquish, punctuated by a large vent from which protrude a silver dash and the Zagato logo. The tail-light treatment is similar to that of the Ferrari FF’s, sitting above a large rear diffuser assembly.

All in all it cuts a striking profile rendered in aluminum, jointly penned by Zagato and Aston’s own design department. Its deep shade of orange (similar to the Lamborghini Aventador show car) compliments the baby blue of the V12 Vantage RS concept that previewed the car on which it’s based to recall the iconic Gulf livery which the marque revived in its racing program.

Aston Martin wants you to push its cars to the limit – at least, after you’ve signed some waivers and paid $2,500. If that’s the case, you’re probably at Aston Martin’s Performance Driving Course located at the Ford Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan. The fleet of cars at your disposal includes the V8 Vantage, DB9,Rapide and DBS, and now Aston Martin has added its new V12 Vantage to the driving school’s list of exotic motorcars you can hoon for a nominal fee.

Click past the jump to read the full press release, and to watch a film that will make you want to remove $2,500 from your savings account posthaste.

Few automakers sell sexy as well as Aston Martin.

Others may try, but competition demands they back up their stellar good looks with performance – oh, the burden. Take Ferrari and Lamborghini, the two Italians, as an example. Their sensual bodywork drops jaws at one hundred yards, but they also have to shoehorn in uber-powerful engines or else consumers will cry foul.Audi is another example. The German’s luscious R8 was just that, but needed a V10 to truly stand proud. It seems that consumers simply won’t tolerate sleek bodywork unless there’s performance to substantiate it.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Aston Martin seems to have escaped the wrath. None of its models offer the most powerful engine in their class, or the best performance. We don’t need to tell you that Astons aren’t the best at anything. Well, except looking, smelling and feeling damn sexy.

Times are changing. Customers are demanding more substance behind the style, more bang for their buck and innovative, modern technology. Seeming to acknowledge that life is much more than a beauty contest, Aston Martin has introduced the all-new Virage Coupe and Virage Volante.

Nestled in a secluded valley in the south of Spain is the Ascari Race Resort. Celebrated as one of the world’s most beautiful tracks, the private 3.2-mile ribbon of perfectly smooth blacktop challenges drivers with 26 corners, 10-degree climbs and 18-degree banks as it weaves through the mature oak trees that dot the landscape. Named after Alberto Ascari, the first double world Formula 1 champion, the well-manicured decade-old venue is the type of circuit enthusiasts fantasize about.

Our private shuttle takes us through the manned guard gate towards the main clubhouse. As we round the corner, and head down the shallow hill, the sun reflects off something in the distance. Parked in the paddock are a dozen glistening sports cars – some coupes, some roadsters – each still dripping wet from the overnight shower that leaves the air fresh and crisp. The vehicles, the latest offering from Aston Martin, are the enthusiast-targeted Vantage S Coupe and Roadster.

Nine times zones from home with jet lag extinguished by a morning café grande, I figure it is time to get behind the wheel. Only one thing is more enjoyable than driving the new Aston Martin Vantage S through the mountains of Spain – spending a long afternoon with the sports cars on the wide-open Ascari race circuit.