RetroVette: Castagna Aznom unveiled
click above image for more pics of the Castagna Milano
One of the most exciting recent developments in the industry, by this writer's account at least, is the re-emergence of the coachbuilding industry. Cars like the Fisker Latigo and Zagato Ferrari 575 GTZ have heralded a revival of the long-lost segment that inherently gives birth to some of the most unique automobiles on the road. It was only a matter of time until the Italians picked up where they left off by crafting unique Corvette-based sportscars.
Italian coachbuilder Castagna Milano, originally founded way back in the 1850s and revived in the 1990s, has created a number of bespoke models, including the Imperial Landaulet concept and a slew of custom Minis. The carrozzeria's latest offering, the Castagna Aznom, was previewed in skeletal form back in April at Monaco's Top Marques show, and the firm has now released further details and images.
Based on the Corvette Z06, the Aznom also draws on retro Corvette styling elements, blended with thoroughly modern design features to create a heart-stopping supercar. The egg-crate grille is drawn from the original '53 Vette, slab-sided flanks from the '58 Stingray and fenders from the '56 SR-2 Sebring race car. On the contemporary side of things, LED rear lights, retracting rear wing, three-section rear diffuser and F1-style fender-mounted carbon-fiber wing mirrors round out the design. Those sharp five-spoke wheels measure 20 inches, shod in 285/30 and 335/30 Pirelli PZero rubber front and rear respectively, housing 356mm cross-drilled discs with six-pot calipers fore and 340mm discs with 4-pot calipers aft. The cockpit even features a Google Earth-powered sat-nav system.
Whether you love or hate the unique styling, the Aznom has the "go" to back up the "show". Castagna has thoroughly massaged the Z06's 7-liter V8 from 500 horsepower to a whopping 750, and with the use of carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium bodywork, has trimmed the weight down to 1,400 kg. With that magical formula of more power and less weight, the carrozzeria puts the performance figures at 0-60 in a scant 3.4 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 217 mph.
[Source: Italiaspeed]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Christopher H. Kim 3:44PM (7/02/2007)
Reminds me of the Toyota Celica hood
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cars 3:47PM (7/02/2007)
Chestnut nozzle ennesima the challenge to the world of the supersportswoman. Aznom chestnut is a supercar based on the mechanics of the Z06 Corvettes, of which it takes advantage of the chassis in idroformato aluminum and the powerful V8 from 7.0 liters. Chestnut “has put of its” in that it regards the auto body, realized entire in carbon for an all up weight of approximately 50 kg. the 7,0 V8 not to offer but that sufficient one verve demanded from Gioacchino Acampora, and here that to giving manforte accorrono two compressori, bancata one for, in a position to carrying the threshold of the maximum power until the summit of the 820 horses - 513 of series -. Been born nearly and exclusively for I use it in track, Aznom Chestnut cannot sure be lowered to the levels of “poverty” of the pistaiole cars… However it is symbol of eccentric exclusive feature and therefore, even if one is covering rectilinear nearly 300 to the hour, the nside must contain every small comfort, because it cannot be never known when it will be able to serve to you. For this reason, all the nside is realized round to a sophisticated computer in a position to managing every function of the car, from the climatizzatore, to the inclination of the seat rather than navigation or the multimediale entertainment.......
http://www.4car.net
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Charlie 3:51PM (7/02/2007)
Could we say this is the ugliest car of the sport cars history?
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bmoredlj 3:54PM (7/02/2007)
Weber, man. Weber. Search Autoblog for it...if you dare. A word of warning...don't look directly AT the Weber. Just sorta catch it in the corner of your vision.
geo.stewart 3:51PM (7/02/2007)
someone ate a Vette and then puked this thing
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jh 3:55PM (7/02/2007)
Anyone else notice that "Aznom" is "Monza" backwards?
Doesn't change anything though...
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bmoredlj 3:54PM (7/02/2007)
...
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Christopher Watts 3:59PM (7/02/2007)
It's a good thing this 'Aznom' can go fast...that'll mean less time having to look directly at it! Jeeeesh!
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Christopher Watts 4:00PM (7/02/2007)
uhhh...whuut?
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Christopher Watts 4:01PM (7/02/2007)
uhhh...whuut?
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Jeremy 4:13PM (7/02/2007)
Not really big on the styling, not bad, but not the best. Also, for an extra 250hp it doesn't go any faster (0-60) than the current Z06 which is rated at 3.5 seconds for 0-60. I expected better for acceleration, although it looks like it goes about 19mph faster than the Z06.
Is thing thing just a design concept or actually something for sale?
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Proud Japanese 6:55PM (7/02/2007)
I'm sorry but the Z06 is NOT rated at 3.5 for 0-60. The most optimistic I've read is 3.7 Sure magazines have got it in 3.5 and you may claim that's Enzo territory, but the same magazines have also got the Enzo in 3.1.
Second of all while the 0-60 is close to most supercars, it's because the Z06 is geared to do 60 in first gear. If you look at 0-70 then the Z06 lags severely behind.
0-60 is mostly to do with traction of the line. you will a huge improvement in the 1/4 mile and the speed trap.
Oh and this is what I expect from a 7L engine, not 500hp.
Jeremy 1:57PM (7/03/2007)
OMG you're right. That .2 seconds makes it a horrible vehicle and only fat lazy americans would drive one because we can never compete with a great exotic. For a quarter of the price, I'd settle for .2 seconds. Besides, most of that is based on the driver. But good lord man, calm your ass down. All I did was make a simple freaking statement and you start going off on me like the world's coming to a f**king end. CALM DOWN!!
Vinny 4:15PM (7/02/2007)
Another Homer Simpson design.
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Stephen 4:27PM (7/02/2007)
Things with 750hp should look this ridiculous.
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Alex 4:38PM (7/02/2007)
Whoa........that looks like Darth Vaders ride.
The FedEx Man 4:35PM (7/02/2007)
This is the first time I've ever thought "I'd rather have a Corvette".
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F451 5:11PM (7/02/2007)
What the Yugo would have looked like if it had evolved into a sports car.
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Jeymal 6:49PM (7/02/2007)
Wow...this car is so ugly I actually find it attractive.
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Ligor 8:33PM (7/02/2007)
this is just ugly.
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