The automotive world has seen many collaborations, but few are as unconventional as the AGTZ Twin Tail. This one-off creation is the result of a unique partnership between the legendary Italian coachbuilder Zagato, the custom specialists La Squadra, and the surf-inspired lifestyle brand Deus Ex Machina.
The result is a vehicle that blurs the lines between a high-performance endurance racer and a piece of moving street art.
A Tribute to Endurance Racing
At its core, the AGTZ Twin Tail is a reimagining of the Alpine A110, paying homage to the historic Alpine A220 endurance racer. The most striking feature of this tribute is its namesake: the “Twin Tail.”
The car features a removable rear section, allowing the owner to switch between two distinct profiles:
– The Longtail configuration: Mimicking the aerodynamic silhouette of Le Mans racers.
– The Conventional configuration: A more standard rear bumper setup for everyday aesthetics.
While La Squadra and Zagato originally planned for a limited run of just 19 units, this specific iteration is a singular “one-off” designed specifically with the aesthetic influence of Deus Ex Machina.
The Aesthetic: Racing Meets Lifestyle
Rather than following the traditional, polished elegance of most Italian coachbuilt cars, this version adopts a bold, graphic-heavy look. Directed by Carby Tuckwell of Deus Ex Machina, the design features:
* A striking monochrome black-and-white exterior.
* Oversized graphics, including a prominent circled “X” on the doors.
* Contrasting wheels and subtle red and blue accents near the roofline.
The visual language moves away from “luxury supercar” and toward something more rebellious—resembling a professional racecar that has been customized by a lifestyle brand.
The Logic of the Collaboration: Carbon and Fiberglass
On the surface, combining a prestigious coachbuilder with a surf brand might seem eccentric. However, there is a practical thread connecting these seemingly disparate worlds.
According to La Squadra founder Jakub Pietrzak, the connection lies in material science. Both the high-end automotive industry and the surf culture industries were revolutionized by the advent of fiberglass and carbon fiber. These lightweight, moldable materials liberated designers from the constraints of metal, allowing for the radical shapes and complex proportions seen in both high-performance racing cars and modern surfboard design.
Art Over Apexes
While the Alpine A110 platform is celebrated for its agility and driving dynamics, the AGTZ Twin Tail is fundamentally an art piece. The technical specifications regarding performance upgrades remain unmentioned, suggesting that the primary objective of this project was not to break lap records, but to push the boundaries of bespoke design.
This vehicle serves as a testament to how modern materials allow different subcultures—from racing to surfing—to find common ground through the medium of design.
The AGTZ Twin Tail represents a shift in the ultra-luxury market, where exclusivity is defined not just by speed, but by the ability to blend distinct cultural identities into a single, bespoke machine.
