Aston Martin revives Lagonda name

The historic Lagonda name is being revived in its centenary year by Aston Martin - but as a luxury SUV rather than a saloon.

The Gaydon firm unveiled a four-wheel drive, four-seater Lagonda concept at the Geneva Motor Show - in addition to its stunning One-77 supercar.

See more pictures in the gallery below.

The futuristic 4x4 is a far cry from the first Lagonda, which was built in Middlesex in 1909 by Wilbur Gunn.

The marque quickly became associated with sporting prowess and in 1933, the firm launched the M45 sporting tourer, powered by a six-cylinder 4.5 litre engine designed by Henry Meadows, the renowned Wolverhampton-based engine manufacturer.

The prototype M45 created a media sensation after it beat an express train in a journey from Dieppe in northern France to Brindisi in southern Italy - by some 14 hours.

Two years later, a lightweight version of this car won the Le Mans 24-hour race.

Following the Second World War Aston Martin's David Brown bought Lagonda for £52,500 and gained access to Bentley-designed engines.

In 1976 a radical, wedge-shaped Lagonda was unveiled by Aston. It was a bold, experimental car which stunned the automotive world - but was not without reliability problems.

The Lagonda name was subsequently briefly revived for the Vignale Concept, an imposing luxury saloon created by Ghia Design in 1993 and for the strictly limited production of the Lagonda Virage in 1994 - the last cars to bear the famous badge.

The new Lagonda appears as a state-of-the-art SUV rather than a saloon, estate or limousine.

Aston Martin Lagonda chief executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, said: "The Lagonda is the luxury car of the future - a combination of total usability, a new form and innovative new technology and materials."

The Lagonda concept features a V12 petrol engine but hybrids and low emission diesel power plants are under consideration.

By Peter Carroll

The 1939 Aston Martin Lagonda Drophead Coupe.

In 1976 a radical, wedge-shaped Lagonda was unveiled by Aston - the Series 2.

The Lagonda name was subsequently briefly revived for the Vignale Concept in 1993.

The new four-wheel drive, four-seater Lagonda concept was revealed at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

The futuristic 4x4 is a far cry from the first Lagonda.

Its centenary year (the first Lagonda was launched in 1909) sees the Lagonda name is being revived.nextpage

Aston Martin have restyled the Lagonda into a luxury SUV rather than a saloon.