One of the Biggest Names in Motorcycles Just Dropped a Retro Automotive Stunner Like No Other

Given Deus Ex Machina’s roots in surfing and motorcycles, most people know the brand for its vagabond vibes and celebration of all things two wheels. Be they head-turning scramblers or all-electric runabouts, bikes have played a huge part in the brand’s rise to global notoriety.

Of course, Deus’s project history doesn’t ignore the automotive world. As the Australian outfit’s custom arm has demonstrated with vehicles like its rad rally Minis, its talents translate just fine when the canvas is a car rather than a bike.

Deus Ex Machina

Even still, past efforts pale in comparison to the latest four-wheeled Deus Ex Machina build. As a one-off special that’s part of a run of vintage-inspired exotics, it’s an automotive stunner that takes the brand’s portfolio to new heights.

Deus does the Twin Tail

That’s because it comes in the form of a new one-off interpretation of the AGTZ Twin Tail, a beauty originally conceived through a collaboration between Polish automotive dealer La Squadra and Italian coachbuilder Zagato.

Deus Ex Machina

It’s a varied cast of characters, and it provides for a compelling tribute to the spirit of endurance racing. The Twin Tail looks to the legendary Alpine A220 of the 1960s for its slippery visuals while incorporating a modern A110 for its mechanical foundation, and it sports a removable rear end allowing for a long-tail look.

Much as it may seem an odd candidate for a Deus build, La Squadra founder Jakub Pietrzak is a passionate surfer. Moreover, as he observes, “the introduction of fiberglass, and later carbon fiber, allowed both automotive designers and surfboard shapers to achieve shapes, weight, and proportions that had been impossible until the 1950s.”

It’s because of this alignment of values that the outfit tasked co-founder and Deus Creative Director Carby Tuckwell with the livery. His distinctive monochrome style has transcended everything from art to apparel, and it makes for a bold look on the Twin Tail’s flowing bodywork and long-tail silhouette.

Deus Ex Machina

You’ll also find that the treatment extends to the interior, as Tuckwell worked with La Squadra Creative Lead Lucas Mongiello to give the inside some subtle co-branded touches. Along with a pair of alternating red-and-black seats, it features a number of playful Deus design elements.

An exotic starting point

While Deus Ex Machina’s take on the AGTZ Twin Tail is a strictly visual exercise, the base vehicle is already a performance standout. As an exotic coachbuilt Alpine, it brings a lot to the table.

AGTZ

For starters, it’s an A110 at its very core, so the car is a Porsche Cayman-rivaling lightweight with a 300-horsepower 1.8-liter turbocharged four-pot. It also comes with driver-focused niceties like a seven-speed dual-clutch and powerful Brembo brakes. 

Moreover, its Zagato design treatment extends beyond the Twin Tail looks. If you pay close attention, you’ll see that the firm has carefully sculpted the Alpine bodywork with everything from a double-bubble roof to some additional ducts, among other refinements.

AGTZ

Nevertheless, because it’s all crafted from carbon fiber, it’s of little penalty to the curb weight. La Squadra and Zagato say the removable tail is made to be as light as possible to keep things close to the donor car.

As such, even with the extra 17 inches provided by the deck, the AGTZ Twin Tail can still hit 0-60 mph in less than five seconds. That does put it comparable to the Alpine, though the changes do reduce its drag co-efficient while increasing stability, so La Squadra says it’s targeting a higher top speed.

Deus Ex Machina

Availability and pricing

Being a one-off version of the AGTZ Twin Tail, this Deus Ex Machina collab is about as exclusive as they come. Prices for each of the 19 cars start at €650,000, and La Squadra and Zagato say that order books are filling up fast. 

Luckily, there is a more accessible way to connect with this awesome creation. To commemorate the collaboration, they’ve already unveiled some merch and prints, and Deus will be dropping a corresponding AGTZ collection. 

Deus Ex Machina

Deus Ex Machina AGTZ Twin Tail

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