In 2001 Aston Martin was a very different company – wholly owned by Ford, no official involvement in motorsport, and with a range made up of just two cars (the DB7 and first-generation Vanquish). How could it possibly know what the next two decades had in store…

Italdesign and Giorgetto Giugiaro thought they’d have a guess, though, and revealed this thing at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show. Its name gives the game away somewhat – the DB7-based ‘Twenty Twenty’ was supposed to show what an Aston Martin might look like 20 years down the line.

Though, unlike most other concepts, it actually worked (under the bonnet was an uprated version of the DB7’s 5.9-litre V12), the Twenty Twenty was never meant to make production. Not then, not now. It was a styling exercise, built around a visible aluminium spaceframe with carbon and plastic body-panels.

Of course it looks nothing like the Astons of today and for that we’re profoundly thankful. Though apparently at the time Aston’s bosses were “impressed” with Italdesign’s efforts. Happily not impressed enough to take any notice.

A rare miss for Mr Giugiaro, or are we totally wrong here?

Image: Italdesign