Geneva 2009: Zagato's Perana Z-One is desire in motion
by Noah Joseph on Mar 3rd 2009 at 5:27AM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Zagato Perana Z-One
Okay, okay. We'll admit it. The world doesn't need another sportscar. But then we don't really need anything beyond food, clothing and shelter. Everything else is desire, and the Zagato Perana Z-One definitely fits the mold... and fits it well. The Z-One's got the power (a 440hp 'Vette-sourced V8), the looks (styled by Milanese coachbuilder Zagato), the exclusivity (less than 1,000 units annually) at a competitive price (starting at 50k euros). To our eye, the South Africa GT is one of Zagato's best contemporary designs – following such recent examples as the Maserati GS, Ferrari 575 GTZ, Spyker C12, Diatto Ottovu and Bentley GTZ – but don't take our word for it: check it out in the galleries below. Details in the press release after the jump.
Gallery: Geneva 2009: Zagato Perana Z-One
Photos Copyright ©2009 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.
Gallery: Zagato Perana Z-One
PRESS RELEASE:
Zagato is launching an exciting World Premiere on the occasion of the 2009 Geneva Motor Show: the Perana Z-One (Zee-One).
The sports car Perana Z-One signals the first collaboration of the Milanese Coachbuilders with a South African Vehicle Manufacturer: Perana Performance Group.
The Perana project is the result of Zagato's 90 year-long expertise in constructing fully functional running concepts.
Virtual reality development has been integrated from inception, effectively eliminating the need for the traditional styling model and enabling the prototype to be completed in less than 4 months by the South African team.
Design Concept:
As the latest descendant of the Zagato sports car family, Z-one is designed with full blooded Zagato form language. Reflecting this pure passion from this brand new sports car specialist, the proportion and volume of Z-one is even tighter than usual sports car styling, accentuated by couple of long and dynamic curves with keen edge which visually integrate some important design features like the air out-lets. Surfaces defined by those cutting edges are even more sculptured maintaining the modern Zagato line which we have been developing for a decade.
Initiative:
Following in the footsteps of Zagato's long tradition of masterfully designed cars, the Perana Z-One is no mere dream car, but a thoroughly practical and feasible production proposition that is expected to be available for sale to discerning European buyers by July 2009.
The Zagato Design Centre has styled the Perana Z-one to ensure it is built as a limited series production car. Sales will be limited to 999 cars per annum within Europe to assure exclusivity and to commemorate the 90 years of Zagato design.
Complying with Euro 4 emission legislation, this value proposition is expected to be launched at the introductory price of under 50.000 Euros, before taxes – an irresistible and highly competitive offer.
Technical Development:
From the innovative tubular and box section chassis to the exciting interior styling, the Perana Z-One is a concentration of advanced design and engineering. Fully certifiable for the road, this ultra high–performance, front engined sports coupé uses a powerful 6.2 litre V8 engine that drives the rear wheels. This genuine 2-seater coupé, enjoys the benefits of almost 50/50 weight distribution allowing for exhilarating, balanced and predictable road manners.
Specification Sheet
TECH DETAILS
General Data
Curb Weight - 1195 kg
Weight Distribution - Front: 50%, Rear: 50%
Wheelbase - 2540 mm
Track - Front: 1627 mm, Rear: 1570 mm
Length - 4406 mm
Height - 1233 mm
Width - 1924 mm
Accommodation
Seating Capacity - 2
Engine
Configuration - V8, All Aluminium
Displacement - 6200 cc
Power - 328 kW @
Torque - 583 Nm @
Max. rpm - 6600 rpm
Fuel Delivery - Fuel Injection. Electronic, Sequential Port.
Compression Ratio - 10.7: 1
Drive train
Gearbox - 6 speed manual
Differential - ZF Limited Slip
Wheels
Perana / Zagato - Front: 18 x 10J, Rear: 19 x 12J
Tyres
Michelin PS2 - Front: 275/35 ZR18, Rear: 345/30 ZR19
Chassis
Layout - Front/Mid Engine - Rear Drive
Frame - Steel Tube Space Frame
Body - Vinyl-Ester/Glass Composite
Brakes - Front: 325mm
Rear: 305mm
Assist type - Vacuum
Steering - ZF Power Assist
Suspension - Front: Unequal Length A-arms, Eibach springs,
Bilstein shocks, Anti-roll bar
- Rear: Unequal length A-arms, Eibach springs,
Bilstein shocks, Anti-roll bar
Fuel Capacity - 85 litres
Performance
Power/weight ratio - (328 hp/tonne) 240 kW/tonne
0 – 100km/h - sub 4 secs (est)
0 – 160km/h - sub 10 secs (est)
Braking - 38m (est)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Berto 5:40AM (3/03/2009)
This is one beautiful design. It just looks amazing in Picture 1. Shame about the interior though. Just looks so crappy and crappy kit car quality.
This reminds me of other desirable things I have come across... Beautiful to look at, the curves are all in the right places and you just want it. Unfortunately, once you get in there, it's not so great...
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Mobius_1 6:47AM (3/03/2009)
Agree with Berto. That is a truly gorgeous car from the outside, and if I had the money I'd be dialling Zagato's number, but when I saw a pic of the inside... That is incongruous with a coachbuilt sportcar. This isn't a track car, isn't a hardcore knife-edge racer, so build a nice interior to match the looks and the name, please.
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JZeke 9:37AM (3/03/2009)
After the first two comments I had to look at the interior...
Wow, want to play "where did that part come from?" I'm not gonna say car interior design is easy, but you think a storied design house like Zagato could reach striking distance of something like the Infinity Essence concept. Instead it falls squarely in cottage-industry land. Shame.
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aj121489 10:52AM (3/03/2009)
I don't really see what's so wrong with the interior...then again I'm not super picky on the interiors.
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cdwrx 11:40AM (3/03/2009)
The design has a not-quite-finished look. Compare this to the Infinity Essence and it looks like a kit car.
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gallogeorge 3:49PM (4/21/2009)
Looks at Zagato are regaining their own
wonderful vocabulary. Actual airflow jus-
tification for most of those extractor vent
things is patent phoniness. Wheels look
like dental braces.
The wheelbase / treadwidth aspect ratio
is outta whack dynamically for the nice
abbreviated wheelbase -- car should pull
its width back to six feet even, and track
at front by 2 inches to be square. This
package seems based on the Peugeot
907 but without 12 cylinders of DOHC
and they managed to be no bigger on the
outside.
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tubular_smells 4:41AM (3/24/2009)
I haven't been a fan of Zagato's recent stuff but I like this and hope it succeeds. As for the interior, while I admit I don't like the chrome accents on the steering wheel, there's nothing wrong with it, especially considering the price and the fact that it is a small scale independent carmaker. Big companies will spend more on designing a few controls than will have been spent on the whole development of this car, which is why they've used stalks and steering column trim from a Ford Focus or Mondeo (which both work just fine). At least it's good material - the Ferrari Testarossa had stalks and switches from a Fiat 131...
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