South Africa is quickly becoming a hotbed for sports car
development, with two new performance machines being announced in the
country in just as many weeks. Built through collaboration between
Zagato, the Milanese coachbuilders, and Perana Performance Group, the
Z-One features a tubular and box section chassis with room for two
passengers. Tucked among the exotica at Concorso Italiano was the new Zagato-styled, Hi-Tech-built and Superfomance-sold, Perana Z-One sports/GT.
2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One
The Perana sports car Z-One is designed
in Italy, powered by American muscle and manufactured in South Africa.
The "Z" stands for Zagato, Chief Designer Norihiko Harada using the
Italian design house's DNA to form a dynamic supercar.
The
sports car Perana Z-One will go on sale in the U.S. through
Superformance after its Concorso Italiano debut in August. American
buyers will get an allocation of just 99 units, so you probably won’t be
seeing one parked outside of your local trattoria any time soon.
2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One
is beautiful. And the build quality is exquisite. The panel gaps put
all the high-priced Italian vehicles surrounding it to shame. The
styling is definitely that of a European GT.
2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One
The 6.2L V8 engine generates
440hp (328kW) and 430lb-ft of torque (583Nm) of torque, and redlines
at 6,600rpm. That's enough to scoot the 2,630lb (1,195kg) car to
62mph (100km/h) in an estimated sub-4 second time. Big brakes - 325mm
up front, 305mm in the rear - slow things down again, while unequal
length A-arms, Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs at all four corners
handle the curves.
The
drivetrain comes from Chevy, the Corvette's 6.2-liter V-8 delivering
440 bhp to the rear wheels. The Z-One also uses the Vette's 6-speed
manual gearbox, but the tubular space frame has been engineered in South
Africa. Perana claims 0–60 mph in just 4 seconds.
2011
Perana Sports Car Z-One is the limited production, because the
gorgeous body of each Perana Z-One will be handbuilt in Italy by
coachbuilder Zagato and then shipped in pieces to South Africa where
there are attached to the vehicle’s chassis. The Z-One's chassis has
been completely conceived and designed by Perana engineers in South
Africa, despite the engine sourced from General Motors.