These first studio photos of the Perana Z-One reveal the Zagato-designed, South African-built sports car has the style to match its Corvette-sourced substance.

The official press release touts this 999-unit limited-run two-seater's Italian-designed looks and the ability for the South African company, Perana, to bring the car to market for European buyers by mid-year. They also tout the sub-four-second 0-to-62 MPH time and the lower-than-rumored $64,000 pre-tax prospective price. For this you get a sharp sports coupe with an LS3 V8 good for approximately 440 HP and 400 lb-ft of torque.

A fast, attractive and affordable sports car designed by Zagato and powered by American muscle is so appealing it hurts. They may be smart to surround the Geneva Motor Show Perana stand with armed guards.

Press Relase: Perana Z-One
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.
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)

About Perana Performance Group
The idea of producing an Italian styled, South African designed and manufactured Super Car was incubated in
late 2007. To give this idea mobility, the Perana Performance Group was created as the entity to bring what
was a concept to where we are today with a show car that enjoyed its world premiere at the Geneva Motor
Show on 03 March 2009.
The Perana factory has a successful manufacturing legacy in producing low volume, high performance sports
cars for a global market.
The demise of the low volume manufacturers around the world coupled with the changes in EU legislation
relating to low volume manufacturers created the opportunity for the Perana Performance Group to launch a
car of true Super Car performance capabilities. The new car which is built at the Hi-Tech Automotive facility is
very much a back to basics, no frills Super Car which demands driver input beyond that required by the
established players in this segment of the market.
With the appointment of the European Dealer network and full production established, the creation of much
needed jobs underscores our commitment to social upliftment. The Perana Z-One also offers South Africa the
opportunity to showcase its engineering and production capabilities to the world at a price hitherto perceived to
be unattainable. There is no car available in the world that boasts this combination of performance and
equipment levels at less than EUR 50000, before taxes.

[Source: Zagato]

Send an email to Matt Hardigree, the author of this post, at matt@jalopnik.com.