Volkswagen has really expanded its wings. The automaker acquired the Italian-based Italdesign Automobili Speciali back in 2010. This is an Italian-based small series supercar production company. The company unveiled its new supercar at the recent Volkswagen Motor Show Conference at Geneva. The new supercar christened the Italdesign Zerouno blends in on-road usability with racing features. The model will, however, be very rare as the automaker announced plans to build only five units which usually end up in the hands of collectors who keep them tucked in their garages.
The Italdesign Zerouno is based on a modular aluminum and carbon chassis with a bespoke carbon-fiber body. The supercar is the brainchild of Filippo Perini, the designer who also designed the Aventador, Veneno and Huracan. This is why the Zerouno looks somewhat like a Lamborghini. It also shares its engine with the Huracan and the Audi R8 supercars.
Italdesign Zerouno Exterior and Interior
The Zerouno is a stunning work of art. Its body is made of only carbon fiber. The body is extremely aggressive characterized by angular folds. Filippo Perini derived inspiration from his other works to craft the model’s body; however, the supercar has its own unique style.
The R8 and Aventador looks keep on popping up from the whichever side you look at the model. The front fascia features a y-duct in the snout that helps add down-force on the front wheels. At the rear, there are suspended aero features that shift up or down to add down-force without creating much drag.
The rear fascia wears a massive wing along with a similarly huge rear diffuser as went as huge exhaust tips. Each of the exhaust tips is 80cm wide and they are made from titanium. The wing and window louvers are derived from the Aventador while the roofline is lifted off the Audi R8. The model rides on special 20-inch P-Zero colored tires. Body colors offered are red, white, yellow and metallic grey.
Stopping power is derived from carbon-ceramic brake discs that feature 8-piston calipers and 6-piston calipers at the front and back respectively. The mudguards are specially designed to let out hot air from the huge brakes.
For those looking for a track-only model, they can opt for the Corsa package which features extreme weight saving measures and even greater aerodynamics as if the model is not excellent the way it is in standard form. This package is not street legal. It offers carbon-fiber monocoque racing seats, a titanium muffler, a racing spoiler, monodado wheels and lightweight wing mirrors.
The cabin which is driver-oriented looks sexy with its carbon-fiber trim. The central tunnel, the dash and door panels are also made of carbon fiber. The model comes with a digital instrument cluster with few physical controls to help the driver monitor his performance at the tracks. The 2-seater cabin features front as well as side airbags, requisites for approval as a street-legal model.
Engine and performance
As said earlier, the Zerouno shares its mill with the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Huracan. The unit is a naturally aspirated 5.2 L, V-10. The automaker is yet to announce official power output figures. On the R8 Plus, this mill produces 610 hp and I expect the mill to produce the same amount of power if not more on the Zerouno. The power is channeled to all four wheels via a dual-clutch, 7-speed automatic transmission system. I believe the gearbox and the AWD systems are sourced from Audi.
Italdesign, however, announced that the supercar needs only 3.2 seconds to hit 62 mph from a stationary position. It has a top speed of 205 mph. The automaker says that this impressive performance is due to its dynamic and aerodynamic abilities just like the R8 V10 Plus.
Price and release date
Only five models will be produced. Deliveries will start later this year. A car this rare does not come cheap and well-oiled guys will have to spend $1.5 million to get a Zerouno; never mind it will spend most days packed in the garage.
