AC 378 GT Zagato

Last updated

AC 378 GT Zagato
Ac 378 GT (cropped).jpg
AC 378 GT Zagato at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Overview
Manufacturer AC Cars
Also calledPerana Z-One
Production2012 (Prototype)
Assembly Hi-Tech Automotive, Gqeberha, South Africa
Designer Zagato
Body and chassis
Class Sports car (S)
Body style 2-door fastback coupé
Layout front engine, rear wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine 6.2 L GM LS3 V8
Transmission 6 speed manual
Dimensions
Kerb weight 1,465 kg (3,230 lb)

The AC 378 GT Zagato is a sports car designed by the Italian design company Zagato and built in South Africa by Hi-Tech Automotive. It was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The design of the 378 GT was previewed in 2009 as the Perana Z-One, and was later badged as an AC Cars product. [1] [2] Sales were expected to commence by the end of 2012. [3]

Contents

The car is powered by a 437 bhp (326 kW; 443 PS) 6.2 L V8 GM sourced engine found in the Chevrolet Camaro. [4] Weighing 1,465 kg (3,230 lb), the car has a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of around 298 km/h. [5] The car does not feature any electronic driver aids.

The car was priced at around €109,990 for the coupe version. [6]

History

In February 2009, the South African company Perana presented the result of its cooperation with the Italian design studio Zagato, a small sports car with a coupé body. Named the Perana Z-One, it was officially presented at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. [7]

The styling of the Z-One was described by the manufacturer as a combination of futurism, lightness and aerodynamics. [8] The car received a characteristic, slim silhouette with a flat, elongated front and muscular rear wheel arches. Typically for cars designed by Zagato, the front fascia was decorated with a low, rounded radiator grille with a structure of chrome, horizontal bars.

The car is powered by a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine with 440 hp (328 kW) and 583 N⋅m (430 lb⋅ft) of maximum torque at 6600 rpm. Weighing less than 1.2 tons, it's estimated to accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 4 seconds. The engine comes from the Chevrolet Corvette C6. [9]

Name change

Three years after the premiere of the Z-One, Perana Performance Group faced financial difficulties and handed over the project to British company AC Cars. As a result, the car was given a new name, the AC 378 GT Zagato. [10] A characteristic feature of the model after being renamed an AC was the lack of electronic driver assistance systems, aimed at experienced, talented drivers. [11]

Sale

Sales of the car began in July 2009. [12] Originally, Perana planned to produce a limited number of 999 units at the plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, at a price of $70,000 per car. [13] Ultimately, however, only 10 units of the sports model were built under the Perana brand, 7 of which went to customers in the United States. In February 2017, one of them was listed for $125,999 on eBay. [14] After being renamed AC 378 GT Zagato, production continued to be handled by plants belonging to Hi-Tech Automotive in South Africa, but this also failed to be realized on a large scale and after 2012, information about the car ceased. [15]

References

  1. ↑ Pollard, Tim (6 March 2012). "AC 378 GT Zagato supercar at 2012 Geneva". Car Magazine. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  2. ↑ Adams, Jesse (22 March 2012). "High Tech and AC revive Perana Z-One". IOL Motoring. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  3. ↑ Rosamund, Chris (28 May 2012). "Fresh start for AC Cars". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  4. ↑ Rendell, Julian (29 June 2012). "AC Cars makes UK comeback at Goodwood". Autocar. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "AC 378 GT Zagato specs, 0-60, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "2012 AC 378 GT Zagato @ Top Speed". Top Speed. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  7. ↑ Gall, Jared (23 February 2009). "Zagato Perana Z-One". Car and Driver. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Dellis, Nick (24 April 2016). "2009 Perana Z-One". Supercars.net. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Hanson, Ralph (2 March 2009). "Complete details, photos of South African Zagato Perana Z-One sports car". Motor Authority. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  10. ↑ Gabrysiak, Arkadiusz (9 March 2012). "AC 378 GT Zagato - cichy debiut w Genewie [Genewa 2012]". Autokult (in Polish). Archived from the original on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Rare AC 378 GT Zagato Snapped in Cape Town - GTspirit". 19 July 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "Zagato Perana Z-One (2009)". NetCarShow.com. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Zagato perana Z-one". Interia Motorryzacja (in Polish). 24 February 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  14. ↑ Perez, Jeff (6 February 2017). "Rare Perana Z-One Zagato eBay find is just one of 10". Motor1.com. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "AC 378 GT Zagato - Afrykański łącznik". autogen.pl (in Polish). 8 March 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.