Tommykaira ZZ

Last updated
Tommykaira ZZ
Tomweb.jpg
A first-generation Tommykaira ZZ with the detachable roof removed
Overview
Manufacturer Tommykaira
Green Lord Motors (2nd gen)
Also calledTommykaira ZZ1
Tommykaira ZZI
Tommykaira ZZ-EV
Production1990–2000
2014–2021
Designer Takuya Yura
Body and chassis
Class Sports car (S)
Body style 2-door targa (1st gen)
2-door roadster (2nd gen)
Layout MR layout
Doors2
Related Leading Edge 190 RT
Leading Edge 240 RT
Powertrain
Engine 2.0 L SR20DE I4 (1st gen)
Transmission 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,375 mm (94 in)
Length3,630 mm (143 in)
Width1,740 mm (69 in)
Height1,110 mm (44 in)
Curb weight 650 kg (1,433 lb) (1st gen)

The Tommykaira ZZ is a mid-engined sports car manufactured by Japanese tuning company Tommykaira. The car was conceived in late 1991, developed from 1992, unveiled in 1995, and manufactured from 1996 to 2000 in its first generation, and from 2014 to 2021 in its second.

Contents

First generation (1996–2000)

The first-generation ZZ used an original design by Tommykaira and Mooncraft's Takuya Yura. The roof of the car was detachable, with four bolts securing it to the roll hoop and windscreen frame. [1] The ZZ was produced in the United Kingdom by Tomita Auto UK, and sold a total of almost 220 units in its production run.[ citation needed ]

The car was powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter SR20DE inline-four engine sourced from Nissan. Fed by four 45 mm Keihin carburetors, it sent 178 hp (133 kW; 180 PS) and 195 Nm of torque to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission, with an update in 2000 increasing its power and torque by 5 hp (4 kW; 5 PS) and 5 Nm. The ZZ was capable of a 0-100 time of approximately 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 241 km/h (150 mph). The front and rear brake discs were both vented. Tires were initially 205 mm (8.1 in) wide all around, but for later models, 195 mm (7.7 in) front tires were adopted to reduce lift-off oversteer.

ZZ-S

The ZZ-S was intended to be a sportier version of the ZZ. Its power output was slightly increased to a total of 197 hp (147 kW; 200 PS). No other changes were made.

Production by Leading Edge

After Tomita Auto UK was dissolved, their designs were sold at auction to Breckland Technologies, who created the Leading Edge Sportscar Company to market a slightly revised ZZ from 2002 to 2005 as the Leading Edge 190 RT and 240 RT. It used Mikuni carburetors in place of the original ZZ's Keihin carburetors. When Leading Edge folded in 2005, their assets were bought at an auction by a car collector from Pakistan, who also owns a 240 RT.[ citation needed ]

Second generation (2014–2021)

A second-generation ZZ Tommykaira ZZ by GreenLoadMotors front.jpg
A second-generation ZZ

Tommykaira returned with another production run of the ZZ, this time with the help of a company that originated from Kyoto University called GLM (originally Green Lord Motors). A few other companies provided funding for the second-generation ZZ, including Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and Globis Capital Partners. [2] Funding began in 2010, with a total of $6.6 million reached at the end of 2012 and another $6 million accrued from 2013 through 2015. [3] A total of $14 million in funding was reached.

Unlike the first-generation car, the restyled second-generation ZZ, retailing for $80,000, [2] uses an electric powertrain. Because of this change, many critics referred to it as the ZZ-EV.[ citation needed ] According to GLM, the car's chassis is "adaptable", implying an ability to withstand modifications that exceed factory performance. [2] The electric motor produces 305 hp (227 kW; 309 PS), and the battery has a range of 121 km (75 mi). [3] The second-generation ZZ reaches 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in less than 4.0 seconds, making it faster than the first-generation ZZ. [3]

On the GLM website, it was announced that the Tommykaira ZZ ceased production at the end of June 2021.[ citation needed ]

Appearances in media

The first generation Tommykaira ZZ-R appears in The Devil's Star, a Nordic noir novel by Norwegian author Jo Nesbø, where it is the car used by detective Tom Waaler. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subaru Forester</span> Motor vehicle

The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV that has been manufactured by Subaru since 1997. The first generation was built on the platform of the Impreza in the style of a taller station wagon, a style that continued to the second generation, while the third-generation model onwards moved towards a crossover SUV design. A performance model was available for the second-generation Forester in Japan as the Forester STi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi Colt</span> Motor vehicle

The Mitsubishi Colt is a nameplate from Mitsubishi Motors that has been applied to a number of automobiles since 1962. It was first introduced with a series of kei and subcompact cars in the 1960s, and then for the export version of the subcompact Mirage between 1978 and 2002. Chrysler, Mitsubishi's longtime partner, also used the name when applying its long-running practice of rebadging Mitsubishi vehicles as the Dodge and Plymouth Colt captive imports for the North American market between 1970 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontiac Grand Am</span> Motor vehicle

The Pontiac Grand Am is a car model that was produced by Pontiac in various years between 1973 and 2005. Produced as a RWD mid-size car on the LeMans GM A platform in its first two generations, the Grand Am name was reused for a FWD compact car for its last three generations.

The Honda B20A engine series, known as the B20A and B21A, was an inline four-cylinder engine family from Honda introduced in 1985 in the second-generation Honda Prelude. Also available in the contemporary third-generation Honda Accord in the Japanese domestic market, along with the Accord-derived Vigor, the B20A was Honda's second line of multivalve DOHC inline four-cylinder engines behind the "ZC" twin-cam variant of the ordinarily SOHC D-series, focused towards performance and displacing 2.0 to 2.1 litres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda E engine</span> Former Japanese automobile engines

The E-series was a line of inline four-cylinder automobile engines designed and built by Honda for use in their cars in the 1970s and 1980s. These engines were notable for the use of CVCC technology, introduced in the ED1 engine in the 1975 Civic, which met 1970s emissions standards without using a catalytic converter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda A engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Honda A series inline-four cylinder engine is used in 1980s Honda Accord and Prelude models. It was introduced in 1982, with the second-generation Honda Prelude, and available in three displacement sizes: 1.6-, 1.8- and 2.0-liters. It features cast iron block and aluminum SOHC head design with three valves per cylinder for a total of 12 valves. It was available in carbureted and fuel-injected configurations

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Sail</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet Sail is a subcompact car produced by SAIC-GM, a joint venture of General Motors in China. Launched in 2001, it was sold as the Buick Sail in China in both in sedan and wagon form which were both based on Opel Corsa B. Following the introduction of the Chevrolet brand in China in 2005, the car received a facelift and its name was changed to "Chevrolet Sail" and "Sail SRV".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda D engine</span> Japanese automobile engines

The Honda D series inline-four cylinder engine is used in a variety of compact models, most commonly the Honda Civic, CRX, Logo, Stream, and first-generation Integra. Engine displacement ranges between 1.2 and 1.7 liters. The D Series engine is either SOHC or DOHC, and might include VTEC variable valve lift. Power ranges from 66 PS (49 kW) in the Logo to 130 PS (96 kW) in the Civic Si. D-series production commenced in 1984 and ended in 2005. D-series engine technology culminated with production of the D15B 3-stage VTEC (D15Z7) which was available in markets outside of the United States. Earlier versions of this engine also used a single port fuel injection system Honda called PGM-CARB, signifying the carburetor was computer controlled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PSA EW/DW engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The PSA EW/DW engine is a family of straight-4 black-top automobile engines manufactured by the PSA Group for use in their Peugeot and Citroën automobiles. The EW/DW family was introduced in 1998 as a replacement for the XU engine. Some DW engines are produced as part of a joint-venture with Ford Motor Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda E0 engine</span> Small Japanese gasoline engines

The E0 series is a three-cylinder gasoline engine developed and manufactured by Honda, with a total displacement of 656 cc. The engine is intended for kei car applications. The E05A and E07A were partially replaced by the Honda P engine but as of 2020 the E07Z engine still saw use in the Acty truck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYD Qin</span> Compact sedan

The BYD Qin is a compact sedan produced by BYD Auto since 2012. The Qin started out as the plug-in hybrid version of the BYD Surui, and was introduced in the Chinese market in August 2012. Currently, the Qin is available as battery electric vehicle, as a plug-in hybrid and previously as an internal combustion engine vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viper engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Viper engine is a high-performance naturally-aspirated pushrod 2 valves-per-cylinder 90° V10 engine designed by Chrysler but with aluminum block castings designed by Lamborghini for use in the Dodge Viper. Despite its large displacement, it is based on the Chrysler LA V8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Transit Custom</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Transit Custom is a mid-sized, front wheel drive van produced by Ford Europe since 2012. It marked a split in the Transit range, with the Custom being the smaller version and the Ford Transit being the larger. Similar to other Transit variants, the passenger versions were branded Tourneo Custom.

The Tommykaira ZZII was a Japanese mid-engined sports car engineered and developed by Tommykaira in 2001. Designed by Noriyuki Nishida, the ZZII was intended to be the bigger and faster version of the ZZ, but it failed to enter production and remained in the prototype stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roewe i6</span> Motor vehicle

The Roewe i6 is a compact sedan produced by SAIC Motor under the Roewe brand, succeeding the Roewe 550. The Roewe ei6 is the hybrid version of the i6. The Roewe i6 was previewed by the Roewe Vision-R, that debuted during the 2015 Guangzhou Auto Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé</span> Motor vehicle

The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé is an executive car (E-segment) introduced in 2018 by Mercedes-AMG. It is marketed as a five-door variant of the AMG GT two-door sports car. Despite the name and style, the GT 4-Door Coupé is closely related to E63 wagon with its performance chassis, and is featured by the AMG-specific rear frame and a different front axle for better kinematics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trumpchi M8</span> Chinese minivan

The Trumpchi M8 is a minivan manufactured by GAC Group under the Trumpchi brand in China and the GAC Motor brand globally. Originally launched as the GM8 in 2017, it was renamed in 2020 to simply M8 in China and GN8 in global markets. The completely redesigned second generation M8 was launched in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac Lyriq</span> Battery electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV

The Cadillac Lyriq is an electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by the Cadillac subdivision of General Motors. As Cadillac's first fully electric vehicle, and the first GM production vehicle using the BEV3 platform, the Lyriq introduces a new version of GM's Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GLM Co. Ltd.</span> Japanese company

GLM Co. Ltd. is a Japanese company headquartered in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Their main businesses include the development and sales of electric vehicles (EVs).

References

  1. "1995 Tommy Kaira ZZ | Review | SuperCars.net". Supercars.net. 2016-04-23. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  2. 1 2 3 King, Danny. "Tommykaira ZZ ready for a customizable EV closeup". Autoblog. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  3. 1 2 3 "Meet Japan's Tommykaira ZZ EV electric sports car". Motor Authority. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  4. Nesbø, Jo (2009). The Devil's Star. Random House. ISBN   9781409088370.