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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Danish based Zenvo Automotive have got into the act

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Bugatti and Koenigsegg better watch out! Danish based Zenvo Automotive have got into the act as well! The firm was founded with a single goal in mind. To build and develop a hand-built supercar based on the prototype they engineered way back in 2004.

Next year, Zenvo Automotive would look to start series production of their supercar in very limited numbers (15 to be precise) and would be sold to exclusive customers only.

The car in question, the ST1, is a looker from every angle. With air scoops integrated at all the nooks and corners, this hypercar looks the business. The angry looking headlamp clusters upfront and the goatee-grill intake on the same lines of the Audi-Volkswagen family, gives this machine a very mean, angry and purposeful stance.

When viewed from the side, this car distinctly resembles the Pagani Zonda due to the rakish air intake neatly integrated in front of the rear wheel well. The rear end meets flamboyance with aggression. The single exhaust pipe mounted on either side of the diffuser has been housed right underneath the dual brake lights, all in a faux mesh. The design of the spoiler at the rear has been executed extremely well and the integrated diffuser looks great too.

Power comes from a fantastic V8, mounted behind the driver and ahead of the rear axle. The 7-liter, 8 cylinder 16 valve engine produces a staggering 1104 brake horse power at a relatively high 6900 revolutions per minute and a huge 1430 NM of torque at just 4500 RPM. The motor is supplemented by the presence of a turbocharger as well as a supercharger! The power is harnessed by an internal oil pump and a hydraulic limited slip differential. All that power goes straight to the massive 335/30-20” rear wheels and translates into unreal performance figures.

It takes just 3 seconds to reach 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph), while the estimated top speed(electronically controlled) is 375 km/h (233 mph)!

The brakes seem to be exceptional as well. The massive 380 mm ventilated discs up front and 355 mm ventilated discs at the rear anchor the car down quite well. However 394 mm carbon ceramic brakes with 8 piston calipers do come as an option in case one would like superior fade-free stopping power. The forged aluminum 19” wheels up front and 20” at the rear wear steamroller-wide rubber and they stick to the tarmac like leeches to skin. The 3-way adjustable gas-hydraulic shock absorbers from Ohlins are designed to dispatch corners quite effectively and ABS and traction control ensures that the ST1 keeps the rubber down on the black top. Carbon fiber body panels incorporated into the body work helps keep the weight down and add a degree of rigidity as well.

The ST1 is not only about raw power and mind boggling performance. The interior comes loaded with an endless list of safety features and offers plenty of comfort. Dual-zone climate control, driver and passenger airbags, cruise control, electronically adjustable racing seats, leather and stereo are some of the features worthy to be noted. Some features mentioned however are quite interesting like the hydraulic ride height control feature that helps the driver glide over potholed roads and speed breakers. This feature not only ensures everyday usability but also good performance.

And that’s exactly what Zenvo Automotive want its customers to enjoy. The ST1 is engineered with a fair deal of practicality and everyday usability in mind. Zenvo want its clients to feel that the ST1 is an everyday supercar that is capable of warp speeds and riding over broken tarmac with ease. If Zenvo manages to execute this plan, they would have a winner on their hands. The incorporation of a turbocharger as well as a supercharger is the trump card for the ST1 as this minimizes turbo-lag and turns this beast into a sublime monster. The catch however is that only fifteen are being made and a regular automobile enthusiast might never get to spot one on the streets. But then it is all about exclusivity, isn’t it?


Post Title Danish based Zenvo Automotive have got into the act

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