Alfa Romeo SZ

Alfa Romeo SZ & RZ

Alfa Romeo SZ
Overview
Manufacturer Alfa Romeo
Also called ES-30
Il Mostro
Production 1989–1991 (SZ)
1992–1994 (RZ)
Assembly Terrazzano di Rho, Italy[1]
Designer Robert Opron, Antonio Castellana
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
Body style 2-door coupé (SZ)
2-door convertible (RZ)
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related Alfa Romeo GTV6, Alfa Romeo 75
Powertrain
Engine 3.0 L V6 12v
Transmission 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,510 mm (98.8 in)
Length 4,059 mm (159.8 in)
Width 1,730 mm (68.1 in)
Height 1,311 mm (51.6 in) (SZ)
1,300 mm (51.2 in) (RZ)
Curb weight 1,256 kg (2,769 lb) (SZ)
1,380 kg (3,042 lb) (RZ)
Chronology
Successor Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (SZ)
Alfa Romeo 8C Spider (RZ)

The Alfa Romeo SZ (Sprint Zagato) or ES-30 (Experimental Sportscar 3.0 litre) is a high-performance limited-production sports car/road-concept car built between 1989 and 1991 with partnership via Centro Stile Zagato, Centro Stile Alfa Romeo and Centro Stile Fiat. It was unveiled as ES-30 in 1989 Geneva Motor Show as a prototype by Zagato, although the car was mainly built by them - not designed mechanically.[2]

Overview

Robert Opron of the Fiat design studio was responsible for the initial sketches while Antonio Castellana was largely responsible for the final styling details and interior. Only the 'Z' logo of Zagato was kept. The car possessed unusual headlights positioned in a trio on each side - a styling used more subtly on later Alfa Romeos in the 2000s.

Mechanically and engine-wise, the car was based on the Alfa Romeo 75, production being carried out by Zagato at Terrazzano di Rho near the Alfa factory in Arese. The thermoplastic injection moulded composite body panels were produced by Italian company Carplast and French company Stratime Cappelo Systems.

The suspension was taken from the Alfa 75 group A/IMSA car,[2] and modified by Giorgio Pianta, engineer and team manager of the Lancia and Fiat rally works team. A hydraulic damper system was made by Koni. The SZ was originally equipped with Pirelli P Zero tyres (front 205/55 ZR 16, rear 225/50 ZR 16) and is able to sustain over 1.1 G in cornering, some drivers have measured a cornering force of 1.4 G, which remains an excellent performance figure.[3]

The two-seater hard roof version also saw a convertible version, the RZ (for Roadster Zagato), produced from 1992 until December 1994. Although almost identical to look at the two cars had completely different body panels save for the front wings and boot. The RZ had a revised bumper and door sills to give better ground clearance and the bonnet no longer featured the aggressive ridges. Three colours were available as standard black yellow and red, with black and yellow being the more popular choices. Yellow and red cars got a black leather interior and black cars burgundy. Although the interior layout was almost unchanged from the SZ, the RZ had a painted central console that swept up between the seats to conceal the convertible roof storage area. 350 units were planned but production was halted after 252 units when the Zagato factory producing the cars for Alfa Romeo went in to receivership, a further 32 cars were then completed under the control of the receivers before production finished at 284 units. Of those final three were painted silver with burgundy interior and another pearlescent white.

Characteristics

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Alfa Romeo SZ Coupé". auto-gericke.de (in German). Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  2. 1 2 3 "Alfa Romeo SZ 1989 - 1991: the berlinetta". ritzsite.net. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-26.
  3. 1 2 "The SZ & RZ ( ES-30 ) Story". home.wxs.nl/~evdbeek. Retrieved 2007-06-26.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfa Romeo SZ.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfa Romeo RZ.
« previous — Alfa Romeo car timeline, 1980s–present
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
0123456789 0123456789 0123456789 0123456
Supermini MiTo
Small family car Arna 145
Alfasud 33 146 147 Giulietta (940)
Compact executive car Giulietta (116) 75/Milano 155 156 159 Giulia (952)
Executive car Alfetta 90 164 166
Alfa 6
Coupé Sprint GT
GTV and GTV6 GTV (916) Brera
Spider Spider (105/115) Spider (916) Spider (939)
Sports car SZ 8C Competizione 4C
RZ 8C Spider 4C Spider
Crossover SUV Stelvio
Racing car 179/182/183T/184T/185T GTV, GTV6 75 Turbo SZ Trophy 155 GTA
155 V6 TI		 GTV Cup 156 D2/
GTA S2000		 147 Cup
147 GTA Cup
LCV F11/F12/A11/A12 AR6
AR8
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.