Here's an almost successful supercar of the 1990s

Seen Nothing - Speaking about the supercars that on average are already exotic since in the concept stages so that they are always able to attract public attention, however, many of them after finished to be produced are not successful in the market. Why can't the supercars like that be able to achieve any success as expected?

Cizeta V16T supercar concept appeared for the first time in the December 1988 may look very successful. (Picture from: Dyler)

There are many factors that influence it, one of them such as product is not able to provide a profitable prices to compete with other manufacturers, and more it could be worsened if the car brand is not well known. It seems that something like that happened to the Cizeta Automobili made supercar called the Cizeta V16T.

Although on paper the Cizeta-made supercar concept appeared for the first time in the December 1988 may look very successful, let alone made by people who are experienced in building the exotic supercars, in reality it is lack of success and not able to provide financial benefits to the automaker.

Cizeta V16T supercar is built by Cizeta Automobili, the Italian automotive manufacturer based in Modena and designed by Marcello Gandini. (Picture from: Dyler)

As we know that the Italian automotive manufacturer based in Modena was founded in the late 1980s by Claudio Zampolli, an Italian automotive engineer who was once involved in the creation of the Lamborghini Countach back in the 1970s in partnership with Giorgio Moroder, an Italian producer and singer. Even the company's name derived of the company founder's initials in the Italian pronunciation (CZ or Ci Zeta).

Cizeta V16T has a resemblance to the Lamborghini Diablo, due to previously in 1987 the designer ever submitted such design proposal to Lamborghini and unable to convince the owner of the Raging Bull cages at that time, Chrysler. (Picture from: Pistonheads)

Back in the 1980s, Giorgio Moroder offered Claudio Zampolli to help develop an ambitious supercar project through his entire career. He also known had enough money and was among the right people to promote the car later. Basically, Claudio Zampolli has got everything for his ambitious supercar project after signing a partnership with Giorgio Moroder, reportedly he even reached the famous Hollywood actor like Sylvester Stallone about the promotion of Cizeta.

Cizeta V16T supercar is debuted at the 1989 Los Angeles Motor Show, and after receiving a few positive response with seven serious clients leaving security deposits. (Picture from: Dyler)

The Cizeta-Moroder V16T, or Cizeta V16T (due to Giorgio Moroder has resigned) widely known as  the only production version supercar models ever made by the Modena-based manufacturer. And for the bodywork design was done by Marcello Gandini, an Italian famous car designer who had designed the Lamborghini Miura and Countach.

At the time, the Cizeta V16T has the selling price is more expensive (almost two times than the Diablo). (Picture from: Dyler)

Of the car looks, it could be seen that the Cizeta-made supercar design has a resemblance to the Lamborghini Diablo. It makes a sense, because previously in 1987 the designer ever submitted such design proposal to Lamborghini for the Diablo, but unfortunately the idea about how the Diablo prototype should be seen unable to convince the owner of the Raging Bull cages at that time, Chrysler. Instead, these sketches fell into Claudio Zampolli’s hands, and then makes it looks like the Cizeta V16T today. 

Cizeta V16T is powered by a 16-cylinder engine is formed from two V8 were combined with one crank and has eight camshafts. (Picture from: CarBuzz)

Furthermore, what makes the Cizeta-made supercar is different from other supercars at the time, as the name implies the V16T, the supercar is powered by a 16-cylinder engine is formed from two V8 were combined with one crank and has eight camshafts, then the 6.0-liter engine is installed transversely next to rear axle.

The engine capable generated the power of 540 hp (these numbers claimed 60 hp more than iconic Ferrari F40, and ever said faster than the Diablo) and 540 Nm of torque. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through the 5-speed mechanical gearbox. It was promised that this car would be able to reach 100 kph in four seconds and the top speed of 328 kph.

Reportedly, the Cizeta V16T did not meet the US safety and pollution standards then led to a lack of orders for the supercar, so in 1995 the automaker decided to cease production with only 12 units ever made. (Picture from: CarBuzz)

The Cizeta-made supercar is debuted at the 1989 Los Angeles Motor Show, and after receiving a few positive response with seven serious clients leaving security deposits, then the car production began in 1991, which went head-to-head with its indirect descendant, of the raging bull cages, the Diablo. 

It is recognized that the Cizeta V16T has several advantages in power and performance sides compared to the rivals such as the Diablo, but in the other hand it also has the disadvantage that the selling price is more expensive (almost two times than the Diablo) plus the Cizeta brand prestige at the time was not as good as the Lamborghini.

Cizeta V16T was promised that it would be able to reach 100 kph in four seconds and the top speed of 328 kph. (Picture from: Dyler)

As if Cizeta's suffering wasn't enough, it was later reported that this car did not meet the US safety and pollution standards. This then led to a lack of orders for the supercar, so in 1995 the automaker decided to cease production, although the founder was still ambitious to revive the project until it finally disappeared. As qouted of the Dyler, up until 1995, there were 12 cars made in total.

The Cizeta story doesn't stop here, because it turns out that production was resumed in 2006. Right now, you can really get the entirely new Cizeta V16T as long as you can prepare a large amount of money with the estimated sums reaches of $650 thousand for the coupe-style and $850 thousand for the spyder version. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CIZETAAUTOMOBILE | DYLER | CARBUZZ ]

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