At the end of February 2006, the Geneva Motor Show was the venue for the launch of the new Rinspeed ZaZen. It is based on the Porsche 997 Carrera S and has a boxer engine of 6 cylinders. This 3,800 cm3 engine has a power of 355 hp that allows the ZaZen to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds, while reaching a top speed of 293 km/h.
Power reaches the ground through 20-inch tires that fit Dunlop Touch Technology tires, sizes 245/30 R20 front and 305/25 R20 rear.
One of the main design guidelines of the Rinspeed ZaZen has to do with “transparency”. The ceiling of the ZaZen is made of transparent Makralon, which is curious to illuminate when the brake is actuated by the use of a holographic brake light. Swarovski crystal coated with a layer of Bayer polyurethane was used to achieve a special light effect. The whim of transparency reached the limit in the seats, made by Recaro. They are transparent orange peel, very bright by the way.
The designer argued that the ZaZen combines “European passion and oriental zen philosophy”, a rather ridiculous and most likely lega explanation about it.
The purpose of transparencies, especially on the roof, is to link the car with the surrounding environment. This was supported by the giant company Bayer, which supplied materials to unite people, vehicle and ecosystem, as a design criterion.
To add a contemporary sporty style, ZaZen was given details such as gills (already demodé) air intakes to the front and back as well. The front reflects on its lines and headlights, which is based on a Porsche car.
© Adrián Blanco 2006 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
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