For those of us who can only dream of owning a ZO6 or ZR1, it seems even God couldn't have built a more perfect sports coupe. But where we see perfection, a meticulous and madcap group of Italians see a diamond in the rough. Enter the legendary Italian designer Ercole Spada, known for his work with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Zagato, and Aston Martin as well as many other European makers. His family has contributed what most would call automotive works of art, dating back to the 1960s. More recently, Ercole's Spada Vetture Sport brand has taken on the task of overhauling a C6 ZO6 chassis with its designs--adding a European flare to raw American V-8 horsepower.
To the American eye, the Spada Codatronca is as radical in design as it comes and bares little to no resemblance to its Bowling Green, KY, origin. The truncated tail, as a matter of fact, is where the Codatronca derives its name. The smooth greenhouse and curved windscreen are inspired by the best GT endurance race cars. The front air intake and spoon-form front spoiler are part jet fighter and part formula race car, improving downforce and air intake at speed. The rear diffuser adds to its aerodynamic stability, and integrates seamlessly with the handmade, unusually shaped aluminum exhaust tips. It even has bi-xenon headlamps and LED taillights, as well as a full array of unique exterior colors courtesy of PPG. But this exotic design is not without purpose, its slippery figure helps the aluminum chassis surpass the ZO6 in drag coefficient and top speed. We are awaiting official wind tunnel numbers, but the advertised top speed is over 211 mph (340 kph) on the naturally aspirated version and 220 mph (355 kph) when supercharged.
The use of lightweight materials, such as the magnesium engine cradle and Kevlar body panels (the prototype was glass-reinforced plastic), throughout this handbuilt supercar, keep weight under 3,000 pounds (or 1,350 kg) despite a well-hidden rollcage for safety that uses a special coating to bond to the frame (like on a Ferrari). The interior isn't exactly bare bones by the way, swathed in only the finest materials handcrafted in Turin (alcantara, leather, and aluminum to be exact) with a staggering amount of color options. The seats are not only works of art, but supportive and one of the most comfortable imaginable--despite having a fixed back. All of the interior dials are stylized, and match a watch, which comes with the car. There is even matching luggage, made to fit in the ample trunk, made by Aznom, a crafter of luxury accessories.
The front and rear suspension is unique to the Codatronca, developed with the help of several partners including Moton Suspension Technology. It features electronically controlled sway bars with a cockpit dial for: rain, soft, medium, or hard ride. Adjustable sway bars, coilovers, and fully independent suspension give the aluminum chassis a very un-Vette-like road feel more in-tune with the chassis and road--some might call it telepathic. If its sophisticated suspension wasn't impressive enough, there is also an F1-inspired dash with 80 channels and 40 GB worth of data logging that includes inputs for steering angle, G-meter, speedometer, gear indicator, and many more that make this a complete telemetry system.
The brakes are also quite substantial, with eight-piston front and four-piston rear calipers from Brembo supplemented by power-assist and ABS. Lightweight two-piece 380mm (15-inch) front and 355mm (14-inch) rear rotors are used as well. These are well-matched by lightweight OZ Racing 19-inch alloy wheels mounted on Pirelli PZero Corsa tires (285/35/19 front, 345/35/19 rear). On a brief test drive, it is immediately apparent that grip is more than ample and the brakes will easily implant your nose in the windshield. Matter of fact, it is perhaps the most remarkable thing about driving the prototype as it had yet to have installed one of two impressive engine packages, not that a stock 505-horse LS7 is any slouch.
Spada ups the ante on the TS (Turismo Sportivo) version with an 11.5:1 LS7 that is tweaked to produce 630 horsepower and 670 lb-ft of torque naturally aspirated. There is an E85-compatible option on the TS that makes it a little more eco-friendly, and on the cutting edge of technology. The big-boy TSV (Turismo Super Veloce) will pack a twin C38 Rotrex centrifugal supercharged and intercooled LS7, said to be capable of a conservative 750 horsepower and 950 lb-ft of torque. The blown version awaits emissions testing, but it shouldn't be long until the Codatronca is shredding 0-60 and quarter-mile records, as it gets closer to production. It's already surpassed the Ferrari Enzo during top speed and handling testing at Monza, which no doubt pleased Ercole, its designer, to no end. The big brakes, I'm sure, came in handy approaching the infamous "Prima Variante" chicane.
In case you are wondering, the drivetrain is (fittingly) a combination of components both foreign and domestic. The TR6060 has had its guts removed, and replaced by Spada-selected components as has the rearend. With specially tuned gear ratios and stronger components giving the transaxle the beef to handle track abuse plus the brute force of the added power from both packages, the Italian maker is taking no chances. That being said, it is clear this is no half-hatched scheme--and we can't wait to see the finished product, even if the price tag is well north of a ZR1 or C6RS. Considering those involved, as well as the time and money invested, the Codatronca may very well soon be the greatest Corvette never made (by GM).