Spadaconcept Codatronca TS: Bold Italian Performance Motoring
Channel Staff - 17/Apr/2007 | 
Spadaconcept Codatronca TS
Powered by a Chevy LS7 V8 engine that
pumps out 337kW of power, this car is fast
Truncated Tales...Every once in a
while a design comes along and completely stuns every - sometimes for
better, other times for worse. Initially we were shocked by the
strange-looking rear of the Codatronca TS; it's
unorthodox design - while odd - is daring and original. The front end
looks very suave, with 'hidden' headlight clusters and a pair of huge
front air dams topped with LED indicators. But the rear is
something else entirely. It's truncated. The
exhaust pipes look good, and rising rear haunches that house the brake
lights frame the truncated 'tail' and reduce its intensity slightly.
And then there's the strange LED numerical display on the rear. A
speedo perhaps? We're not quite sure, but like the rest of the car it
certainly attracts attention. - Feann Torr, Editor |
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Moncalieri, Italy —
There are a number of reasons why this Italian-built sports car caught
our eye here at the Motoring Channel. For one, it's based on the
popular American Corvette sports car, and is powered by the venerable
LS7 V8 engine. Clearly it's an Italian design - with
subtle American themes from its Corvette donor car - which means
the styling is far from dull, and there's also the truncated tail
that will turn more heads than a Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale. According to Spadaconcept, the company behind the car, the new vehicle is it's latest
model which is built in the spirit and tradition of the Italian
'carrozzieria' (which roughly translates to 'auto body' but usually
means 'coach building'). The niche car maker says the Codatronca TS (TS = Turismo Sportivo) combines
both racing and touring characteristics and represents the latest
evolution of the concept of truncated tail. Taking
the C6 Chevrolet Corvette at it's base, Spadaconcept modifies most
aspects of the vehicle from the body work, to the suspension, to the
engine, and across the interior design as well.It explains that the Codatronca TS 'might' be the heir of the TZ models,
and will be built in a limited series. The Alfa TZ and TZ2 were designed by Ercole
Spada - now the head of Spadaconcept which formed in 2006 - and
commissioned by his friend Elio Zagato (some readers may be aware
of the famous 'Zagato' name, which another exotic niche car maker that
builds models based on famous sports cars from Maserati, Ferrari and
others). As well as the Spadaconcept Codatronca TS's
slightly strange styling, typified in the truncated rear end, the car
is very much entrenched in the performance world, powered by the Chevy
LS7 V8. This 8-cylinder engine has a 7.0-litre capacity and in this
Italian application it generates more than 330kW or 500 horsepower. The
engine's vital statistics are as follows:  Power: 337kW @ 6300rpm
Torque: 637Nm @ 4800rpm
The
strong V8 engine gives the Italian 2-door sports car an immense turn of
speed, particularly when the car doesn't weigh too much, 1400kg without
passengers. Like a traditional sports car the Codatronca TS's
engine is front mounted, and 6-speed manual transmission shunts power
and torque to the rear axle, making the car rear-wheel drive. With it's low weight of 1400 kilograms, positive aerodynamics, and low 1246mm roofline, the Codatronca TS can
be termed a super car because of its zero to 100km/h acceleration time
of just 3.7 seconds. It is unwritten law that anything under 4.0
seconds can be claimed to be a true super car. Top speed for the new Italian exotic is 330km/h, or 205mph. The body is suspended by cast
aluminium independent double
wishbone suspension at the front to give the car precise handling
traits, and with adjustable shock absorbers and adjustable front
and rear anti-roll bars, the car can be tailored to suit driving and
surface conditions. The wheel and
brake package is comprised of 18- x 9.5-inch front wheel rims and
wider 19- x 12-inch rear wheel rims, while the braking system features
6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers, with cross-drilled discs and
ABS electronics.
The Italian company insists the Codatronca TS is
a timeless design, finding its common point between the past and
the future, while offering a surfeit of performance from its huge
7.0-litre V8 engine. Build in limited quantities, the Spadaconcept's latest design is sure to polarise opinion wherever it travels.
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