Alfa Romeo's Adaptation of the Dodge Viper Included Pickup-Truck Style Rear Gate
Article: The Unique Rear Gate Design of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato
The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato, a stunning piece of automotive engineering, boasts an unconventional rear gate design that sets it apart from other supercars. This unique feature is a testament to Zagato's commitment to styling over practical luggage space.
The rear gate of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 is a carbon fiber panel that includes the rear window and circular brake lights. This panel is hinged at the bottom and drops down like a pickup truck's tailgate, creating a narrow cargo opening. This design, while visually striking, requires careful handling to avoid damaging the panel and limits the storage space.
The reason behind this unconventional design lies in the car's Zagato-designed body. With its tight lines, steep angles, and wraparound rear glass, there is no room for a traditional upward-opening hatch or hinged rear door. As a result, the downward-opening tailgate was the only feasible solution that maintained the vehicle’s styling priorities over practicality.
The dimensions of the rear gate opening are not extensively detailed, but it is described as a narrow aperture, significantly smaller than a conventional rear hatch or typical trunk opening. This reflects the limited cargo capacity inherent in the supercar’s design philosophy.
The Alfa Romeo TZ3's interior combines Italian luxury elements with Chrysler malaise design cues. Notable features include the head unit design, which resembles that of a Jeep Liberty. The car has also undergone repairs, as it was rear-ended shortly after its delivery in 2012, with Zagato taking care of the damages.
Currently, the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato is listed for sale on Bring a Trailer, with a price tag of $300,000. This unique blend of the Viper ACR-X's bones and an 8.4-liter, 640-horsepower V10 engine makes it a coveted item among car enthusiasts. With just five days remaining on the listing, potential buyers have a limited time to secure this jaw-droppingly beautiful piece of automotive history.
Summary:
- The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato features an unconventional rear gate design, with the entire carbon fiber rear panel, including the window and round brake lights, hinged at the bottom and opening downward like a pickup truck tailgate.
- This design creates a narrow cargo opening and limits storage space, requiring careful loading since the tailgate is not designed to bear weight.
- The purpose of this design is to accommodate Zagato’s tight rear styling and wraparound glass with no room for a traditional hatch.
- The Alfa Romeo TZ3's interior combines Italian luxury elements with Chrysler malaise design cues.
- The current price of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato on Bring a Trailer is $300,000, with five days remaining on the listing.
- The unique rear gate design of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato, a feature that includes the carbon fiber rear panel, rear window, and circular brake lights, is hinged at the bottom and opens downward like a pickup truck's tailgate, providing a narrow cargo opening.
- This design, driven by the car's styling priorities, requires careful handling to avoid damaging the panel and limits the storage space, making it less practical for everyday use.
- Despite this compromise in practicality, the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato remains a highly sought-after item in the automotive industry, with a current price tag of $300,000 on Bring a Trailer.
