Alfa Romeo RZ Zagato Cars

The SZ had done the job it was meant to, but ultimately was quite hard to sell because of its extreme looks. A special racing class (the SZ Trophy) was introduced so the SZ (and RZ) could be used in competition on tracks all over Europe. Participants received a 25% discount on the not even exorbitant price of the cars in order to boost sales and to promote the series.

Regardless of the lacking commercial success of the SZ a new version appeared in 1992: the Roadster Zagato (RZ). Like the name indicates it was a convertible version of the SZ coupe. A year before Zagato had presented a SZ spider styling study, a remarkably elegant looking prototype SZ convertible with some curvy, almost feminine forms. But the actual RZ looked more like its SZ brother with angular shapes and the high waist line; more as if the SZ had been decapitated. However this car, unlike the SZ, was an original Zagato design.

A limited production of only 350 cars was announced, but the RZ proved to be even harder to sell than the SZ. Only 278 roadsters left the factory; 50 in 1992 and 228 in 1993. Like the SZ the RZ was sold and distributed outside Italy mostly by enthusiasts and specialists, and not by the official Alfa Romeo channels.

A remarkable feature in the interior are the "Kevlar" panels in the dashboard of the SZ, which give a racy light-weight impression. But it isn't really (expensive) carbon fibre material, only Fablon with a plastic coating. In the RZ these panels have been replaced by black coated aluminum panels.
The seats have no height adjustment and this means that taller people have reduced visibility in the RZ because of the low windscreen with the large top edge. The windscreen rim also acts as a roll-over bar in the RZ, hence its size.

Underneath the body not much was changed. Like the SZ the new RZ featured the 3.0 litre V6 with 210 hp and 245 Nm. A nice aspect of this engine is the even availability of torque: between 2500 and 6000 rpm there's always at least 230 Nm available. This makes the SZ and RZ flexible cars to drive, equally competent at touring as at performance driving. A downside to the RZ is its weight: 1380 kg, an increase by 120 kg causing it to be less nimble than the SZ. Maximum speed of the RZ is 230 kph and the car is capable of a 0-100 kph acceleration in 7.5 seconds.

The body of the RZ shows some revisions from that of the SZ. Most notably of course the (unlined) fold away top which disappears in a space behind the seats, under a lid with two typical Zagato bulges. Other changes include different side windows to fit the top, a new engine cover, now without the ribbed segment in the middle part in front of the windscreen, more concealed window wipers, a higher front spoiler to offer more ground clearance, revised side-skirts and a darker rear light strip.

Less noticeable but also a remarkable difference from the SZ is the utilization of thinner plastic panels in order to reduce weight. In all, creating the RZ required more than 500 new parts and all moulds for the plastic components had to be renewed. Quite expensive for such a limited production run.
With the top down the roadster looks less harmonious than the coupe, it gives an impression of a chunky wedge. It takes a lot of getting used to, but on the other hand it conveys a butch brutality, like a pumped up body-builder. The RZ is definitely a car for those who like to be noticed as non-conformists.

A typical Alfa Romeo characteristic can be found in the drive train of the SZ and RZ: the transaxle transmission construction. This means that the gearbox isn't directly attached to the engine, but to the rear axle, combined with the (limited slip) differential. The construction offers a better weight distribution with enhanced road holding as a result, but always had the downside of an indirect, uncomfortable gear change.