Cizeta

Cizeta was an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Modena, active under the name Cizeta Moroder Motors srl between 1988 and 1991, and subsequently as Cizeta Automobili SpA from 1991 to 1995.

The company was founded by Claudio Zampolli, a former Lamborghini engineer, with initial financing from music producer Giorgio Moroder, which led to the car's original name, Cizeta-Moroder. The vehicle's styling closely resembled the Lamborghini Diablo, a similarity explained by the fact that both cars were designed by Marcello Gandini.

The car's defining feature was its mid-mounted engine, a 6.0-litre V16 unit with 64 valves producing 519 bhp. Its five-speed transaxle was mounted at right angles to the engine, a layout that led to the car being renamed the V16T to reflect the engine and transmission configuration.

The two-seater coupé had an unusually wide aluminium body, which was never tested in a wind tunnel, set over a steel chassis reinforced with aluminium and carbon fibre. It featured all-independent suspension. A light redesign was carried out in 1992.

Despite its ambitions, the Cizeta's very high price and limited customer base restricted production severely, with an estimated total of no more than twelve cars built before the company ceased operations.