Founded in 1968 by Giorgetto Giugiaro in Turin, Italy, Italdesign is a creative powerhouse with a long history of beautiful creations, including standouts like the Maserati MC12, the BMW M1, and the Lotus Esprit, More recently, Italdesign gave us the ultra-low production Zerouno Coupe at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, launching the customized V-10 supercar as part of its new Automobile Speciali project. Now, there’s a new model dubbed the Zerouno Duerta, and it modifies the coupe by blowing the roof off the cabin, all while retaining the coupe’s top-shelf performance and head-turning good looks.

Updated 03/15/2018: We’ve added more pics and the latest info on the Italdesign Zerouno Duerta!

Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerta.

2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerta

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerta
• Engine/Motor: V10
• Horsepower: 610 @ 8250
• Torque: 413 @ 6500
• [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Pros

Cons

2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerta Exterior

Fast Facts

All-carbon exterior

More wings than an air show

Sci-vibe aesthetic

Lots of geometric elements

Closely related to the coupe

Revised engine cover

Manually removable carbon roof

Emergency soft top

Y Duct front end

LED lighting

20-inch wheels with carbon embellishments

Roughly the same size as the Aventador

*** NOTE TO FORMATTER: PLEASE INCLUDE AN EXTERIOR IMAGE OF THE 2018 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO DUERTA HERE. ***

*** The Duerta looks like a cyborg great white shark sent to murder the dolphin equivalent of John Connor. ***

Previewed prior to its debut at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show with a single shadowy teaser image, the Italdesign Zerouno Duerta is more or less what we expected from the Italian design house when it first revealed the coupe model.

This time around, the look is evolved a bit to better fit the drop-top body style, but not much. It’s still spacey and aggressive, with a dash of sci-fi awesomeness all its own. Overall, we see elements of the Lamborghini Egoista and Lamborghini Veneno, with wild curves and sharp elements that make it bristle with performance promises from front to back.

The basics are as you’d expect, with a low and wide stance, as well as geometric elements for the various features. There are wings and vents and intakes at every turn, and there are a lot of turns in this car, with angles and bends and curves galore. If we had to characterize it, we’d say it looks like a cyborg great white shark sent from the future to murder the dolphin equivalent of John Connor.

*** NOTE TO FORMATTER: PLEASE INCLUDE A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON IMAGE SHOWING THE THE 2017 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO COUPE ON THE LEFT AND THE 2018 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO DUERTA ON THE RIGHT, AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING CAPTION: “Note: 2017 Italdesign Zerouno coupe pictured on the left, 2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerte pictured on the right.” ***

While it is quite close in styling compared to the coupe, there are a few upgrades that are unique to the convertible model. “The upper and rear parts of the car’s body have been completely redesigned to permit the roof to be removed without compromising performance and comfort when the vehicle is being driven topless,” Italdesign explains. The Duerta also gets an engine cover that’s lower in the center compared to the coupe.

That said, the body is once again made entirely of hand-crafted carbon fiber components. The roof is also made of carbon fiber, and is manually removable. And in case the weather turns on you, the Duerta comes with an emergency soft top to ward away incoming moisture.

Aero was a major concern in the design process, as is evidenced by the fact that this thing has more wings than an air show. Most prominent is the Y Duct in the hood, which is used for downforce and cooling purposes. The rest of the advanced aero is comprised of an intricate front splitter, louvers along the front and rear wheel arches to reduce pressure, side fins for greater lateral stability, a large rear racing spoiler for extra grip, and an underbody diffuser to help the whole thing suck itself into the pavement.

*** NOTE TO FORMATTER: PLEASE INCLUDE AN IMAGE OF THE 2018 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO REAR WING HERE. ***

*** Aero was a major concern in the design process - this thing has more wings than an air show. ***

In the corners, you’ll find 20-inch wheels, which also get carbon detailing along the outer rim of the five-spoke design. LED lighting at both ends is provided in long, thin strips.

Truth be told, the look of the Zerouno is a bit controversial among enthusiasts. Some love the out-there appearances, while others deride it as messy and ugly. The polarizing aesthetic is no doubt partly due to the departure of founder Giorgetto Giugiaro, who left the firm in 2015 and subsequently took some of the company’s credibility with him.

Luckily, there isn’t a single body panel shared between the Zerouno Duerta and either of the Volkswagen products it’s based on. Nor should there be, considering the price.

Finally, in terms of exterior dimensions, the Zerouno Duerta is about the same size as the Lamborghini Aventador, as you can see in the comparison table below.

2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerta Interior

Fast Facts

Same interior spec as the coupe

Oodles of customization options

High-end materials like leather and Alcantara

Roll bars added for safety

Several color schemes or bare carbon

Some similarities to mainstream models

*** NOTE TO FORMATTER: PLEASE INCLUDE AN INTERIOR IMAGE OF THE 2018 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO DUERTA HERE. ***

*** As expected, customizations options are plentiful here. Buyers get an array of top-shelf materials to choose from. ***

With pictures of the Italdesign Zerouno Duerta’s cabin now in hand, we can confirm that the spec and layout are pretty much identical to that of the coupe. Standout features include loads of carbon details and surrounds, as well as a flat-bottom steering wheel wrapped in soft-touch material. Passengers sit low in the cockpit, hugged by highly bolstered bucket seats. The instrumentation is all-digital, and the control scheme looks like it was plucked out of a fighter jet.

That said, there are a few differences to note when comparing with the coupe. The cockpit cover is new, as is the engine cover, and two roll bars were added to the driver and passenger sides for additional rollover protection.

As expected, customizations options are plentiful here. Buyers get an array of top-shelf materials to choose from, including leather, Alcantara, and more. There’s also several different color schemes on the table, or, as an alternative, bare naked carbon fiber in a raw unpainted form as well.

*** There are a few small things to pick out that remind us of the car’s Lamborghini and Audi origins. ***

While we’re digging the look Italdesign is going for here, there are a few small things to pick out that remind us of the car’s Lamborghini and Audi origins. For example, the gauge pod looks like it was plucked from the R8, while the geometric shape for the vents is reminiscent of the Huracan.

One could see this as both good and bad, though. It’s good because not only does the cabin look great, with a functional and streamlined approach, but it also offers a wide variety of proven customization options for the buyer given the carryover from the mainstream models.

On the other hand, buyers may want something completely bespoke for the money paid, and any similarities to a mass-produced product will ding the desirability factor a bit. Of course, that’s just nit-picking at this point, but take a gander at the Prices section, and you’ll see why we think it’s a justifiable critique.

Italdesign Zerouno Duerta Drivetrain

Fast Facts

NA 5.2-liter V-10

Mid-mounted powertrain

Seven-speed automatic transmission

Audi-sourced AWD

610 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, 413 pound-feet at 6,500 rpm

0 to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds

Top speed of 199 mph

Custom exhaust

*** NOTE TO FORMATTER: PLEASE INCLUDE AN IMAGE OF THE EXHAUST OR ENGINE COVER FOR THE 2018 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO DUERTA HERE. ***

*** The main party piece is an all-atmosphere 5.2-liter V-10 gas-gulper, which is mounted in the middle of the machine. ***

The main party piece is an all-atmosphere 5.2-liter V-10 gas-gulper, which is mounted in the middle of the machine. Handling the cog swaps is a seven-speed dual-clutch with paddle shifters, which mates with an Audi-sourced AWD to put the power to the pavement.

Output is measured at a maximum of 610 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 560 Nm (413 pound-feet) of torque at 6,500 rpm. A run from 0 to 62 mph takes 3.2 seconds, while the top speed is rated at 320 km/h (199 mph).

All told, these numbers are the same as those offered on the coupe, not to mention the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Huracan. However, expect the Zerouno to sound a bit different thanks to Italdesign’s penchant for custom exhausts.

2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerta Chassis And Handling

Fast Facts

Modular chassis made from carbon and aluminum

Extra bracing added for rigidity

Carbon ceramic disc brakes

Pirelli P Zero tires in custom colors

*** NOTE TO FORMATTER: PLEASE INCLUDE A CLOSE-UP IMAGE OF THE WHEEL ON THE 2018 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO DUERTA HERE. ***

*** Even as a topless convertible, the Zerouno Duerta should be provide the thrill in the corners. ***

Under all that wild bodywork, the 2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerta gets the same bones as the Huracan and R8, with a modular chassis constructed from a combination of carbon fiber and aluminum.

Even as a topless convertible, the Zerouno Duerta should be able to provide the thrills in the corners. Italdesign CTO Antonio Casu commented on the development process, saying, “From an engineering standpoint, the challenge we faced was designing a new chassis: we reinforced the structure to compensate - in terms of rigidity - for the absence of the B and C pillars, typical of a topless car, to ensure a performance comparable to that of the Zerouno coupe.”

Like the coupe, low weight is one of the primary focuses here, and while we don’t have any exact numbers on curb weight, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn the Zerouno matches the Huracan at 3,400 pounds.

Helping it stop are carbon ceramic brake discs, which get squeezed by 8-pot calipers in front and 6-pot calipers in the rear.

Unsurprisingly, Italdesign went to Pirelli for the tires, leveraging the partnership for a little Formula 1-style boasting. The rubber uses the P Zero compound, sized at 245/30R20 in front and 305/30R20 in the rear. Funny enough, even the tires get their own customization options, with different colors on deck to make each Zerouno Duerta unique down to the smallest of details.

2018 Italdesign Zerouno Duerta Prices

*** NOTE TO FORMATTER: PLEASE INCLUDE A DETAIL IMAGE OF THE 2018 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO DUERTA HERE. ***

*** How much for each? We hear as much as $2.4 million per. ***

Italdesign will produce just five units total of the Zerouno Duerta, with the entire production run set for completion by the end of 2018. Each of the five units will be designed, engineered, and built at Italdesign’s Moncalieri plant.

More money will buy any one of a number of packages to upgrade the styling, both for the interior and exterior, as well as the performance spec. Just about anything can be had for the right price.

Unfortunately for those looking to snag one for their garage, all five are already spoken for, selling out in a matter of weeks - even quicker than the five coupe versions.

Which leaves the question - how much for each? We hear as much as $2.4 million per, which is about $500,000 more than the coupe. Quite the up charge for 100 percent less roof, no?

Conclusion

*** NOTE TO FORMATTER: PLEASE INCLUDE A REAR IMAGE OF THE 2018 ITALDESIGN ZEROUNO DUERTA HERE. ***

*** It’s essentially a road-legal spaceship, with supercar levels of performance and an enormous price tag befitting of the rarefied badge on the nose. ***

Italdesign plans on offering a new model every year, with the Zerouno Duerta occupying the entirety of the company’s production power for 2018. Expect further custom cars from the company in the future.

“The Zerouno Duerta represents phase two in Italdesign’s strategic plan for creating iconic, high-performance products that collectors will treasure,” the company states in a press release.

The Duerta is part of the Italdesign’s 50th anniversary celebration, and points the direction the company is headed in offering a series of ultra-low collector supercars. It’s essentially a road-legal spaceship, with supercar levels of performance and an enormous price tag befitting of the rarefied badge on the nose.

The fact Italdesign could so easily sell all five units of these high-dollar supercars (and so quickly too) is a testament to the company’s undeniable styling chops, not to mention the insanely hot modern supercar market.

That said, some of you out there will undoubtedly think the Zerouno is a ludicrous vehicle. After all, when you break it down, all it is is an R8 Spyder with a new body kit and interior, right? Does that really make it work an extra $2.2 million over the Four Ring model?

No question - for some people, the answer to that is an unequivocal yes, and when Italdesign comes out with its next project, you can bet it’ll sell out just as quickly.

References

Read our full review on the 2017 Italdesign Zerouno Coupe.

Read our full review on the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan.

Read our full review on the Audi R8.

Read more Geneva Motor Show news.