Exterior

The exterior of the Zeigler/Bailey Z/B 4.4 evokes the purity of classic 1970s proportions, massaged to meet the demands of up-to-the-minute performance. The body panels in carbon-fibre (excepting the ADR-mandated steel doors and bonnet) clothe a more muscular stance on entirely new front and rear suspensions. The front air dam and elevated ducktail are the most obvious elements of a complex package of aerodynamic and thermal management.

Interior

The Z/B 4.4 interior sets the benchmark for driving position integrity, accommodation and comfort – achieved by superseding the original floor with our own, seam-welded “Tub” structure. Compromises in the alignment of driver controls have been engineered away. Drivers up to two metres tall can take the (height- and reach-adjustable) wheel, enjoying richly upholstered, new-generation seats. Touch points like the machined alloy gear lever and the dash-mounted infotainment screen all speak of luxury and convenience – underwritten by ergonomic efficiency.

Suspension

Our ambition was to bring composure and communication together. To let you feel the road while enjoying the journey. To create an automobile that rewards your attention on a winding stretch and remains inviting when the journey becomes longer.

We considered the suspension alongside the complete automobile: its architecture, its weight and the strength of the engine behind you. Each decision had to serve the way those elements work together.

A road worth following.
An automobile worth understanding.

Engine

In watchmaking parlance, it is our “in-house movement”: an engine designed and created for our purpose. Our demands for performance, drivability, emissions and hot-climate durability quickly eliminated the donor engine as a basis.

Back to first principles: A new, air-cooled flat six, with a 4.4-litre capacity for performance with dependability. Block, cylinders and heads are CNC-machined from aluminium billet. Twin-spark, coil-per-plug ignition for optimum fuel and emissions efficiency. Billet steel crankshaft with enlarged bearings and a superior oil feed system. 300kW power and 500Nm torque, comparable with the current (992-series) Porsche 911 Carrera. But with the sound and soul of the air-cooled original.

Instrumentation

Our electronic instruments bring engine and vehicle data into a familiar layout. Modern capability finds its place within the character of the cabin.

The design begins with the driver. Information should be easy to recognise, with a clear relationship between what matters most and what supports it. Typography, contrast and the movement of an indication all deserve attention. An instrument must sit beautifully in the dashboard and communicate clearly when you need it.

Behind the displays, dedicated electronics receive information from the engine management and vehicle systems. This allows us to bring those signals together in instruments developed for the Z/B 4.4. We wanted the dashboard to evolve with the engineering beneath it, while retaining the visual language that makes this automobile feel familiar.