Florence based TRC Italia team up with Marangoni Tire for the 2010 Essen motor show and build the Z-HYDRO concept featuring Marangoni tires, KW Coilovers, LSD doors and a new water gas system to increase both economy, looks and performance.

Press release Courtesy of TRC Italia and Marangoni Tires

Z-HYDRO is the name given to the new demo car for 2010 by Marangoni Car Tyre, the Marangoni Group division that manufactures and markets tyres completely “made in Italy”.

Following huge media success in the last two years with the previous demo cars (Alfa MiTo M430 and the Fiat 5.0.0.), Marangoni has once again developed a very high level show car for 2010. The tuning project was, as before, handled by the Florence based TRC Italia in an astonishingly short time, given the recent market launch of the Nissan 370Z R34, the vehicle that the Z-HYDRO is based on.

Naturally, the 2010 car would not have been complete without the now traditional colored tyres, and following last year’s red, the choice this time was blue, the colour of water, as well has having always been the Marangoni Group’s corporate colour.

For this captivating vehicle, Marangoni has developed a 20” concept design tyre, which will be the source of inspiration for the Marangoni M-Power, the new ultra high performance product to be released on the market at the start of next year. Z-HYDRO is thus shod with “M Power – Blue” concept tyres, created by Marangoni, in 245/30R20 and 285/25R20 sizes, using a special compound with a very high silica content that minimises rolling resistance and consequently fuel consumption.

The Marangoni 2010 show car is not however just about design, style and power, but is also a demonstration of technological advancement and ecology.

The main technological advancement, and the inspiration for the name Z-HYDRO, is the inclusion of a process which produces a gas called HHO or Oxyhydrogen, and uses an innovative “energy from water” supply kit. This advanced technology works in symbiosis with the car’s original engine and minimises harmful emissions and specifically unburned hydrocarbons, which are practically eliminated. Yet that’s not all, as Oxyhydrogen also significantly decreases the vehicle’s fuel consumption, without compromising on engine power. Amazingly this system relies on one basic raw material…. water!

A dream? No! Simply further testimony of the Marangoni Group’s drive to innovate, through researching new solutions, verifying their feasibility and promoting them, just like in the case of this new and fascinating interpretation of high technology represented by the Z-HYDRO.

The Marangoni Group: from tyres to advanced technological research

The Marangoni Group, operating in the tyre business for over 50 years, has always given priority to advanced technological research and the development of new technologies to reduce usage of energy resources and protect the environment. Marangoni operates businesses covering the complete life cycle of the tyre: from production and marketing of tyres, retreading systems and machinery, to recovery of energy from the disposal of tyres at the end of their life.

Proving that Marangoni are much more than just a “tyre company”, their diversified production is accompanied by high level synergies, especially in research. In recent years, as in the past, the company’s innovative projects have been as intense and significant. These include:

• the futuristic automated Modular Tyre Machinery laboratory for the production of high performance tyres; 
• the Sirio solar parabolic concentrator that coverts solar energy into electricity, with 30% higher efficiency than the current standard; 
• the HYGen II Generator, which produces pure hydrogen by extraction from LPG, to increase the life cycle of fuel cells (from the current standard 1,000 to 3,000).

MARANGONI Z-HYDRO: events

The Marangoni Z-HYDRO will make its worldwide debut at the upcoming Essen Motor Show, in Germany, to be held from 27 November to 6 December 2009 (Hall 5 Stand 124 Oxigin Wheels). Throughout 2010 the Z-HYDRO will be shown at the main European tuning events, over 10 in total.

For details on which events Z-HYDRO will be at, see the Marangoni website (http://tyre.marangoni.com) or sign up to the Z-HYDRO group on Facebook.

MARANGONI Z-HYDRO: technical details

Starting from a brand new Nissan 370Z R34, the Z-HYDRO is an almost total reworking of the car, with substantial changes made to the body, engine, interiors, braking system and trim.

Hydro Kit

The big news is the revolutionary Hydro supply kit that independently produces HHO (oxyhydrogen) and works in perfect symbiosis with the original engine. The HHO created is injected by the system into the engine’s intake, bringing a drastic reduction in HC, unburned hydrocarbons (practically eliminated) and harmful emissions in general, plus significant improvements in fuel consumption.

This trial, coordinated by TRC Italia in collaboration with HydroMoving and Mariani Engineering, maintains the vehicle’s original horsepower and, as confirmed by the engineer Lorenzo Errico, the designer of the system, will in a subsequent stage be able to increase it considerably.

Body and design

It’s not hard to deduce the origin of the Z-HYDRO design, being clearly similar to its big brother, the Nissan GTR Skyline R35.

The TRC Performance front bumper in fact has the same centre design, with two wide air grills sending the air flow directly to the now much more powerful braking system. As regards the rear, the original diffuser has been removed and replaced with a new carbon component made by MB, with highly evident air extractors for better outflow. Carbon has also been used to make the pair of mirrors, the spoiler on the boot, some of the interior panels and the logos. The aluminium doors are now fitted with special LSD hinges, further modified to make the doors open wing-style, just like on the most prestigious supercars.

All the components designed for the Z-HYDRO will be marketed in 2010 by TRC Italia.

Other features

Z-HYDRO has been lowered around 4 cm using KW threaded strut housings that allow height adjustment as well as adjustment of the shock absorbers in compression and extension. The front suspension is fitted with the new HLS system that allows the front to be raised 5 cm by simply pressing a button in the centre of the vehicle’s dashboard. The already powerful standard braking system has been replaced on both axles with the innovative Tarox B350 12-pot calipers and composite 400mm diameter discs, resulting in maximum, yet progressive braking power. The gearchange mechanism has been fitted with a special selector to reduce travel and make gear changes even faster.

Engine power delivery has been improved by adopting new exhaust manifolds and 200 cell stainless steel catalytic converters. The intake on the two rows of cylinders bas been modified by removing the original casing and adopting cotton air filters with direct intake and a new carbon-look cover.

The front seats and the door panels have been meticulously lined with leather and Alcantara, strictly blue in colour, by the able hands of Luna supercar.

Completing the look of this stunning project car, are “M Power – Blue” concept tyres, especially created by Marangoni, and fitted on Oxigin Vierzhen Ox rock black full polish wheels, 8.5×20 front and 11×20 rear.

Italy, November 2009