2017 Okuyama Kode0

Bespoke. Unique. Exotic. Sophisticated. Inspired. These are the qualities bestowed upon the Kode 0, a Lamborghini-based supercar with sculpted, wedge-shaped aesthetics.

The Kode 0 was the creation of Japanese-born automobile designer Ken Okuyama, who formerly worked for Pininfarina overseeing projects such as the Enzo Ferrari, 599 GTB Fiorano, 612 Scaglietti, Rossa, and P4/5. He was the Chair of the Transportation Design Department at the Art Center College of Design between 2000 and 2004, helped design the fourth generation Chevrolet Camaro while working for General Motors, and lent his talents on the 911 (996) and the Boxster while employed at Porsche.

Most self-titled concept cars designed by Ken Okuyama Design are christened 'Kode.' After branching out on his own in 2006, Okuyama's first concepts were unveiled in 2008 at the Geneva Motor Show. Dubbed the 'Kode 7' and 'Kode 8,' they were an open-top two-seater and two-door coupe, respectively. Both concepts rested on the same carbon fiber chassis and received double wishbone suspensions.

The Kode0
The Kode0 was built atop a 2017 Lamborghini Aventador powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre, 690 horsepower V12 engine paired with a seven-speed automated transmission with paddle shift. Design sketches were transformed into small-scale clay models, where slight modifications led to an optimized form. The shape followed Okuyama's favored 'one-motion' styling theme, with a single line from the nose to the A-pillar, the C-pillar, and the rear. Three-dimensional computer renderings were created and subsequently converted into a full-scale buck at the Ken Okuyama Design Yamagata Factory, which is recognized as Japan's only 'carrozzeria.'

The final bodywork was crafted from bespoke carbon-fiber panels, predominantly finished in a silver color scheme, although several were intentionally left uncoated to provide a striking visual contrast. The door sills, inner door panels, and several trim components were adorned with a green finish. Additionally, green stitching provided a striking contrast against the black Alcantara and silver leather upholstery, complemented by diamond-quilted inserts on both the seats and door cards.

Drawing from a rich heritage of wedge-shaped designs and unique vehicles, the Kode 0 had a low frontal area that formed an acute point, with a front splitter that segregated it from the nose cone. Flanking the bonnet on either side were a pair of vertically oriented LED headlights, echoing the incline of the hood and seamlessly blending into the sharply angled windscreen. The side profile exhibited a comparable swept-back contour to that of the hood and windshield, yet it adhered to the contours of the front splitter, extending backward toward the rear wheel arch before sharply altering its trajectory over the cabin. Access to the interior was accommodated via scissor doors operated by a hidden button. Additional design touches include 21-inch wheels, an electrically operated rear spoiler, a triangular-shaped exhaust, and carbon-fiber rear diffuser fins flanking the exhaust.

Design inspiration for the Kode 0 came from some of history's greatest automotive creations, including the Lancia Stratos Zero by Bertone and the Lamborghini Countach by Gandini.

The Kode 0 was a one-off creation built for a client for (reported) $1.5 million, plus the cost of the donor Aventador. It made its debut at Monterey Car Week in 2017, including a showing at the Quail, A Motor Sport Gathering, Concorso Italiano, and on the concept lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2024