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Jay Leno chats with Ken Okuyama about the Kode 0 supercar

Back in August, car designer Ken Okuyama, the man responsible for various custom supercars and the Ferrari Enzo, revealed his latest creation, the Kode 0. It was a crisp wedge of a car that took inspiration from classic supercars. Now, a few months later, it has appeared in the latest episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” and Okuyama was able to share some fascinating details about the design, as well as the process for creating his cars.

As Okuyama explains, each car he designs is commissioned by a customer, and it’s not a speedy process. He says the design phase takes about two years, and so he half-jokingly says that he and the customer need to get along. It’s definitely a joint process with back-and-forth. Okuyama highlights the nose of the car where the owner initially wanted something more, but Okuyama pushed for the extra simple design, specifically because he felt the simple fascia was more reminiscent of the ’70s and ’80s supercars that inspired the car.

The episode also gives us a peek at the next project from Okuyama. He shows Leno his sketchbook as an example of the drawings he does for customers. The sketches are of a project that Okuyama says might be revealed next year. It looks like a front-engine sporty grand tourer of some sort. For more insight into the design of the Kode 0, check out the full video above.

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Ken Okuyama’s Kode 0 brings classic ’70s design to the Quail

Ken Okuyama designed this, the Kode 0, to invoke memories of such classic ’70s supercar designs as the Lancia Stratos Zero, Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Moduro. But its retro-futuristic looks are only skin deep. The Kode 0 sits atop the guts of a current Lamborghini Aventador, including its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine.

Due to its full carbon fiber bodywork, the Kode 0 weighs just 3,417 pounds. That’s more than 600 pounds lighter than the Aventador upon which it’s based. With 690 horsepower and 507 pound-feet of torque, the Kode 0 can hit 60 miles per hour in just 2.9 seconds.

The Kode 0’s dramatic wedge-shaped design is inspired by the works of Marcello Gandini and flows seamlessly from front to rear. Its almost impossibly short rear overhang and slanted roofline draw the eye toward the acute crease that makes up the rear portion of the passenger compartment. It’s certainly striking, especially when the doors open to reveal bright green highlights hiding behind the bodywork.

The Kode 0 is radically different but equally as stunning as the Kode 57 that Okuyama unveiled at the Quail last year. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery above.

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Kode 0 is a new one-off supercar from Ferrari Enzo designer Ken Okuyama

Ken Okuyama is famous for his time as lead designer at Pininfarina, and specifically known for penning the Ferrari Enzo. He now has his own design house in Japan. Last year, he wowed the world with a one-off supercar, called the Kode57, at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. That car will return to The Quail this year, but will be joined by a new stablemate, a wedge-shaped supercar called Kode 0.

We don’t have a lot of details about the car yet, but what we do know is enough to excite us. The Kode 0 is powered by a V12 situated amidships. We’re not sure what the output is, but the 6.0-liter V12 in the Kode57 produces about 600 horsepower, if that’s any indication. The Kode 0 features a carbon fiber monocoque, which helps the car save weight and provides structural rigidity. The photo of the car in a magazine ad posted to Okyuama’s Facebook page says the Kode 0 is inspired by Italian supercars from the 70s, like the Lancia Stratos Zero and Lamborghini Countach.

In addition to the magazine photo, Okuyama has posted the following teaser shots of the car:

According the Ken Okuyama Design website, the Kode 0 will be unveiled at The Quail on Friday. We can expect to learn more details then.

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