Photo: Ken Okuyama
Born in 1959, Ken Okuyama’s career kicked off into overdrive when Porsche offered him a job. After the Japanese designer helped pen the 996 and first-generation Boxster, he then went on to General Motors, until one day when the phone rang. Pininfarina was on the other end, offering a job to the man that helped the Italian design house make the Ferrari Enzo a timeless design.
After offering his expertize for the 599 GTB Fiorano, P4/5, Maserati Birdcage 75th, and Mitsubishi Colt CZC, the acclaimed designed set up his own company, specialized in eyewear and one-offs like the K.O. 7 Spider of 2008. Fast-forward to the present day, and the latest creation shines brightly under the Monterey sky. Dubbed Kode 0, the magnificent machine you’re looking at is a work of utter wonder that started life as a Lamborghini Aventador.
Visibly more wedge-shaped than the vehicle on which it’s based, the Kode 0 features LED headlight inspired by last year’s Kode 57, four exhaust pipes integrated into a triangle-shaped housing, and a thumpin’ great aerodynamic diffuser. The shiny paintwork and silver seats have a whiff of disco aesthetics to them, but this vehicle isn’t made for playing Bee Gees' hit Staying Alive.
It’s made to scare wildlife into submission and wake up your neighbors at four in the morning, once the start button is pressed and the naturally aspirated V12 roars into life. The slumbering beast has 700 ponies and 690 Nm (507 pound-feet) to shout about, and just like in the Aventador’s case, the 6.5-liter tower-of-power is connected to a semi-auto box. 2.9 clicks to 100 km/h (62 mph), a mind-boggling top speed, what more could you actually ask for?
Okuyama made it clear the Kode 0 displayed at Monterey is a one-of-one, but if there is demand for more, then five units will be built at approximately $1.5 million on top of the donor Aventador. All in all, it’s reassuring to see a passionate designer pay tribute to 1970s classics like the Lamborghini Countach, Lancia Stratos Zero concept, and the Ferrari Modulo concept.
Visibly more wedge-shaped than the vehicle on which it’s based, the Kode 0 features LED headlight inspired by last year’s Kode 57, four exhaust pipes integrated into a triangle-shaped housing, and a thumpin’ great aerodynamic diffuser. The shiny paintwork and silver seats have a whiff of disco aesthetics to them, but this vehicle isn’t made for playing Bee Gees' hit Staying Alive.
It’s made to scare wildlife into submission and wake up your neighbors at four in the morning, once the start button is pressed and the naturally aspirated V12 roars into life. The slumbering beast has 700 ponies and 690 Nm (507 pound-feet) to shout about, and just like in the Aventador’s case, the 6.5-liter tower-of-power is connected to a semi-auto box. 2.9 clicks to 100 km/h (62 mph), a mind-boggling top speed, what more could you actually ask for?
Okuyama made it clear the Kode 0 displayed at Monterey is a one-of-one, but if there is demand for more, then five units will be built at approximately $1.5 million on top of the donor Aventador. All in all, it’s reassuring to see a passionate designer pay tribute to 1970s classics like the Lamborghini Countach, Lancia Stratos Zero concept, and the Ferrari Modulo concept.
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