k.o7/8

The lightweight k.o 7 and k.o 8 sports cars are the brainchild of Ken Okuyama, the former chief designer for Pininfarina, among whose credits include the Ferrari Enzo. Striking out on his own, he is seeking to re-create Spartan sports cars similar to Colin Chapman's famed Lotus 7.

These 2-passenger cars feature a mid-mounted 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine producing 250 bhp. The k.o 7 Spider is intended as a track machine and features cycle-style fenders. The fenders and the center portion of the body are rendered in carbon fiber while the side panels are of polished aluminum. The Spider measures 141 in. in overall length, 72.8 in. wide and just 43.3 in. tall.

The k.o 8 is a coupe, featuring traditional fenders enclosing the wheels and a removable targa top, is a pure electric vehicle. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the k.o 8 has a range of about 160 kilometres and is powered by a 100kW three-phase electric motor. Both vehicles will be built in limited numbers in Japan for worldwide export.