Zender Vision 1

Next to the Pininfarina Quartz, another urquattro spin-off was created by Zender, the Zender Vision 1.
Zender was a prominent after market design supplier for numerous brands in the 80s and 90s, and teamed up with Zillner-Design. Zender ran a limited string of own creations, but it’s their first model that is of interest.

IAA 1983 in Frankfurt, and Zender revealed their Vision 1. Presented as a four-wheel driven sports coupé from Zender, on the basis of the Audi Quattro, this glass- and carbon fibre 2+2 seater offered a more high speed focused build than the original Quattro.

Mechanicals

The mechanicals for the Vision 1 was the ‘WR’ 2.1 turbo offering 200 hp together with the quattro drivetrain, built on a Zender/Koni suspension setup. According to marketing materials, the Vision 1 is featuring a 240 hp engine, with powertrain options ranging from 200 to 300 hp.

To me, that sounds like a baseline keeping with the Audi factory 200 hp ‘WR’ configuration, a mechanically optimized 240 hp on Jetronic management, or the referred 300 hp – which I assume would be a basis alike the early Group 4 Quattros running a Pierburg fuel injection.

Evolving into the Zender Vision 1s

Some sources online suggests the Vision 1 was a 300 hp build, and that the 240 hp configuration was achieved from bigger valves and a different camshaft. Sadly there are no details beside 240 hp in the marketing materials, and that top speed between 230 and 270 km/h depends on the power output.

Interestingly, shortly after the 1983 introduction, there seems to be a 1984 development resulting into the Zender Vision 1s. Differences are minor visual changes though, as the fenders seems widened and there are slats in the rear fender extensions.

FeatureVision 1Vision 1s
Length4520 mm4520 mm
Width1770 mm1850 mm
Height1155 mm1140 mm
Rims8J16 Zender Turbo9J16 Zender Sport
Tires225/50 Pirelli P7285/40 Pirelli P7

Zender Vision 1