Aussie car manufacturing isn’t dead yet

Australia has a new homegrown exotic sports car. The 2025 Zeigler/Bailey Z/B 4.4 is an Aussie-designed, engineered, and produced performance coupe inspired by the classic G-Series (1975-1989) Porsche 911 that sits on a bespoke platform with Le Mans-style push-rod rear suspension.

It might look like a restomod, but the Z/B 4.4 is virtually all-new, save for some select body components, the transmission, and door lock posts – everything else is either new or bespoke.

The body panels, made from carbon fibre and steel, have been designed to resemble a mildly modernised 911 RS 2.7 while housing thoroughly modern underpinnings and a similarly retro-inspired interior.

Shoved behind the rear axle is an air-cooled 4.4-litre flat six-cylinder petrol engine good for 300kW/500Nm, all of which is sent to the rear wheels by a five-speed Getrag/Porsche manual transmission and bespoke limited-slip differential.

No performance claims have been made yet, but a kerb weight of 1325kg should mean the Z/B 4.4 won’t hang around.

The suspension is fully adjustable front and rear, the latter employing inboard pushrod-actuated coil-over dampers – the front also has coil-overs but mounted in a MacPherson strut arrangement.

Brembo brake callipers clamp steel rotors front and rear with carbon ceramics available optionally, and the whole package rolls on 17-inch forged billet aluminium and carbon fibre hybrid wheels.

Inside the cabin you’ll find power-adjustable tartan and Nappa leather-lined bucket seats from Porsche as standard, with the option of upgrading to GTS-spec or even carbon GT3 buckets.

The upholstery is continued on the dash and door cards, the former headlined by analogue-look digital instruments in the same arrangement and format as the original F-Series.

Other interior features of note include an Alcantara headliner, open-gate titanium gear lever, a 9.0-inch infotainment system offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satnav, Bluetooth and live data logging, a six-speaker sound system, and a reversing camera.

Zeigler/Bailey has confirmed it only intends to build 10 Z/B 4.4s per annum to ensure its exclusivity and that the exotic coupe will not be limited solely to Australia.

“Created for global markets, the Zeigler/ Bailey Z/B 4.4’s innovative, symmetrical platform equalises the assembly of right- and left-hand drive versions and enables retrospective conversion within hours,” a spokesperson said of the model’s global intent.

“There are currently six pre-sold Z/B 4.4 cars at various stages of production … delivery from the time of order is approximately 12 months.”

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