By 2007 the domestic car market was crashing. In a desperate attempt Prato Motor Company, under the new found management launched a new face lift on the Zoope. Maintaining the original body lines the front clip received more aggresive styling and the front and tail lights received a LED tune up. The car featured a hyper eco-friendly destroked EA827 displacing 1.9 litres. It featured DOHC and multi-point fuel injection, producing 140hp. Paired with a 6 speed overdrive transmission the car was capable of nearly 47 miles per gallon. The interior was designed in partnership with Sony entertainment and Navguide. A 10 speaker Sony Xplode stereo, 6 CD changer, 6" LED HUD display and compact 12" built in sub woofer were the selling points. Heated seats came standard and the car featured both front and rear climate control. It received a 4 star safety, proving to be very competitive in its class. Prato had hoped to produce a fun, semi-sporty, very fuel efficient car. Despite the interior overhaul, exterior touch up and eco engine the car would not be as successful as planned.
In 2007 the economy collapsed, with automotive giants, GM, Ford, and Chrysler going down the pipes. Cars were not selling, no matter the price cuts, no matter the bargain. PMC was surely doomed. Larger company’s with klout acquired government bail outs, private loans and foreign investments. PMC without having such connections would surely have to get creative if it wanted to survive this rut.
Mid through the 2007 model year Prato released a surprise to the masses. The 2007 Prato Zoope Eco. It featured a domestically built 1.1L producing 83.5hp, paired with a 6 speed overdrive front wheel drive transmission (a first for Prato) the car could achieve in excess of 51 miles per gallon. The interior was made more spartan, losing its heated seats, and having a reduced speaker count of 6. Many interior components were reduced to plastics and some of the extra safety features were deleted. Skinnier road tires were applied with a thinner rubber profile.
The Zoope Eco was PMC’s response to the economic crisis facing the world and it worked!
By 2010 the economy in North America had stabilized and Prato Motor Company took this opportunity to give the Zoope another face lift. Featuring a new aluminum frame, and improved safety features the car placed top of its class for both front and side impact ratings. The engine used was a revision of their 2.0L EA827 DOHC used in previous models, tuned up to 150hp it is capable of 46 miles per gallon with the 6 speed overdrive transmission. The front bumper and grill were totally redone, the headlights upgraded and the tail lights were redesigned from the ground up. It features its baseline 6 speaker Sony Xlpode stereo with 12" sub and 6" LED HUD display. The car was capable of 0-100 in 7.1 seconds The 2010 Zoope is aggressive looking, fun and comfortable to drive.
Alternatively the car could be ordered with the optional 1.1L as seen in the 2008 Eco model. Aftermarket support for this model was plentiful as the body style had now been running for 7 years, with front and rear bumper interchangeability. Some 2010 Zoope owners would swap the 2005 rally edition suspension and engine into the lightened aluminium frame featured in the 2010 model and compete at their local tracks.
2014 was a big year for Prato Motor Company and also a year of firsts. PMC released both a city and rally edition of the Prato Zoope. The body of the car was elongated and slightly enlarged, allowing for both a larger engine and more passenger/cargo room. Featuring a wider stance and bigger fender flares 225mm thick tires were crammed underneath. Unlike other facelifts there was no backwards compatability, the changes to both frame and body design were too drastic. Totally revised headlights and tail lights were used, with Halo LED’s. The interiors were rather standard featuring the trademark Sony sound system, 6" HUD and heated seats. Both models come with a 6 speed overdrive transmission. Aside from the features mentioned above the similarities stop there.
The 2014 Rally edition Zoope features a massive wing and all-wheel-drive capabilities. Featuring the a futher updated EA827 R4 2.0L with a Turbo which produced 231 hp the car is capable of 55 miles per gallon, and a 0-100 time of 4.4 seconds. With performance and efficiency at heart, it is designed to compete against the well established Evo’s and Lancers on and off the streets.
A 153hp 2.0L engine was also offered, capable of 6.7 second 0-100 runs and averaged 47.5 miles per gallon with RWD. The 2.0 offers a middle ground for comfort and afforability, with a slightly upgraded interior from the city model.
The city car variant features a extremely eco friendly rear wheel drive, front engine design debuting the new 1.7L which produces 123hp. Capable of 54 miles per gallon and a 0-100 time of 6.9 seconds is both sporty and efficient. With a more streamlined exterior and slightly thinner tires it is the city commuters best friend.
With the passing of the reigns to young Prato there was a big push for Prato Motor Company to get enter into the roat and track scene. With Hond S2000’s, Nissan Silvias, Skylines and Toyota Supras on the street, not to mention the domestic competition this was going to be a hard market to crack. PMC in association with GM built a sports coupe. The 2000 Prato Agro S was born. Featuring an aluminum frame, polymer body, McPherson front struts and a semi-trailing arm suspension it was destined to be sport. The 2300lb 2 door, 2 seater coupe is powered by a DL9 quad cam I4 provided by GM, modified by PMC. The first year of production the car produced 180hp, which propelled a 5 speed manual transmission all-wheel-drive, drive train. It was capable of over 200kmph, and 0-100 in 6.1 seconds. With the N/A I4 it boasted 40.2 miles per gallon consumption.
The interior featured a 4 point roll cage, 2 racing style seats a 4 speaker Sony stereo, a 12" Sony Xplode sub woofer and a 6 CD changer head unit. The car had a front and rear lip with a semi clad underbody helping with aerodynamics. The hood had a cut out in the center to display the engine, PMC offered a clear plastic insert to protect the engine bay during rain and snow. Overall the first year was moderately successful, it was out powered by most foreign and domestic sports coupes but the low price tag kept the Agro S in the race.
For the 2001 model year the DL9 Quad cam 2.4l I4 was dropped and in its place was an all aluminum LS1 328hp push rod v8, similar as to the model seen in the 1997-2003 Corvette… Capable of going nearly 280kmph and 0-100 in 4.2 seconds the car was quick. Unfortunately the price tag had to go up to accommodate the cost of the LS1. The car gained almost 300lb and fuel economy plummeted to 28 miles per gallon. The car had taken on an entirely new niche, being an entry level sports car as opposed to a sporty coupe. It was dubbed the 2001 Prato Agro SS.
The car was not ass successful as planned. With no changes to the design in each consecutive year the Agro was discontinued in mid 2004 due to lackluster sales.
With the economic crash settling, Prato took this opportunity to launch one last attempt at a low cost sports coupe. Trying to redeem themselves for the failure that was the Prato Agro, the GT Coupe was born. The Prato GT Coupe was a light, nimble and able performing coupe. With an 200hp SOHC I6 and rear wheel drive it is capable of gently sliding around curves and punching through its 6 gears. Weighting in at just over 1000kg and 200hp it is capable of 0-100 in 5.8 seconds and a top end of nearly 250kmph. It also boasts an admirable 36 miles per gallon fuel consumption.
With a sporty interior it comes equipt with all the necessities and a few extras. From the comfort of heated leather race style seats you can control nearly anything you can think of with the touch of your finger. The 6" LED HUD allows for interior climate change and puts you in control of the powerful 6 speaker Sony Xplode sound system. The exterior is a glimpse into the past with retro style hide-away headlights and aggressive dual hood scoops it is obvious what this car is all about. A retro rear lip is attached and the under body semi clad to provide down force to keep the rear wheels firmly planted on the ground.
After one year of successful sales Prato Motor Company went ahead an offered a Track Version of the 2010 GT. Featuring a turbocharged version of the 2.2L SOHC I6 used in the base model it produces 250hp. Capable of 0-100 in 5.5 seconds and a top speed exceed 260kmph. Larger breaks were fitted to help stop the car from flying around bends. Suspension saw an upgrade as double wishbone front struts were added. The exterior is untouched save for two heat extractors on the sides of the engine bay. The Turbo variant experienced a decrease in fuel economy, getting 34 miles per gallon.
for the 2014 model year, the Prato GT needed an update. A new multi-link rear suspension system was implemented allowing for more precise handling and overall performance. The engine also received a tune up, direct fuel injection was added to the 2.2L I6 used in previous models. Compression was also slightly increase in addition to a more aggressive exhaust system. The upgrades provided a 10hp gain to 260hp. The fuel mileage also saw an increase, now reaching nearly 34.5 miles per gallon. 0-60 was accomplished in 5.4 seconds.
The front clip received air ducts to cool the brakes and a low slung rear spoiler to increase down force. Larger brake rotors were added featuring cross drilling and sports compound pads. These upgrades coupled with the multi-link rear suspension allowed for better overall handling.
For 2016 big changes were on the horizon. After consideration from consumer feedback and many hours of completing laps at the Prato Motor Company Test Track the GT was set for an overhaul.
The monocoque frame and body was made of brushed aluminum, similar to that of the Delorean and no paint was applied. This left the car with a very nostalgic look and sexy appeal. The suspension was further improved upon from the 2014 chassis as well. A 3.0l 32 valve Direct Injection v8 featuring vvt-l was used. It generated 315hp, paired with a 6 speed manual transmisison the car could accomplush 0-100 in 4.8 seconds with next to no tire spin and a top speed of nearly 290kmph. Beefy Pirelli sport compound tires were used and massive bremo ‘big brake kits’ were used on the 2016 model. The 2016 GT v8 managed nearly 35 miles to the gallon.
The interior also saw an update with improved sound insulation, a more comfy interior and improved safety features.
The exterior saw a moderate remodeling as a new more aggressive front clip was used and a larger rear spoiler was implemented. An electric sunroof with built in solar panels was optional for those wanting to save the planet and look good doing it. The 2016 Prato GT v8 retailed for 35,000.00 CAD
Looking for ways to market itself internationally, Comrade Motors was looking for a toehold in North America where its vehicles could be exported and sold. Prato Motors was a willing candidate to not only import Comrade passenger cars but would modify them to meet North American emission and safety standards. Upon signing this deal, Prato Motor Company was the only licensed importer and distributer of Comrade Motors in Canada and the U.S., they were excited until the first shipment of cars came in.
The first batch of 1986 Comrade Gratsks were struck fear and horror into the eyes of the workers, whose jobs it was to get them ready for market. The cars were equip with 1.8L 63hp carbureted inline 4 cylinder and had front wheel drive 3 speed automatic transmissions with no overdrive. The cars did 0-100 in nearly 17 seconds and had top speeds of hardly 100 miles per hour. The interiors were basic, entertainment consisted of 2 speakers in the dash and no safety equipment to speak of. The workers were astounded to find a primitive form of ‘power steering’ under the hood. Beneath all the soviet marking and stange lettering they found the build data and material catalogue from the manufacturing plant, most of the car was made of steel, iron or both. The suspension was a glimpse into the stone age with antique leaf springs and single caliper breaks. The skinny tires were hard rubber and sat on 14"rims.
The car was ugly, heavy, under powered, slow, boring and cheaply made. The only saving grace of the Gratsk was that adequately reliable, decent fuel efficient and unbelievably cheap to import. Prato Motor Company had quite the job cut out for it, they had to install seat belts, translate the Russian markings and labels and reprint English ones so people could read the instrument panels and clean the cars of cosmoline (storage grease the Russians loved to use). When it was all said and done the Comrade-Prato Gratsk retailed for 4,800$ once importing duties, clean up and safety equipment was installed.
Somehow, despite all the problems with the car it was moderately successful and PMC looked forward to continued business with Comrade Motors.
By 1986 the second batch of Gratsks have been imported and Prato Motor Company was ready. Upgraded interior parts were pre ordered and designed as drop in upgrades, arm rests, cup holders and a pop out ash tray were added in addition to front visors with mirrors. The 2 speaker sound system would remain in the car as they were crudely built into the dashboard and PMC did not have very much time between importing the vehicles and getting them out to the dealerships.
The engines received a tune up to 70hp through a slightly more aggressive cam, a better air filter and a higher flow catalyac converter. Torsion beam rear suspension was added to improve handling over the leaf springs. Fuel mileage improved and the car was able to retail for only dollars more then the first batch.
For the 1994 model year the Gratsk begged Comrade Motors to update the car. Three months passed and Prato Motor Company became anxious, until the 1994 Gratsks arrived. They had fuel injected 1.8l SOHC engines producing 91hp, 4 speed automatic transmissions and a civilized sounds system featuring a cassette player and arm rests straight from the factory. The tough vinly seats were replaced with cloth and fabric, a roof liner was even added with fully functional interior light with two brightness settings. The car now managed 34 miles to the gallon.
These upgrades came at a cost, the manufacture cost of a clunker increased nearly 20%, coupled with inflation and dealership fees these cars were now more expensive then they used to be, however the refinement and comfort more then made up for the difference. Prato Motor Company retailed the 1994 Gratsk for $10,200.00.
Midway through the year a ‘fully loaded model’ was imported, it featured premium carpets and a sunroof. These ammenties drove the price up to nearly 10,500.00$ still well below the national average cost of an entry level car of $12,350.00
For the 1999 model year Comrade Motors and Prato Motor Company touched up the Gratsk yet again, the 1.8l SOHC engine received an eco-oriented turbo and state of the art variable valve timing. However with the lame cam and low boost the car still only produced an underwhelming 108hp. The 4 speed automatic front wheel drive set up allowed for 0-100 in 11.1 seconds, again, underwhelming for the time period.
The car retailed for $15499.95 significantly cheaper then other domestic offerings.
In 2004 the Gratsk body and styling was become dated. Prato Motor Company convinced Comrade Motors to change materials for the body and frame. ASHS steel and a fiberglass body were used. Body styling changed mildly with more aggresive headlights, bumper and tail lights. A sunroof was added to add a luxury-esk flair to the car. The interior received a major overhaul. The sound insulation was improved, as well as carpet and seat materials. Leather adorns the steering wheel and a spash of fake hardwood accents the doors and dashboard. Some of the accessory dials and buttons were even given a touch of chrome. The front seats are of a semi racing style made of cloth. A mild rear wing was applied, replacing the retro ‘lip’ improving overall down force.
The engineers at PMC went to town on the engine, applying a powerful Honeywell/Garrett Turbo, a free flowing exhaust and improved internals. The finished product produces 181hp. a 6 speed transverse frpnt wheel drive transmission was swapped in, replacing the long geared 4 speed automatic. The car can clear 0-100kmph in 6.2 seconds.
The original suspension remained as is, however it was tuned and stiffer rear sway bars and polyurethane bushings were applied all around. Beefier tires were wrapped around 16" rims. Larger 3 and 2 piston brakes were upgraded which were exponentially more responsive.
The resulting car was more expensive then its predecessors, however it was infinitely more fun to drive and more modern looking. The car retailed for $18,300.00.
In 2007 the economic crash brought Prato Motor Company to a very had decision. PMC would no longer be importing cars from Comrade Motors. Comrade Cars were cannibalizing PMC cars sales and the market was about to get a lot tougher.
In 2007 Prato Motor Company underwent negotiations for developing a collaborative project with Necronia Automotive a Dutch based company. Prato Motor Company was charged with designing a body. Taking subtle hints from cars like the Audi RS8 and other modern classics the blueprints were sent off to Necronia Automotive. The boys at Necronia Automotive did not disappoint, a 380hp Turbo 2.0 litre v8 the car is fast. The body was constructed of carbon fiber, coupled with massive sports compound tires, giant brakes and modern suspension the car handles absurdly well. With the 6 speed manual transmission the car is capable of 0-100 in 3.4 seconds and a top speed on nearly 190 miles per hour. Fuel efficiency was a humble 24 miles per gallon.
The interior received lots of carbon fibre, featuring a carbon fiber dash, and door accents. The two seats are Recaro Racing seats and race harnesses are optional. A massive 9" LED display adorns the center console allowing for full control of all of the cars goodies, climate control, the 8 speaker Infinity stereo, the active areo and the turbo boost pressure, the electronic differential and ride height just to name a few. The whole experience of the car is class, nothing is cheap, nothing is a compromise and damn, is it a fun car.
Mechanically the two cars identical, however the exterior fixtures varied from the Necronia Automotive Zeleno and Prato Motor Company Vincenzo. Under shared parent contracts Prato Motor Company only produced and sold roughly 1500 of these cars between 2007-2009, with Necronia Automotive selling and manufacturing much more. The car retailed for roughly 130,000 $CA, being much higher then the average price point for a Zoope, or GT Coupe.
The are rumors circling around from the boys over at Necronia Automotive that a track version is in the works. As the car performs right now and at its current price point it dominates the Porche Cayman.
