Forgotten Tommykaira ZZ Returns With A Modern New Look

The Tommykaira ZZ has always been one of those wonderfully obscure Japanese sports cars that only true enthusiasts seem to remember. Production ended back in 2021, but two former employees connected to the project clearly were not ready to let it fade away quietly. Their answer is the Number Nine Works Sweep 9, a subtle but surprisingly effective rework of the electric roadster.

The project comes from designer Ryuhei Ishimaru and engineer Yuji Fujitsuka, both of whom previously worked under GLM, the company behind the second-generation Tommykaira ZZ EV.

After leaving to start their own independent firms, the pair reunited to give the lightweight sports car a more modern face without losing the character that made the original feel so unusual in the first place.

Most of the changes are concentrated up front. The Sweep 9 replaces the older headlight setup with ultra-slim LED units that completely change the car’s expression, making it look cleaner and far more contemporary.

The redesigned bumper also ditches unnecessary openings for a smoother, almost concept-car-like appearance. Meanwhile, the rear was left mostly untouched, meaning the Lotus-inspired quad round taillights survive for now.

What makes the Tommykaira ZZ more impressive is that this was not built as a static showpiece. The car is fully road legal in Japan and was developed to meet modern safety regulations while still preserving the original design language. That balance between respecting the past and updating it carefully feels pretty rare these days.

Underneath, nothing changes mechanically. The Sweep 9 keeps the same lightweight chassis and single electric motor producing 305 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque.