A new German car brand called Zato premiered on July 30, 1996, in Frankfurt am Main. The Zato Gesellschaft für Fahrzeugentwicklung mbH based in Niederbreitbach presented their L3, a mid-range sports car. The vehicle was the debut work of racing proffesional Dirk Krämer. The car, which was produced in small series from mid-1997, had an Audi diesel engine and its monocoque chassis consisted of a highly refined carbon and aramid fiber fabric like a Formula 1 racing car, which contributed to its favorable curb weight of just 590 kg. In addition, the vehicle offered adjustable anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles. The L3 reached a speed of 210 km/h and consumed only 3.3 liters of fuel.