Auto Design

From the designers of Alfa Romeo and the students of Espera Sbarro School of Automotive.

Among the too many show-cars unveiled at the past Geneva Motor Show there was this “Alfa Romeo Diva”. The running prototype has been conceived and developed by Elasis, a high-ranking research and development centre based in Italy and owned by Fiat. (Elsais is the company that first developed and engineered the Common Rail fuel injection technology. The managing director of the company is Ing. Nevio di Giusto who has been Director of Design for the Fiat Auto group and subsequently was in charge of Engineering at Fiat Auto.)Diva was first exhibited on the Sbarro area, among several other cars built by the Italian genius and his teams.  Indeed the Alfa Romeo Diva has been built by the international team of students attending Franco Sbarro’s Espera school of automotive design and construction located at Yverdon, Switzerland. The design came from the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. Read the rest of this entry »

It has been a long way.

It has been a long and twisting road to reach the actual design of the California, as we have seen it at the Paris Motor Show. If it were so easy to create a stunning Ferrari by Pininfarina, the world would be fully of look-alikes.

It has never been easy to design a Ferrari, despite the fantastic simplicity of its shapes. Indeed the simpler and dynamic the shape, the more difficult it is. Not to mention the fundamental issue of the overall proportions of any Ferrari. As we now see the California, we can understand why the designers’ job this time has been more difficult than ever: they had to design two Ferraris in one and they had to fight with the heavy restrains of it overall dimensions and – even more demanding – the proportions established by its main design feature: the retractable hard top. Read the rest of this entry »

The Official Calendar is a must for MINI fans.

A friend of mine has sent a memo to remind of the 50^th Anniversary of MINI next years and sent the images of the Official Calendar published with the co-operation of MINI and their Designers.

Here is the news, as I have received them. Read the rest of this entry »

Most probably, the ultimate sports car of the future was presented at the Paris Motor Show and went unnoticed. This is despite it presented for the first time a revolutionary innovation developed by century old Michelin: the active (electric) wheel.The car we are talking about, actually a concept-car, is the Venturi Volage designed by the talented and renowned Sasha Lakic. The Volage is an electric 4 wheel drive sports car that is powered by four active wheels, one per wheel, banks on 220 kW of power, only weights 1075 kg and is capable of accelerating from zero to 100 kph in less than 5 seconds. These specifications are based on the assumption that the Lithium-polymer battery pack weights some 350 kg. Read the rest of this entry »

The Michelin Active Wheel challenges a lot of conventional wisdom about the car, according to its maker, who says: «with the integration of the Michelin Active Wheel, an EV can be redesigned from top to bottom since all key components—the engine, electrical suspension systems, tyre and brakes—are now integrated in the wheel.

In this way, the Michelin Active Wheel opens new possibilities for creative solutions in at least five different areas:

-         Design.

-         Energy savings and pollution abatement.

-         Safety.

-         Comfort.

-         Adapting vehicles to usage needs.

Simplifying vehicles creates new opportunities in vehicle design by freeing styling teams from constraints previously thought to be inevitable. These include the elimination of the engine block, a considerable reduction in weight, the possibility of a totally flat floor on future prototypes, and chassis design that is fully focused on interior space and passenger safety.

A lighter vehicle also means a sharp reduction in energy consumption.

In fact, an EV emits no pollutants when on the road. Its environmental impact depends solely on how the electricity is produced. For example, using the WILL in a country where electricity is produced by hydroelectric power plants or renewable energy sources will result in very low indirect emissions of CO₂ per km. This would represent less than 10g in Sweden, 20g in France and 80g in Germany.

This reinvented wheel also makes unprecedented improvements in active safety, meaning the avoidance of accident risks. The integrated electrical suspension system with four independent wheels is perfectly adapted to controlling pitching and rolling motions. This new electrical chassis control enhances vehicle stability and road holding. As for passive safety (i.e. protecting passengers in the event of an accident), the front of the vehicle where the engine was previously located is now entirely dedicated to impact absorption.

The permanent control of chassis movements and noise-free electrical engine combine to provide unparalleled comfort.»

Brought to you from the company design centre and press office.

Pictures always say a lot more than thousands of words. However, here some news you might like to read.

The Mercedes-Benz Concept Fascination seems to be committed to bring back to the brand those car buyers who appreciate clear-cut and simple design. The Concept Fascination has still a way to go before being accomplished for simplicity but it is clear that this brilliant show-car is moving in that direction.

They say this elegant 2-door sports car anticipates the look and some of the design treatment of the forthcoming new E-generation and its CLK derivative. In this case, it constitutes a promise of more distinctive, modern and attractive Mercedes-Benz. However, I would like to see the fascination in production soon both for its sleek shooting-brake concept that is a classic among sports car and for its design, which shows a new, welcome, direction for the German carmaker. The interior too is simply fascinating and there are just too many details and stimulating combinations of classic and modern materials matched with a great sense of harmony, that it makes more sense to let the images speak for the dream-car.

Click on the image for photo gallery: 

Brought to you from the company design centre.

Pictures always say a lot more than thousands of words.

However, here some news you might light to read, in addition to what I reported before the Paris Motor Show.

The Mini Crossover Concept is said to be anticipating a significant – and to some extent revolutionary – addition to the range. The Crossover contains the seeds of the new generation “down-sized” SUV that will be anything but a SUV. This explains why it is called “Crossover”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brought to you, non-stop from the company design centre and press office.

Pictures always say a lot more than thousands of words. However, here some news you might light to read.

The GT by Citroen is a real dream car built from a virtual first designed for Polyphony’s simulation game Gran Turismo to be plaid on the Playstation 3. As such is the first ever prototype that million of “players” can drive in their virtual world. Somehow, the GT by Citroen seen at the Paris Motor Show is a replica of a car that has never been built. As such, it can be anything. In our case, the engineers of both the virtual and the real car companies have opted for an electric sports car powered by fuel cell and delivery no emission. A real dream car. At least for the time being. Read the rest of this entry »

Brought to you, non-stop from the company design centre and press office.

Pictures always say a lot more than thousands words. However, here some news you might light to read.

Citroën Hypnos, is a spectacular concept car illustrating the idea of an elegant cross-over vehicle that draws on a  range of creative technologies to deliver outstanding visual and potential performance within the goals of environmental efficiency. Read the rest of this entry »

Going to an international motor show is like going to the annual market. You meet a lot of friends and people, see many things and you come back home with the head full of information, impressions, news, comments and opinions. So much so that indeed you need a few days to arrange everything in some sort of order so that you get to the essence of the experience. This is all the same and yet all different every time. And I am not just talking of the cars.

As for cars, new cars I mean, I have come home with an incredible load of pictures and information.

I would have to share them all with you the very moment I sat back to my PC last Saturday but this is simply impossible. It takes a lot of time to put a label and classify more than 2000 images.

Now, having done just that I can start sharing with you some of the most significant. Or at least some that I image you want to see as soon as possible.

This is why, at this time I am offering you a series of photo galleries to look at. What you see is a combination of images shot at the Paris “Mondial de l’Automobile” and images provided by the press offices and design studio of the car makers.

I am giving priority to the latter ones, as the most attractive and unique.

Related information and comments will be posted shortly. Click on images below to access their photo gallery.