Feb 19
By Giancarlo Perini ©
Bertone plans to show two design works on the Jaguar theme at the Geneva Motor Show. In addition to the Jaguar B 99, already unveiled in the past few days by friendly magazines, there will be also a “racing” derivative in GT2 style. Mike Robinson, director of design and brand manager, is indeed putting the final touches to a second show-model that will be on the company stage at the Show. That is the Jaguar B99 GT.
The B99 GT is indeed a design evolution presented as a full scale model. The approach is similar to the one taken in the past by Italdesign when they used the full scale model built to create the show-car to present a additional “design” through upgrading, tuning and graphic work. Read the rest of this entry »
Feb 12
By Giancarlo Perini ©
With their Vision Efficient Dynamic unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and to enter limited production at the end of 2013, BMW designers gave form to a series of innovation focusing on fuel efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions through a very attractive, lighter and more compact, four-seater, supercar, with high performance hybrid technology. Read the rest of this entry »
Jan 24
by Giancarlo Perini (c)
According to unofficial sources, Italdesign is set to unveil two show cars at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show early next March. They will be the first ones to be designed by Maestro Giorgetto Giugiaro after the company, he established in 1968, has been acquired by the Volkswagen Group, last May.
A glimpse at one of the two “product concepts” is said to be previewed, very discreetly, by the company with the Christmas memento sent to a limited number of friends, clients and journalists. This is indeed the reproduction of a sketch penned by the Maestro that shows the exterior design of an attractive two-doors, four-seater coupé that could well be regarded as the 2011 Scirocco by Giugiaro. The difference here is that the “new coupe” bear the emblem of Seat.
The Spanish brand is currently the weakest member of the VW family and as such the one that needs the greatest and most urgent attention by the Group. It only makes sense that Giugiaro talent and attention goes to Seat.
Some years ago, VW’s supremo Ferdinand Piëch said that Seat’s mission was to challenge and beat Alfa Romeo on its own ground. The mission is far to be accomplished despite its success in the World Touring Car Championship .Now, while Fiat is keeping Volkswagen “on hold” for the acquisition of Alfa Romeo, the German group wants to look again at the potential of the Seat brand and see what can be done, should the Alfa Romeo deal take too long a time. As such it is also a discreet message to Sergio Marchionne.
The second show-car from Giorgetto Giugiaro to be seen in Geneva is rumoured to be a new hatchback that could well be the “2011 vision of a Golf” by Giugiaro.
Dec 16
By Giancarlo Perini ©
The rush to conquer best design talents is faster and faster.
With the aesthetic appeal emerging as a key selling point for any new cars in a market that is becoming more and more sophisticated top brands compete also in the market of human resources. BMW is recovering one of “his own” stars that two years ago deserted to Mercedes-Benz. Read the rest of this entry »
Oct 28
Aerodynamics, Automotive Design, British Cars, Concept cars, Designers, Electric Cars, Experimental Vehicles, Hybrid Cars, Hybrids, Jaguar, Motor Shows, Supercars, Turbine cars
By Giancarlo Perini ©
There is more than just a beautiful body to make the Jaguar EX-75 concept car the “Star of the Show”. It comes with four 143 kW electric motors (one for each wheel) pumping out a total of 572 kW, which take the energy from a energy-intense pack of lithium-ion batteries to be recharged from a standard 220v outlet. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 20
Alfa Romeo, Audi, Automotive Design, Bertone, Bugatti, Car Design, Car Styling, Concept cars, Designers, German Cars, Italdesign Giugiaro, Italian Cars, Italian Coachbuilders, Porsche, Show cars, Supercars, Volkswagen
Can it just be a meaningless coincidence than 50% of the winners of the Car of the Century awards presented to top personalities of the Twentieth Century have been friends for almost 40 years and although both over 70, have a lot to share under the roof of Italdesign-Giugiaro?
Late in 1999, a jury of 132 professional automotive journalists from 33 different countries, under the presidency of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, awarded the title of Car of the Century’s to Ford’s T Model and the same awards to four top personalities in the car industry through the past century.
Their choice made up for a very impressive panel: Giorgetto Giugiaro was elected Car Designer of the Century, Ferdinand Porsche, Car Engineer of the Century, Henry Ford I Entrepreneur of the Century and Ferdinand Piëch Car Executive of the Century. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 17
Alfa Romeo, Automotive Design, Car Design, Concept cars, Designers, Italian Cars, Italian Coachbuilders, Motor Shows, Pininfarina, Show cars, Various
In addition to the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulietta, designed in house, there were three more Alfa Romeo dream-cars to look and scrutinize at the Geneva Motor Show opening early this March. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 15
Alfa Romeo, Audi, Automotive Design, Bertone, Bugatti, Car Design, Chinese Cars, Citroen, Concept cars, Experimental Vehicles, Ferrari, Fuoriserie, German Cars, Hyundai, I.DE.A., Italdesign Giugiaro, Italian Coachbuilders, Korean Cars, Lotus, Motor Shows, Peugeot, Pininfarina, Porsche, Proton, Protoscar, Renault, Rinspeed, Show cars, Stile Bertone, Supercars, Touring, Toyota, Various
Those of you who read Car Styling magazine might have been puzzled by my report on the Geneva motor show published in the latest (and last?) issue of the magazine.
For some mysterious accident that are more common in the printed press than you can image my text was cut and mixed up. For a more accurate reading and for the records I am publishing here the original text. Just as a sign of respect for my readers.
Official statistics show that the latest and 80th Geneva Motor Show set a new record for “premieres”, with as many as eighty “new cars”, or so, unveiled for the first time there. Now, considering the space in the magazine is not growing with the number of new cars at motor shows, let’s go straight to the point and answer the usual questions: how was the show this year. What was relevant and worth recording for the years to come?
First I would say that I saw more irrelevant, disappointing or irritating cars (read designs) than interesting and attractive ones: be for their design or their lack of innovative ideas/concepts. A short list includes the Aston Martin Cygnet, Renault Megane CC, Renault Wind and Toyota Auris.
Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 01
Automotive Design, Car Design, Cars, Concept cars, Designers, Events and Seminars, Experimental Vehicles, Italian Coachbuilders, Motor Shows, NSU, Schools, Show cars, Sports Cars, coupé
by Enrico Leonardo Fagone.
“The automobile today is an individual means of transport within a complex system of collective transport. The relations within such a system cannot be ignored. The individual means of transport has to submit to the constraints imposed by the system. This implies a form of transport that fulfils certain functions: hence a functional vehicle. The designers of car bodies are clearly faced with new structures, new tasks: scientific and technological evolution is a stimulus but at the same time a warning not to remain anchored to the positions of the past and present.” (Pio Manzù)
Read the rest of this entry »
Feb 28
Once upon a time, at the Geneva Motor Show there was the so called “Arab Quarter” where toner and luxury car-makers used to show shining cars that the rich Arab princes would buy without questioning the price.
That is past history today. The present looks much different and challenging, pointing to a time when car might also be built in the Arabic Peninsula rather than simply bought and driven. Read the rest of this entry »
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