Auto Design

Turin Italy - Via Gramsci

Street picture by Ambra Zamuner

Cassino (FR) Italy

Picture on the street – iPhone 4

By Giancarlo Perini. ©

We have driven, in a real environment, one of the some 1100 BMW ActiveE, that the German premium car maker will deliver as of December. This is the all-electric, plug-in, two-door, four-sweater, real-wheel drive sport car built from the first generation BMW 1 series coupé platform.  Handling, acceleration, speed and comfort are on a pair, or better, than the BMW120i Coupé and our feeling was that, indeed, we could go on for all the 140 km range promised by the lithium-ion batteries charged at 92% at start point. Read the rest of this entry »

According to Turin and Detroit insiders, the famous Italian coachbuilder Zagato has just completed the new (and rather unusual) Alfa Romeo TZ 3 “Stradale” that was expected to be unveiled in May this year at the Concorso d’Eleganza di Villa d’Este but instead it will be seen in public for the first time at Pebble Beach in August. And that is for a good reason and a good cause, as we shall see in a moment. Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini ©

The XENATEC Coupe based on the Maybach 57 S will be making its world premiere in the gardens of “La Réserve” Hotel on the banks of Lake Geneva. Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini ©

MINI is far from being tired of launching newer and sexier ideas in spectacular show-cars. In Geneva they will we unveiling their shortest and possibly lightest (for the millenium) Mini so far. It will be also the fastest from zero to 100 thanks to its hybrid technology since, according to a company statement “it is designed to allow the integration of a drive system which combines further enhanced sprinting ability with average fuel consumption of just three liters per 100 kilometers (94 mpg imp).” Read the rest of this entry »

By Giancarlo Perini ©

The official unveiling is just a week away. It will take place in Milano at the Pirelli Headquarters.

The pictures of the most exclusive among the best performing supercars that more than 1 million Euros (1.35 million dollars) can buy make it clear: this is really the ultimate cars to have or Maharajas and Sultans, but Hollywood producer, pop stars, finance and industrial tycoons, and well established royalties. Read the rest of this entry »

by Giancarlo Perini

Peugeot has been very quick at reconsidering the design direction it took few years ago and just three years after the launch of its first generation 308 is introducing a radically redesigned generation that will soon make its predecessor a mistake to forget overnight. Read the rest of this entry »

by Giancarlo Perini.

After “inventing” the convertible-coupé for their first generation SLK, first launched in 1996, Mercedes-Benz is keen to maintain their leadership in the speciality and further develop the “air and light” unique atmosphere inside their cosy Roadster. The third generation is being launched this year. With orders collected starting January 17^th. In Germany the starting price is € 38,675.00 for the SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY (€ 44,256.10 for the SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY).  Although not cheap the new Mercedes-Benz SLK is probably the most affordable convertible-coupé of this class. Read the rest of this entry »

by Giancarlo Perini ©

The name sounds very familiar and recalls the mid-ship supercar designed by Giugiaro that actually marked the birth of the M (for “Motorsport”) branch of BMW.  That was 32 years ago.

Comes January 2011 and a “second generation” M1 Coupé will makes its World premiere at North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Read the rest of this entry »