Combining creativity with complete know-how and modern technology.

I would like to share with you this report recently published in Japan by Car Styling magazine. A special issue dedicated to the Italian Designers and “Carrozzeria”.

Within the territories of one-man-design-show, resisting in and around Torino, Paolo Martin keeps his creativity and design work running in many directions. As usual.  His hairs are whiter than ever but his genius is evergreen, just as it is the case for secluded Marcelo Gandini and public-persona Giorgetto Giugiaro.

He is one of the very few talents left that has a complete understanding of car design and body construction. One of the few men who can tackle any aspect of the process. As such he is a very precious heritage of the traditional art of coach building.

It is for this reason that he regrets that he receives less commission from the car, yacht and motorcycle industry these days of decline. He still has plenty of good ideas that could be turned into a successful project. Even more relevant he regrets he has few chances of passing over to the young generations his past experience, just as Maestro Giovanni Michelotti did with him when he was 16 years old.

On the other side, he is happy to take commissions from private investors and enthusiasts. He loves the human relations with them and the exchange of cultural input, be it from the Arabian Peninsula, the Far East or the Americas.

On the projects he develops for private customers he must keep the secret, unless authorized by his patron.

Recently, he was allowed to release some interesting design works he developed in the past couple of years.

Three projects he had a lot of fun to work with.

One for a multifunctional “Desert Running Suite” that combines a carry-on tent of some 100 square meters blossoming from a sort of very large 6×6 all-road heavy-duty vehicle carrying a small living room with all comfort and all the most sophisticated equipment that tycoons, VIP, government officials may want or need to take with them in the desert for a mission, a week-end excursion or a party.

One derivative also considers a sort of moving “ceremony hall on wheels for the desert”.

A sophisticated mechanism develops the huge tent in minutes and displays solar cell panels providing plenty of energy for the satellite communication centre and other amenities. The execution of the vehicle has been put on hold after the recent turmoil in Nord Africa.

The second project is a typical “coachbuilder” sportcar that is clearly inspired to the popular De Tomaso mid-engined V8 two-seater that the new “De Tomaso” company is to unveil at the Los Angeles auto show later this year. His project has not been commissioned by the company but by a private collector who was eager to see what could done at this time to revive the myth of the affordable supercar and have one built for himself.

The layout, dimensions and proportions are very modern and yet there is the de Tomaso DNA in this car.

This second project shows how Paolo Martin has kept up with the CAD and virtual modelling technologies and indeed he has developed the “2 Posti Sportiva 2012” in few weeks on his PC with all the technicalities integrated into the project and the basic data for quick and economical milling.

Probably Paolo Martin is the only star designer who emerged in the great old times (the 60ies and 70ies) of Italian coachbuilding and has developed his skill to confirm and visualize his design ideas through contemeporary virtual technology.

See his renderings for self-speaking evidence. Obviously we need not to comment on his own, very elegant and dynamic design for a modern mid-engined sport car.

We would simply add that we would love to see it in the real world.

We can show also a third project that Paolo Martin has developed on his own after the instigation of a journalist who asked him how he would design the Modulo of the third millennium.

In no time Martin penned what he calls the “Modulo Enzo”. A design that is absolutely up to the mythical name of “Modulo” and of Ferrari. Again, the project is not just a beautiful rendering created on a PC but a realistic vision (though futuristic, like he Modulo) of a super Ferrari. The car is feasible, with few concessions, and recently a famous connoisseur and collector has shown interest in having one built for himself.

That would certainly be a dream of millions enthusiasts coming true and a fantastic promotional vehicle for a high-tech company.

End of this report by Giancarlo Perini ©.

Few days after the teasing rendering, here is the official information on the roadster Codatronca Monza roadster soon to be on the stage of the Top Marques in Montecarlo. Obviously this is not an April Fish, as the M3 Pick-up posted yesterday.

For those of you who can’t wait to know everything about the latest creation by Ercole and Paolo Spada my edited report, here is a 1 to 1 reproduction of the company press release.

JUST IN

Spadaconcept extend its Codatronca© scale, launched with the TS model, by a futuristic sport car with  strong lines and shape; a car without compromise (you love it or you hate it! No space for “nice”) however it seems that this car has inspired lot of sports car of that segment as well as production supercars, above all in terms of front design and form language.

Spadaconcept is a design studio-atelier founded by Ercole Spada (former designer Zagato, BMW and IDEA institute), by Paolo Spada (ex designer smart and Honda) and Domiziano Boschi (ex Mc Kinsey).

The studio combines an original formula of design all over the field  with a vision from the design to the economic feasibility. This mission has brought during these years to  different creations, like the Stilo Helmets for Sebastién Loeb , a eco-globe award for best design of an eclectic van, boats, motorsport sport accessories, watches. However the design studio has rooted  its chromosomes in the world of the sport cars: over the passion of the three founders for the authentic sport cars, the pencil of Ercole Spada and Paolo Spada include among their most important realisations one-off  and sport cars.

That is the reason why Spadaconcept returns to present a powerful car with the racing instinct. Born by the pencil of Paolo and Ercole Spada the Spada Codatronca© Monza, a extreme Barchetta built by SpadaVettureSport s.r.l , originate from a request of a special client deciduous  of having a totally customized version of Codatronca© around his own requirements.

From this one-off car, SpadaVettureSport is planning to let arise a small series, making another step forward to the research of aerodynamics, lightness, and pleasure of driving. Codatronca© Monza has the same guide lines that portrayed most of the project of Ercole Spada, like the mythical tz1 and tz2, were characterize by the back shape called “Codatronca©”.

The Codatronca© Monza has mechanic and electronic components developed by ITALTECNICA, respecting the specification of the project needs, in this way we’ve obtained from the V8, in aluminium of more than 7lt with a dry pump, with a power of 700hp at 6200 rpm, with an incredible torque of 950Nm at 4200 rpm. The power is transmitted to the ground by the rear wheels thanks to a 6 gear close ratio transmission with a specific range also at the 6th gear to the limit of 7000 rpm that push the Codatronca© at 340Km/h with an acceleration from 0 to 100Km/h of only 3,0 sec. The designers gave more importance to the pleasure of driving instead of speed record, in the perfect style of the gentleman driver. For support that performance, the Codatronca© is fitted with a traction control on 3 level of action that progressively excludes only the traction control and after another push leaving the car to the bare control of its lucky owner. For a better check of the car’s data, Codatronca© has an equipment that can record since 80 hours of telemetry on track, with 40 active channel (steering angle, g meter longitudinal and lateral, single speed for each tyre, lap timer and gps tracking system for track trajectories and lots more) The chassis is a light and stiff aluminium tubular with two roll bar combined for offer the maximum protection also when it’s driven on track. The bodywork is made of light and resistant fibre that cover the chassis and the mechanics parts.

The suspension are completely adjustable like the one of the racing cars. A big news is represented by the possibility of set up the anti-roll bar on the front and on the rear separately on 4 level of hardness: rain, soft, medium and hard with an on-board regulation. In that way the wheel can work at its best and the suspension in every condition, especially when the car is on track due to the selection of harden or soften the axles for a perfect grip. The wheels are the Pirelli Pzero Corsa, with size 285/35/19’’ for the front wheels and 345/35/19’’ for the back wheels. The rims are of 19’’ by Oz, these were chosen to assure that the shoulder tyres transmit best the drive feelings of this fantastic tyres. The braking system is Brembo with racing 8 pistons aluminium callipers on the front with discs of 380mm and with 4 pistons aluminium callipers with discs of 355mm on the rear; governed by an Abs system of the latest generation.

The Codatronca©® shape of the back gave the possibility to create a trunk, with a suitcase set purposely made by Aznom srl.

The car is available at SpadaVettureSport in a limited number every year.

technical specifications

Spada Codatronca© Monza

Vehicle type Front-mid-engine, RWD 2-door roadster

Structure : Aluminum Space Frame combined with a magnesium engine cradle.

ENGINE :

Aluminum block V8 and cylinder head, eight-quart dry-sump lubrication system, titanium valves

Type _______________7.0 V-8 with two Italtecnica C38 Rotrex centrifugal superchargers and two intercoolers.

Displacement (cm3)_____________7011

Compression ratio (:1)__________11.5

Power (Horsepower @ rpm)______700 @ 6200

Torque (Nm @ rpm)____________950 @ 4200

Fuel feed____________________ SFI(sequential fuel injection)

Valvetrain___________________ OHV, 2valves per cylinder

TRANMISSION:

Short – Throw 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:

Weight (kg) ____________________1180

Wheelbase (mm)________________2686

Track, front/rear (mm)____________1607/1580

Length (mm)___________________4759

Width (mm)_____________________1942

Height (mm)____________________1130

SUSPENSION, STREERING, BRAKES:

Front and Rear Suspension Fully adjustable racing derived.

Steering Power-assisted, speed-sensitive, magnetic, variable-effort rack-and-pinion with fluid cooler.

Brakes Power-assisted disc with ABS, 380mm front discs and 355mm rears,

8-piston front and 4-piston rear Brembo calipers.

WHEELS:

Front: 285/35-19”   Rear: 345/35-19”

PERFORMANCE

Top speed (km/h)________________335

Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s)________3.0

www.spadaconcept.com

www.spadavetturesport.com

www.codatronca.com

Paolo Martin, famous world-wide for just some of his many mythical designs of supercars, yachts, bikes and more has accepted to talk to young design in the “West meets East” Design Conference in Zagreb this week-end.

Martin is the designer who performer several one-man-show when creating stunning cars such as the Pininfarina F1 Sigma Grand Prix and the Pininfarina Ferrari Modulo and a number of Dino concept cars, including the yellow “Berllinetta” (actually named Dino Competizione) now owned by the famous enthusiast James Glickenhaus in New York.

For additional information about the Zagreb Automotive Design Conference go to: http://www.automotivedesignconference.com/

Martin will recall how he built the full scale Modulo during the summer holidays and how his project had to compete with the alternative proposal of Filippo Sapino for the Ferrari 512 S. Both show cars were eventually approved by Sergio Pininfarina and his broche in law, Renzo Carli. Both were outstanting successes.

Martin will also present his Modulo II design, based on the Ferrari Enzo and will be open to questions from the audience.

Over more than fifty years, Martin has worked for Michelotti, Bertone, Pininfarina, De Tomaso, Fiat, Nissan, BMW, Subaru, Piaggio, Gilera, Ferretti and Dassault Aviation.

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.

Clearly the B99 label has a precise meaning, it marks the 99^th anniversary of the Bertone (B) company. The Jaguar B99 is the fifth Jaguar design produced by Bertone in its 99 years old history. The previous ones were the  1957 Bertone Jaguar XK 150, the Jaguar FT (1966),  the Jaguar Pirana (1967) e Jaguar Ascot (1977).

The 2011 show-car will also suggest a new Hybrid powertrain developed by Bertone daughter company Bertone Energia.

By completing the project and the two design pieces in just 100 days Bertone believes to have established a new record. This might be quite true for recent times. In the past the could build a new show car in a month or little more. Marcello Gandini joined Bertone late in November and in the following three months the Bertone shops created as many as three superlative dream-cars: the Porsche 911 Roadster, the Jaguar FT and … the Lamborghini Miura, for the 1966 Geneva Motor Show.

If designing cars is your dream and you have got the talent and all it take to become a professional, you have a unique chance to prove your potential to Walter De Silva, Fabrizio Giugiaro, Alessandro Dambrosio and Filippo Perini, through almost one year of learning process and eventually receive an invitation to be part of the team that will create a new car (or truck) for one of the 11 brands of the VW “Konzern”. Let’s just remind them: Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Italdesign-Giugiaro, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat, Scania, Skoda, VW, VW Nutzfahrzeuge.

ONLY IN TORINO.

The top designers just mentioned will take a close look to your drawings and idea, they will also be your tutors and trainers, through the some 12 months, at the Master promoted and organised by the renowned IAAD (Istituto d’Arte Applicata e Design). The 2011 “European Master of Science in Design” starts in April in Turin and will offer participant to focus on car design, motorcycle and scooter design or sustainable mobility. The program include history and critics of contemporary design, language and technique of ideas presentation, graphic visualisation, technology of material engineering, means of transportation, system design, 3D rendering techniques, product integrated design and prototyping, marketing and design management, and more.

The “file rouge” of the Master will aim at conceiving, design and present the “VW Golf for the urban environment of the year 2020” but designer Alessandro Dambrosio made a clear statement (on the occasion of the public announcement of the Master at Italdesign headquarters) that those majoring with success will be invited to practice at any of the design studios the VW Group operates at each brand, including Italdesign with a stage that can well open the doors into the profession.

Most lessons and lectures will in Italian but many visiting professors (mostly from the industry) will be in English. With the Master being bilingual, the knowledge of English is considered a plus in the selection of the candidates admitted to the Master. A maximum of 30 candidates will be admitted.  The admission is not limited to graduated from Industrial or Transportation Design or Vehicles Engineering colleges but also to other specialists which qualifications will be evaluated by the IAAD committee.

The entry ticket to the master is set at € 9.000. For more information: www.iaad.it

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.

Indeed this is the first Pagani that will be officially approved for the U.S.A.

The look is positively that of a Pagani, the natural evolution of a unique species created from stretch by the Italo-Argentinan Horacio Pagani with the Zonda. The DNA is there, 100%, but there is a new refined treatment of the surfaces, an even strikingly dynamic silhouette, sitting on a longer wheelbase and offering a roomier interior with access through two gull-wing doors, à Mercedes-Benz SLS.

According to Horacio Pagani: “Elegant and muscular the Huayra merges the past, present and future in a timeless interpretation of automotive art.

The styling of the car was perfected over the course of 5 years to find each line’s beginning and end. During this study, eight scale models were created, as well as two 1:1 models, each an evolution of the previous in a never-ending quest to perfect the form and refining the substance.

The bi-xenon headlamps are just one of the many precious gifts from the Zonda R, and LED daytime running lights are seamlessly integrated in the elliptical shape of the design. The rear bumper integrates with the diffuser and is dominated by an elliptical frame that surrounds the four central exhaust outlets, now becoming a characteristic Pagani element.

If a link to the German car-marker is only suggested by the door opening, the technical specification makes a positive statement. The powertrain of the new Pagani Huayra is a 6.0 litre Mercedes-AMG V12 Twin-turbo claiming an “over 700” HP output and a shocking “more than 1000 Nm” torque. It sits ahead of the rear axle and – via a 7-speed Xtrac sequential transmission – drives the rear wheels, and meets EU5 and LEV2 emission standards.

The car has no four-wheels drive but a weight distribution splitting 44% on the front axle and the balance on the rear.

The carbon-fibre two-seater supercar is 4.6 metres long and 2036 mm. wide (2356 with rear mirrors) and comes with a dry weight 0f 1350 kg, reportedly the lightest sports car in its class.

The new central monologue on the Huayra is an entirely new design made from carbon-titanium.

However, with the gull wing doors cutting deep into the roof, much research was focused on achieving the highest levels of rigidity through the application of new advanced composite materials and technologies first tested on the Zonda R. The fuel tank is located integrally in the best-protected area of the monocoque, behind the driver, reinforced by safety cell made of different composite and ballistic materials.

Pagani does not provide data for acceleration or top speed but said that the Pirelli P Zero tires fitted to the Huayra can travel at speeds above 370 kph and stand lateral acceleration of 1.5g.

More details in a week.