Tag Archives: Italdesign

1988 ItalDesign Aztec is up for auction

August 18, 2024 Francis Mitterrand

At the end of the 60s, a design and engineering company, ItalDesign, was founded. In 1988, celebrating two decades of existence, at the Turin Motor Show, they presented a unique sports car in which the driver and passenger were separated, and the two parties communicated electronically. It is about the ItalDesign Aztec concept, which was produced in only about 20 examples, and one of them, the 1988 ItalDesign Aztec, is up for auction.

This car has a speedster body style with partial visor sections which are removable and open in a gull-wing arrangement. It is equipped with transparent door inserts, pop-up headlights, carbon fiber rear wing, and control panels on both sides of the aluminum body panels at the back. After entering the codes into the dashboard, certain functions of the car (additional set of lights, hydraulic jack, removable screwdriver, fire extinguisher, tire compressor and flashlight) can be accessed via voice message.

The car in the photos is actually the 12th example produced, and between 2011 and 2015 it was in the Shanghai Auto Museum. It was recently imported to the US and serviced by Autocouture Motoring. It is powered by a 2.2 L Audi MB/1B turbocharged DOHC I5 engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

The estimated value of the car is $273,000 – $325,000 USD.

Source: Broad Arrow Auctions

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Future

Quintessenza – dynamic GT that can be turned into a pick-up truck

May 9, 2024 Francis Mitterrand

Italian design and engineering company Italdesign revealed the futuristic GT concept Quintessenza, which can easily be transformed into a pickup.

Quintessenza brings a design that combines the sporty and dynamic character of the GT with the character of a pickup. Sculpted aerodynamic body, high ground clearance and the size of the vehicle are the first things that attract attention. The car has a wheelbase of 3.2 meters, and for the sake of comparison it is longer than the shortest version of the Ford F-150.

The concept in the photos is finished in dark color and is decorated with black wide fenders, scissor doors, 24-inch wheels and a large windshield that extends to the rear, and the rear part of the roof can be removed turning the car into a pickup. The ground clearance can be increased up to 280 mm, making it suitable for off-road driving.

The cockpit of the vehicle is minimalisticly designed with an interface system that is compatible with numerous smartphone models, through which the functions of driving mode, speed, direction indicators, battery level, date and time can be managed. The central part of the cabin is occupied by a large central console, and thanks to the large glass roof, passengers can enjoy more natural light, which gives the feeling of more space. The rear pair of seats can be rotated 180 degrees to give passengers a rearward view.

The Quintessenza concept is powered by three electric motors, one at the front and two at the rear pair of wheels, with a total power of 777 hp (579 kW), which is enough to accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than three seconds. It is equipped with a 150 kWh battery, and Italdesign did not reveal more technical details about this concept.

Source: Italdesign

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Quintessenza - dynamic GT that can be turned into a pick-up truck

News

Ultra-Rare Nissan GT-R50

February 27, 2023 Francis Mitterrand

If we talk about rare cars, the Nissan GT-R50 is definitely one of the rarest. Primarily because it is not talked about much, and it is also a limited edition as only 19 examples were produced. Recently, several photos have appeared that remind all those who do not know, what this car looks like.

First of all, the price. The Nissan GT-R50 costs $1.1 million. The bodywork has been completely changed, thanks to the designers and engineers of Italdesign. It is finished in a combination of red and gold color reminiscent of Marvel’s super hero (Iron Man), which makes this unique car more desirable.

Outstanding design is something that adorns this car at first glance. A lot of carbon parts such as the front splitter, rear wing and side skirts increase the aerodynamics of the car, making it better. It is mounted on and five-spoke 21″ wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport S tires.

Under the hood is the impressive engine from the GT-R Nismo model, with power increased to a whopping 710 hp (522 kW) and 575 lb-ft (780 Nm) of torque. Power goes to all wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission.

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