Automotive

Italian coachbuilders reboot the Willys Interlagos

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The new Willys Interlagos should sprint to 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds
A twin-turbo six-cylinder engine is powering the new Interlagos
The car is light, weighing in at 1350 kg
Only 110 Interlagos' will be built
Although harking back to a car from the 1960's, the new Interlagos stands out as a beautiful modern car too
Willys may be dead, but the name lives on for this coachbuilt special
The Willys badge has been revived for this coachbuilt special
Although not a mass-market car, the details on the new Interlagos still look impressive
The new Interlagos is rear engined and rear drive
Carrozzeria Viotti have collaborated with Maggiora for the new Interlagos
The wheels are a throwback to those on the original Interlagos
The car debuted at the Bologna Motor Show
The six-cylinder engine produces over 800 Nm of torque
Although a retro throwback, the new Interlagos is a thoroughly modern car
The new Interlagos harks back to the Interlagos of the 1960's
The car sits on 19 inch front wheels and 20 inch rear wheels
The Willys' specs
The new Willys Interlagos should sprint to 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds
Power is claimed to be 610 hp
View gallery - 20 images

Coachbuilding firms Maggiora and Carrozzeria Viotti have collaborated to revive the Willys Interlagos. The gorgeous reinterpretation of the 1960s sportscar's features a turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing 610 hp.

The original Willys Interlagos was a Renault-Alpine A108 built as a convertible and coupe for the Brazilian market by Willys-Overland. The car had plenty of racing success at the hands of drivers like Emerson and Wilson Fittipaldi.

Maggiora is planning to build 110 of its modern Interlagos', each of which will be powered by a 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged engine. The six-cylinder boxer produces 610 hp (455 kW), which Maggiora claims will propel the Willys to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2.7 seconds – that's quicker than a Nissan GTR.

The car's rear mounted engine also produces 830 Nm (612 lb.ft) of torque at 4500 rpm, which is channeled to the rear wheels by a six-speed paddle shift gearbox. Though all of this power may be good for a claimed top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph), it isn't great for fuel economy. While the new Interlagos should achieve 9.3 l/100km on the highway, around town Maggiora says the car will guzzle 18.9 l/100km (12 mpg).

Power is claimed to be 610 hp

There is more, however, to this car than a massively powerful engine. Maggiora and Carrozzeria Viotti have fitted the car with an independent MacPherson Strut front suspension system, with a multilink system at the rear. Braking is handled by ceramic composite discs, measuring 380 mm up front and 360 mm at the rear, clamped on by six and four piston aluminum calipers respectively. This modern powertrain and suspension system helps to keep the Interlagos' weight down – kerb weight it just 1350 kg (2976 lb).

The car's beautiful styling draws on details from the Interlagos of the 1960's, like the shape of the rear glass, and the chrome wheels.

If the new Willys has caught your eye, you'll need to set aside €380,000 (US$468,029) and wait until early 2015, when production will begin in Turin, Italy.

Source: Maggiora and Carrozzeria Viotti

View gallery - 20 images
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1 comment
Lewis M. Dickens III
James Bond sure needs this on when chasing Goldfinger... Take the bike along too, just in case!
But Sir Clive's bikes were better and would look even better in gold!
Bill