Italdesign has an impressive back catalogue of Geneva Motor Show specials, from modular shooting brakes to the stunning Clipper, but the storied design house has upped the ante in anticipation of the 2017 show. The (as-yet unnamed) special edition signals the debut of the Italdesign Automobili Speciali brand, with a bespoke body wrapped around an Audi V10.
The automobile will be built in incredibly limited numbers, aimed directly at wealthy collectors who aren't satisfied with a standard Lamborghini or Audi R8. Power comes from the same naturally aspirated V10 powering the Lamborghini Huracan and R8 V10 Plus, and the car will hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.2 seconds. Claimed top speed is 330 km/h (205 mph) but, given how rare the car is, it's unlikely owners will ever go near that.
The free-breathing engine is cradled in a modular carbon-aluminum chassis, wrapped in carbon fiber body panels measuring up 4.84 meters (15.9 ft) long, 1.97 m (6.5 ft) wide and 1.2 m (3.9 ft) tall. We're not quite sold on the way it looks up front, but there's no doubt it's more exciting and unique than almost anything else on the market.
Italdesign says the body is smart, too, thanks to plenty of time spent in the wind tunnel. The top half of the shell has been designed to be smooth like other classic Italian grand tourers, while the lower half was modelled using the latest CAD and simulation tech. This, according to the designers, will help deliver racing performance in a regular road car – a claim that's been used to describe everything from hot hatches to supercars.
Customers will be able to customize the car to suit their every desire, working with the factory to bring their wildest automotive fantasies to life. Just five examples will be built, and the car will debut at the Geneva Motor Show. New Atlas will be on the ground covering all the action, so stay tuned!
Source: Italdesign