ItalDesign is a renowned design bureau operating in the automotive industry. Its headquarters are located in Moncalieri, Italy. The history of this design studio includes many achievements; every ItalDesign car is perfection and elegance, combined with excellent technical characteristics. ItalDesign Concept is always something new, and each of the nearly 60 models developed in the studio has become a hit of its time.
The Emergence of the Design Bureau
This company was founded back in 1968 by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Already a quite famous designer, he collaborated with the Bertone studio but decided to establish his own studio, and success came to the talented specialist quickly enough. The designer gained fame and recognition in the automotive world after developing the Panda car for FIAT, as well as the Golf 1 for VW, which was created in 1974. But perhaps the most famous car in the history of the ItalDesign Concept studio was the DeLorean DMC12.
ItalDesign Concept Activities
On a wave of success, the designer actively participated in Volkswagen projects. However, in the 80s, due to increasing competition with FIAT, disagreements arose at the management level within the company. And eventually, Giugiaro was offered to end the collaboration. By that time, the design bureau had already become popular, so it did not remain without orders – lucrative offers came from Japanese companies Toyota and Suzuki.
The “Asian” client base continued to expand. Throughout its history, the studio has worked with Subaru, Hyundai, Daewoo, and SsangYong. The European market also did not go unnoticed. Thus, this studio developed the Bugatti EB118, BMW Nazca C2, Alfa Romeo Brera, Ferrari GG50, and Fiat 850 Sport Coupe. Among the iconic developments are the Italdesign Scighera, Italdesign Zerouno, and Italdesign Aztec.
Key Moments in History
Since 1998, the Maserati brand has become a partner of ItalDesign – from that moment on, all concept cars of this brand are developed by Giugiaro and his team.
The second significant moment in the studio’s history was the purchase of 90.1% of its shares by the Lamborghini holding. More precisely, the owner of the studio became the Volkswagen concern, as it includes Audi AG, which is the parent company of Lamborghini. A complex chain, but the fact remains: the controlling stake in ItalDesign Concept belongs to the automotive concern. The remaining shares belonged to the Giorgetto Giugiaro family.
After the deal, Fabrizio Giugiaro (son) stated that all projects that are in development by the company but are not orders from Volkswagen will be completed with the preservation of trade secrets and in full. In the same year, Giorgetto and his son Fabrizio sold their shares, ceasing to be the owners of the design studio, although they did not cease to be designers, continuing their work, and Walter de Silva, who is in charge of all design divisions of the concern, was appointed head of the studio.
After joining the Volkswagen group, ItalDesign Concept develops concepts for cars of this brand. Thus, in 2011, the public was presented with the concept of the Go! minivan and the Tex sports hatchback, designed on the MQB platform from VW. Thanks to the modular design, the platform allows the use of different types of power plants – gasoline, gas, hybrid, even hydrogen. The second concept was presented in 2012. This is the Italdesign Brivido model, assembled in Italy from VW units. The model is memorable for its glazing, which extends to the doors, and retractable rear-view cameras.
In 2015, at the Geneva Motor Show, the last concept from maestro Giorgetto Giugiaro was presented – the GEA electric car with built-in autopilot. After that, the 76-year-old designer left the company, even refusing the position of honorary director. His son Fabrizio also left the studio. Nevertheless, this is not a retirement – the tireless designers are going to open a new design studio.
Iconic ItalDesign Models
Throughout its history, this design studio has developed about 60 cars and concepts. Among them, the following Italdesign models stand out.
Alfa Romeo Scighera
This concept car was designed in 1997, shown at the Geneva Motor Show, but after the show, it was forgotten. It was only remembered in 2005, and the return of the concept was a sensation. The car’s body is made of carbon fiber and aluminum. A feature of the model was the large glazing area, with a large part falling on the doors. At the same time, the lower half of the door opens normally, and the upper half rises. A luxurious interior with leather trim, an unusual design with narrow headlights, an Alfa Romeo 164 engine with 400 hp and a volume of 3.0 liters with two turbochargers, push rod suspension – the car deserves attention.
DeLorean DMC 12
Despite the fact that the car was a production model, many perceive it as unique – thanks to the movie “Back to the Future,” where this car was the time machine. The car was produced for DeLorean Motor Company (USA), but production was organized in Northern Ireland. A feature of the car was a composite body, which was finished with stainless steel, without painting. Among other cars, the model is distinguished by large rear wheels, gull-wing doors, and a wedge-shaped body. Despite the originality of the car, its build quality was low.
Italdesign BMW Nazca
These sports concepts were developed from 1991 to 1993. BMW Italdesign Nazca is a two-seater coupe with a streamlined carbon fiber body. A feature is the connection of the windshield with the side windows to form the roof. Despite the fact that the cars are concepts, three of them were built. One – for the Sultan of Brunei and his brother.
Italdesign Zerouno
A limited-edition model developed in 2017, only 5 units were produced. The design is similar to the Lamborghini Huracan, but the concept has an original design, more sporty and aggressive. The all-wheel-drive Italdesign Zerouno is equipped with a 610 hp naturally aspirated gasoline engine and a robotic gearbox.
Italdesign Cala
One of the most successful concepts – Italdesign Cala, whose appearance and characteristics are relevant even today. The model debuted in 1995 and debuted successfully. An interesting appearance, in the spirit of Lamborghini, a well-thought-out interior – everything was thought out in this car. But the concept was never put into mass production – Lamborghini was acquired by Audi, and production was reorganized. However, you can still buy the car. True, under the name Gallardo.
Italdesign Columbus
An undeservedly forgotten concept – the Italdesign Columbus minivan. Mid-engine design, non-standard driver’s seat in the middle of the cabin and truly huge dimensions – in 1992, the car caused a sensation. This is a 7-seater all-wheel-drive car with a 5.0-liter V12 engine. The number of passenger seats could be increased to 9 or decreased.
GT-R50 by Italdesign
The Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign, a limited-edition prototype meticulously crafted to commemorate the golden anniversaries of both Nissan’s iconic GT-R and the esteemed Italdesign studio, represents a pinnacle of automotive artistry and engineering. This collaborative masterpiece, derived from the 2018 Nissan GT-R NISMO, showcases a bespoke aesthetic characterized by striking golden accents, a dramatically lowered roofline, and reimagined “floating” taillights, seamlessly merging Nissan’s performance DNA with Italdesign’s visionary styling. The interior, a symphony of carbon fiber, Alcantara®, and luxurious Italian leather, underscores the vehicle’s exclusive pedigree.
Beneath its sculpted exterior lies a potent, NISMO-enhanced 3.8-liter V6 engine, meticulously tuned to deliver an exhilarating 720ps. This power surge is seamlessly managed by a reinforced drivetrain, a revised suspension featuring BILSTEIN DampTronic® I, and high-performance Brembo brakes, ensuring exceptional handling and control. The GT-R50 by Italdesign is not merely a prototype; it’s a testament to the pursuit of automotive excellence, a fusion of heritage and innovation, strategically positioned to capture the attention of high-performance enthusiasts and collectors globally.
