Italian Concept Car of the Year 2006

It has also been a year when Lancia, one of the most famous and evocative of all automotive brands, celebrated its centenary and at the same time unveiled a brand new concept car that is set to lead it into a bright new dawn. The distinctive brand looks of the Delta HPE (4,837) were rewarded by voters as it swept to the Concept Car of the Year title, comfortably ahead of the pretty little Alfa Romeo Diva (2,249) and Lamborghini’s bold reinterpretation of the iconic Miura (1,648).

Alfa Romeo Diva

The Alfa Diva was designed and realised by Fiat Auto's research and development arm Elasis, in collaboration with several technical partners, including ATR Group, Tubistyle and Momo, and also with the input of the design school Espera, directed by Franco Sbarro. The Diva represents a moving laboratory with innovative solutions in technology, materials and control systems. A compact, mid-engined, 2-seater sports car, the Alfa Diva is powered by a transverse-mounted 3.2 V6 GTA engine, and has been designed for a comparitive 40% reduction in weight.

Bertone Suagnà

Based on the Fiat Grande Punto Multijet, the Suagnà represents a folding hardtop concept that is dedicated to young drivers. A strong, aggressive graphic identity is matched with a roof which folds in 2 and dissapears into the boot. Just over 4 metres long, the Suagnà offers seating for 4, offering leading interior space in the B-segment coupé-cabriolet category. The front seats were developed to accomodated 95th percentile occupants, whereas the rear seats offer ample room even at knee height. The Suangà carries potential future production possibilities for Fiat Auto.

Castagna Imperial Landaulet

Inspired by one of the most famous models invented by Castagna in the 1930s, the Imperial Landaulet is a modern revisitation of a car that ambitiously combines elegance and sportiness. The bodywork clothes impressive technology, with four-wheel drive, adjustable ground clearance and a dual compression engine with an output of approximately 800 bhp. Almost 6 metres long, the angular and slightly retro body design is a cross between a coupé and MPV, and is dedicated to Castagna's most noteworthy customer of the 1930s: Issota Fraschini.

Fiat Panda Jolly

The Panda Jolly was designed to perform an exclusive service of courtesy, transporting all VIP tourists who visited the island of Capri during the summer of 2006. Fresh, light, chic and very Mediterranean in its use of colours and materials, the Panda Jolly draws inspiration from the world of nautical design and the historical Fiat Jolly models of old. Produced by Stola, the Panda Jolly has an interior developed exclusively by Paolo Lenti. The modular seats and dashboard are covered in rope, whereas the floor, sill coverings and rear deck are made from natural ash.

Fiat Panda Luxury

Displayed at the Luxury & Yachts show in Verona, the 4x4 Panda Luxury show car gives a glimpse towards how a compact Fiat could be developed into a luxury vehicle. On the exterior, the Panda Luxury features dipped silver paintwork, precious metal trim and gleaming jewel-like moudlings with back-lit inset crystals. The interior is even more exclusive with dipped silver appointments, precious metal details, Jewel Alcantara upholstery and leather with mother of pearl finish. The Fiat logo is also worked on the seats with stylish studs and crystals.

Fiat FCC Adventure

The unique FCC Adventure show car is based on the Fiat Stilo and is fitted with the punchy 5-cylinder 2.4 litre engine drawn from the Stilo Abarth which delivers 167 bhp. The FCC Adventure was developed entirely by Fiat Automòveis and built in Brazil, and offers clear thinking towards an off-road coupé. Despite its off-road pretentions, the FCC Adventure is front-wheel drive with new independant suspension at all 4 wheels and adjustable shock absorbers housed in tough springs designed to withstand the most rigourous of tests.

Fiat Truckster

Presented as an effective show stopper for the launch of the new Fiat Ducato at the Madrid International Motor Show, the Truckster is a highly original concept vehicle. The style is modern and exuberant, thanks to a design which accentuates the concept of sporting performance applied to a light commercial vehicle. Features include 28" wheels, LED headlamps, hydraulically-controlled gullwing doors, smoked glass windows and an aerodynamic spoiler. The Truckster has played a key role at international motor shows, often used to display the Fiat Panda.

Fioravanti Skill

With the Skill, which is based on the new Grande Punto, Fioravanti proposes a new kind of product mainly dedicated to young people: a fun pick-up spider which, thanks to a boot capacity of 750-litres and an integrated structure, allows it to easily carry bikes ,skis, snowboards, surfboards, go-karts, and other bulky sports equipment. The folding hardtop roof is stored in a vertical position in a specific area between the 2 seats and the boot itself. The rear pillars contain the roof and rear window operating mechanism, plus other features such as the roll bar.

IED Lancia Haizea

Designed by students of the IED Master RSP in Transportation Design, the Lancia Haizea is a sporting luxury vehicle which studies the various identities associated with the Lancia brand. The concept was developed around a frame designed to provide the utmost level of both active and passive safety, with a mid-mounted engine and additional electric motors placed at the front wheels. The concept provides an excellent compromise of weight distribution, traction and mass. A 1:1 mock-up of the Haizea concept was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show.

Italdesign-Giugiaro Ford Mustang

“When we saw the new Mustang, we knew two things: It was the best we’d seen since the original, and we had to get our hands on one,” said Fabrizio Giugiaro, styling director of Italdesign – Giugiaro S.P.A. “We still believe it’s important to show the automotive world pure exercises in style that interpret key models reflecting the history and image of important brands.” Fabrizio Giugiaro led the 2-D design process on the Mustang by Giugiaro concept, allowing him to deliver a complete exterior model from the family’s Turin, Italy, studios in just four months.

Lancia Delta HPE

Developed in record-time as a preview to the future Lancia C/D segment hatchback, the Delta HPE concept car is inspired by the practical sporty, elegant concept embodied by the Lancia Beta HPE during the second half of the 1970s. The result is a modern take on the idea of a sporty yet practical shooting brake. The medium sized car ensures great interior space and travelling comfort, with a versatile, modular and capacious boot. The exterior styling reinvents the Lancia tradition with original body features, including an attractive overhanging flying bridge roof.

Lamborghini Miura

Designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the original Lamborghini Miura of 1966 is one of the most beautiful cars of all time. Lamborghini, now firmly under the wing of Audi, decided to bring back this legendary car with the breathtaking Lamborghini Miura Concept. It is the first Lamborghini design to be conjured from the talented pen of Walter de' Silva, Head of Lamborghini Design. The concept provides a retro-inspired look at a design classic, with every aspect being redesigned yet remaining faithful to the original form, and retaining its purity of line.

Stola Mollino

Leading show car producer Stola created a 1:1 model of architect Carlo Mollino's land speed record dream to headline an exhibition of his work at the GAM di Torino. At the end of the 1950s Carlo Mollino (1905-1973) researched 2 cars to challenge the land speed record, a project which studied aerodynamic advancements and new innovative ideas. Unfortunately, these dreams were to remain in a model state. Stola carefully interpreted these stillborn plans to produce a faithful realisation of Mollino's dream, measuring almost 5 metres in length.