Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
The Geneva International Motor Show, held from March 8-18, is rather special; Switzerland’s position as a country which has no car manufacturers of its own and plays no favorites, so everyone feels that the playing field is level. Plus there is a lot of money in the country, and to be sure, a lot of money is needed to even contemplate the stars of the show.
The photos below were taken by longtime correspondent Alessandro Gerelli; captions are primarily the work of the Editor, who must take responsibility for any errors.
Above, in the lead photo, The Mansory Bugatti Vivere Diamond Edition by Moti is billed as “the last and most exclusive of its kind” and that is a positive move. Mansory takes the Bugatti as a base and “transforms it with the lavish use of carbon fiber and the finest leather into the Vivere Diamond Edition by Moti.” The finish is a carbon fabric which is supposed to look like marble but something gets lost in the process; marbles maybe?
Iso Rivolta Vision GT is Zagato’s car derived from a PlayStation video game, introduced last October and shown in Geneva in silver.
Zagato may build three or four cars by order, perfect for game-obsessed rich millennials.
However, we think the Iso Rivolta Vision Gran Turismo is one of the more strikingly attractive cars show at Geneva this year.
Pal V Liberty Flying car. A Dutch outfit is re-inventing the (self-drive) flying car, an idea that didn’t fly when introduced post WWII, and probably won’t get off the ground today either.
Solar Car,perhaps built for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge took place in Australia from October 8-15, 2017.
The Fiat 500 Collezione brings together shapes and colors for a “sophisticated combination that expresses its unique character”. Ok.
Fiat 500 Collezione interior
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio made a lap of 7 minutes, 51.7 seconds at the Nurburgring. But this carbon fiber finish didn’t help.
Alfa Romeo 4C Competizione, still going strong.
Ferarri 488 Pista (track) is the latest V-8 from Maranello.
Lamborghini’s current offerings: Lamborghini Urus.
Lamborghini Aventador S
Lamborghini Huracan Performante spider
Pagani Zonda HP barchetta, always outrageous, often attractive, never imported.
Pagani Zonda HP barchetta take two.
Renault Alpine’s GT4 version of the A110 is built by Alpine’s motorsport partner Signatech.
Pininfarina Birdcage from 2005 was shown again.
According to the PR, Manifattura Automobili Torino is “the sole car manufacturer capable of conceiving, designing, developing and building a whole new car, racing or road legal, whether starting from a blank sheet of paper or working on the evolution of any given donor car.” Here is their Lancia Stratos replica.
Manifattura Automobili Torino also showed their vision of a new Stratos that seems a bit tame compared to the original.
Italdesign Zerouno Duerta. Five hardtops were built at a price of $1.6 million, and five roadsters like this will also be built and probably cost more.
Alfa Romeo Touring. Old hat, and the looks have not improved with age.
Ferrari Stallone 812 Superfast by Mansory. More carbon fiber gimmickry.
Corbellati Missile is from the jewelry company which hopes to compete with Pagani using a 1800 hp engine.
Corbellati Missile in this form appears like an Italian racing prototype just out of the factory sans paint. Intentional?
Lamborghini Marzal by Bertone was one of the six cars sold in the famous Bertone Auction in 2011 and one of three on display at Geneva this year.
Lamborghini Marzal interior. Grace Kelly sat here.
Envision Corvair Testudo Bertone,
another of the three Bertone auction cars shown at Geneva.
Lancia Sibilo by Bertone, the last of the three.
Bizzarrini P538 1968, hopeful racer.
Bizzarrini Ghepardo by VGM Motors was a 2006 showcar.
Bizzarrini Manta by Italdesign 1968.
Did it work?
Hi Pete,
Just a couple of pedantic corrections: the Corvair Testudo is nothing to do with Envision. As you know, it was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro while at Bertone. Envision has contracted GFG to design a new autonomous driverless concept car, which they were displaying. GFG is the new company established by Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro, and the Testudo was alongside, on the same stand. How come? Giorgetto was the fortunate purchaser when the Testudo was sold at auction, along with the other 5 “Bertone Jewels”.
The Corbellati Missile was, in spite of appearances, painted in a sparkling metallic grey, which the manufacturer had gone to great lengths to apply to make the car dazzle. It didn’t work. The subdued lighting of the show meant that Mr. Corbellati had to shine his phone’s torch onto the bodywork to illustrate the fact. But the dull paintwork was the least of this car’s problems.
Living proof that even the Italians, given a slow day can produce some really ugly body work.
Thanks and we hope you caught the report on the Bertone Auction of 2011 this week…https://velocetoday.com/the-bertone-auction-of-2011/
It’s from the archives.
I miss Spyker! several years ago at the factory we got a look at the almost-finished venator which used “just” an Audi 6-cyl. engine. charming car. they wouldn’t take an order at that time. what happened to it?
That Iso was something to behold. How about our Iso Lelle, here in Williamsburg and the great story about it, Pete. I’d like a reprint of that one.