The Alfa Romeo Gloria concept will cut a striking figure when it debuts at next month’s Geneva motor show.
The result of a design project by the European Design Institute (IED) of Turin, the Alfa Romeo Gloria concept was penned by students completing their Masters in Transportation Design following a brief from the Alfa Romeo Style Centre.
Measuring 4700mm long, 1920mm wide, 1320mm high and riding on a 2900mm wheelbase, Alfa Romeo says the four-door sports saloon represents the company’s sports spirit and Italian style. Envisaged to feature either a V6 or biturbo V8 engine under its heavily sculpted bonnet – highlighted by leather strips intended to recall the leather luggage compartment straps from cars gone by – the Gloria has been designed to appeal to the American and Asian markets.
Intended to simulate a real work situation, 20 students were involved in the project from the original product brief, style proposals and development to the final 1:1 scale clay model. Director of the European Design Institute (IED) of Turin, Cesar Mendoza, said the chance to collaborate with Alfa Romeo in developing a concept car was a great opportunity for the Italian school.
“What better brand than Alfa Romeo to teach our students how form and volume can convey strong emotions, fuelling the desire to design a car?
“The passion that the brand evokes had a powerful impact on the students and teaching staff, allowing them to push themselves within tight deadlines to achieve the final delivery of a project which was unquestionably complex.”
The Alfa Romeo Gloria concept will be reproduced in a virtual environment for the show, with an iPad allowing show-goers to interact with it, choosing between five body colours and five 20-inch wheel designs – also the result of a teaching project under the guidance of Italian wheel giant OZ Racing – and marks IED’s 10th appearance at the motor show.
The 2013 Geneva motor show kicks off on March 5 when the Alfa Romeo 4C sports car will also make its world premiere.
