IED concept for Alfa Romeo 'Gloria' makes its world premiere at Geneva Motor Show

At the 83rd Geneva Motor Show, the European Design Institute (IED) of Turin is presenting the world premiere of 'Gloria', the concept by the Master in Transportation Design in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Style Centre. The prototype represents the sports
spirit and Italian style of a brand with powerful international appeal, whose products have brought the beauty of Italian design into the wider world. It was 1966 when the Spider Duetto in the film The Graduate reinforced the mythical image of the car manufacturer in the United States. The 'Gloria' concept is intended as another international challenge, again looking overseas, to the American and Asian markets.

"We asked the students in the Master programme to give us their completely independent interpretation of a new Alfa Romeo saloon," said Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Head of Fiat & Chrysler Design. "During development, we commented, discussed and guided the projects in order to get the most from their spontaneous expressions of creativity. The result was stimulating and marked by professional and creative excellence."

4,700 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, 1,320 mm high and with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm, 'Gloria' is a sports saloon with decisive lines that run down the side to the rear end. It would be propelled by a state-of-the-art V6 or V8 biturbo engine on the road. The bonnet powerfully evokes the Alfa Romeo shield through the lines of the car, which highlight the three-dimensional aspects of its form. The leather strips at the front recall the memorable leather straps for the luggage compartments of the brand's historic cars.

'Gloria' springs from the work of twenty students on the Master programme (2011/2012 academic year) from both Italy and other countries and cultures. The concept is the result of a process that simulated a real work situation - from the brief of the Alfa Romeo Style Centre and the style research up to the twenty design proposals developed in 1:4-scale clay models. From all the models, the one that corresponded most closely to the initial brief provided by Alfa Romeo was chosen. The entire class of students, divided into groups but highly involved and motivated, then worked on the final project in full scale.

"The possibility of developing a concept car in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Style that we were offered was a great opportunity to demonstrate that the IED is, first of all, an Italian school that aims to generate beauty," said Cesar Mendoza, Director of IED, Turin. "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. Today, the European Design Institute is proud to represent Italian teaching excellence internationally."

Posted in: Alfa Romeo,Cesar Mendoza,Concept,European Design Institute,Geneva Motor Show 2013,Gloria,IED,International,Lorenzo Ramaciotti,Shows/Expo,Spider Duetto,Turin,World Premiere