Geneva 2012: Four concept cars from Italian coach builders ...

Traditionally, the Italian coach builders or carrozzerie are the stars of the Geneva Motor Show and this year certainly is no exception. One of the absolute highlights of the show that opened its door to the public yesterday is the Italdesign Brivido. Carefully penned by master designer, Giorgietto Giugiaro, the Brivido combines classical elegance with modern lines. Among the most striking features are the large gull-wing doors and the V-shaped aluminium frieze on the engine cover. Like all of Italdesign's show cars, the Brivido is fully functional and features a sophisticated hybrid drivetrain that is also used by fellow Volkswagen subsidiary Porsche and produces a combined 400 bhp. In addition to a road going version, Italdesign also showed a 'Martini Racing' model of the Brivido, sporting the legendary Martini livery.
Celebrating the company's 100th anniversary, Bertone previewed the Nuccio concept. Named after the Nuccio Bertone, who headed the company for many decades, the car was unveiled by his widow Lilli. The wedge-shaped machine clearly draws its inspiration from classic Bertone designs like the Stratos Zero and Lamborghini Countach. The example shown in Geneva was still a full-size model, but a fully functional example is currently being constructed by Bertone to be released in Beijing next month.
Also marking the company's 100th anniversary, the recently resurrected Touring Superleggera took the wraps of the Disco Volante 2012. Based on Alfa Romeo 8C mechanicals, this is a modern interpretation of the experimental Disco Volantes of the 1950s. The order books are open for interested customers, who only need to deliver a donor vehicle and a big check to get a Disco Volante 2012 of their own.
Italy's best known carrozzeria, Pininfarina, showed this Cambiano concept. The four-door machine sports sharp lines and a particularly interesting drivetrain. This consists of four wheel-mounted electric motors and a small gas turbine that serves as generator if additional electricity for the motors is needed.

Enjoy the links:

[url="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5119/Alfa-Romeo-Touring-Disco-Volante-2012.html"]2012 Alfa Romeo Touring Disco Volante 2012 - Images, Specifications and Information[/url]

[url="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5104/Bertone-Nuccio-Concept.html"]2012 Bertone Nuccio Concept - Images, Specifications and Information[/url]

[url="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5142/Italdesign-Brivido.html"]2012 Italdesign Brivido - Images, Specifications and Information[/url]

[url="http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5066/Pininfarina-Cambiano.html"]2012 Pininfarina Cambiano - Images, Specifications and Information[/url]

Are we witnessing the decadence of Italian styling? None of the four cars is even remotely beautiful... Well, Disco Volante looks very interesting from some angles and I love its rear end, but in general they couldn't match the original Disco Volante, not even close. Do they have little time between drawing bodies for Chinese makers or what?

Really, with today's technologies purpose of concept cars seems to be not needed anymore - most of those shapes can be performed for road going cars, so they don't make hearts stop anymore. And those futuristic forms... there are already too much of them around, bring something more eye-pleasing.