Revived carmaker DMC will launch in 2013 the DeLorean DMC-12 EV, an electric version of the coupe car designed by Giorgio Giugiaro’s Italdesign that arose to worldwide fame in the 80s thanks to the “Back To The Future” film franchise. The reborn DeLorean will be developed alongside electric vehicles specialist Epic EV, and it seems it will deliver 200 hp with top speed of 200 km/h. The new model will share many aesthetic features with the famous 1981 DeLorean it derives from - gullwing doors included, of course - but no decision has been made as for where the batteries will be placed, as it is something that will have to depend on the final weight distribution.

At the moment DMC’s official website doesn’t provide any more information about it, but the official images released so far surely made an impact around the world. The bodywork seems to be made of stainless steel panels in the same fashion of its 30 years older sister, while the cabin looks more up-to-date even though it maintains the simple distinctive lines of its illustrious predecessor. The new model will benefit from all the services offered by the current DeLorean Motor Company (based in Texas) which now owns the largest remaining original parts stock from the original factory and took care of the whole DeLorean customer base since 1995.

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These live pics from the Geneva Motor Show present the Italdesign Tex and Go! models designed by Giugiaro for Volkswagen. The Tex model has been put together by Tex Willer and is the Volkswagen sports car of the future. It’s 1.75 metres wide and 1.35 m tall with 19-inch wheels and space for four occupants. It uses a Twin Drive hybrid system with a 1.4-litre TSI engine, and an 85 kW battery-driven electric system. Used in conjunction, about 400 Nm of torque is produced.

The Italdesign Tex is equipped with a seven-speed DirectShift transmission and overall has a top speed of 220 km/hr. The sprint to 100 km/hr is achieved in six seconds. No possible production details have been released for this model, so we don’t know at this stage whether it will get beyond prototype status or not.

The Italdesign Go! model is 3.99 metres long with a wheelbase of 2.7 m. It’s a five-seater car with a large boot space of between 400 and 525 litres. It also runs off electric technology with a plug-in battery system located under the floor of the car, under the front and rear seats. Weight distribution is 58:42. The interior features a new dash set-up with monitors showing the view from the rear cameras of the car.

Giugiaro Volkswagen Concepts live at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Continue reading: Volkswagen Italdesign Tex and Go live at Geneva Motor Show

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Early next week Volkswagen AG will probably announce that they will have bought a controlling stake in Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A., Italy’s largest design and engineering firm, according to two inside industry sources as reported by Automotive News Europe.

Volkswagen and Italdesign representatives declined to comment on the rumors, but the German car manufacturer will be buying into one of Italy’s iconic design and engineering company. Co-founded by the famous designer Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1968, Italdesign currently employs 975 people mostly based at the headquarters in Moncalieri, 10 miles south of Italy’s industrial capital Turin.

Last January, Italdesign stipulated a half-billion dollar deal cooperation agreement with Hybrid Kinetic Motors (HK Motors) for the styling and engineering of a family of hybrid vehicles that will be produced at a new plant in Baldwin County, Alabama, with the start of production scheduled in 2013.

Both Giugiaros are expected to continue working at Italdesign, but we have no idea if they will be able to continue doing other work outside the Volkswagen Group if the deal goes through.

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