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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The Audi Quattro Concept which might be produced by Italdesign, won hearts at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and here we see a rendering of the Quattro Concept. Perhaps a bit guadier than we expected (frankly, we liked it in white), it shows what a production version of the retro, rally car might look like.

Audi has been conducting engineering feasability studies and says it already knows how to build the Quattro Concept. Any production model will most likely have the same technical platform as the concept car and be equipped with the 2.5 TFSI engine from the TT RS. The concept car had an added power step with a boost to 408 hp. That power on just 1,300 kg should provide some impressive performance, with acceleration to 100 km/hr said to be done in 3.9 seconds. We can’t wait to hear more from Audi on this.

Source | TheophilusChin

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With the rumours that Volkswagen wants to purchase Alfa Romeo so persistant, we would almost say it’s only a matter of time if we didn’t know the Italians as well as we do. The business case for an Alfa Romeo purchase makes a lot of sense, but what is harder to grasp in a world of hard money talk and deals to be done, is just why Volkswagen is so taken with Italian design.

The Italian love-affair seems to be further proved by reports that the Audi Quattro Concept, revealed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, could become a production model under the care of Italdesign - Volkswagen’s recently acquired design and engineering firm from Milan.

The Audi Quattro Concept knocked the socks off more than one Audi fan at the show and we definitely won’t be opposing the idea that Italdesign could build the production model. In fact, we think they could probably produce something quite special. Not only has it got a funky mix of retro rally and modern class, it’s an engineer’s dream with Audi’s famous all-wheel drive technology, 408 hp and 480 Nm of torque and all weighing less than 1,300 kg.

Continue reading: The Audi Quattro concept, Italdesign and Volkswagen's Italian love affair

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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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