VW’s Italian design arm wants to make some of the world’s most exclusive cars

By Ronan Glon February 22, 2017

Storied Italian design house Italdesign is making a spectacular return to manufacturing low-volume cars with a new sub-division named Automobili Speciali. The Volkswagen-owned company will travel to next month’s Geneva Auto Show to introduce a rakish coupe that’s as fast as it is exclusive.

Strangely, the model’s name hasn’t been revealed yet. Italdesign told Digital Trends that we’ll find out what it’s called as soon as the Geneva show opens its doors. Regardless, the coupe stands out with an aggressive, highly aerodynamic design characterized by sharp edges as well as numerous fins and vents. From some angles, it’s almost Lamborghini-esque.

Recommended Videos

In terms of size, Italdesign’s coupe is positioned between the Lamborghini Huracan and the Aventador S. It rides on a platform made using carbon fiber and aluminum, and its body panels are crafted entirely out of carbon fiber in order to keep weight in check.

A mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine sends the coupe from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, and on to a top speed of over 200 mph. Additional details — such as how much power the engine generates and what kind of transmission it’s bolted to — haven’t been released yet.

Similarly, Italdesign hasn’t revealed where the engine comes from. However, it’s most likely an evolution of either the unit that powers the Audi R8, or the one used by the aforementioned Huracan; the two 10-cylinders are closely related. When asked if the V10 is built by one of Italdesign’s sister companies, a spokesman for the brand told us “we cannot officially confirm, we cannot officially deny.”

You’re in luck if Automobili Speciali’s first model sounds like your dream car. Italdesign will build five examples in its factory on the outskirts of Turin, Italy, before the end of the year. The coupe is fully street-legal across the European Union, and the company told Digital Trends that it’s working on getting it certified in the United States.

Pricing starts at 1.5 million euros (about $1.6 million) before taxes and options are factored in. As is often the case with ultra-high-end cars, buyers will be able to monitor the production process and customize virtually every component in order to create a one-of-a-kind car.

Topics

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

Qualcomm wants to power your next car with the Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride Elite platforms

Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite automotive platforms

It’s been a big year for Qualcomm. Alongside its massive launch into laptop chips through the Snapdragon X Elite series, Qualcomm is now entering the automotive space. The company has announced the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms at its annual Snapdragon Summit, which it flew me out to attend.

The two platforms are designed for different purposes, and can be used togetheror separately. The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite is built for in-vehicle infotainment systems and services, while the Snapdragon Ride Elite is built to power autonomous vehicle systems, including all the cameras and sensors that go into those systems.

Cars

Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs

Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Cars

Robotaxi aside, a $25,000 EV would be pointless, Tesla CEO says

Blue Tesla Model 3 Highland on the road

Enthusiasts expecting to one day put their hands on the steering wheel of a $25,000 Tesla EV may feel like they’ve been taken for a ride.
CEO Elon Musk has just put a serious damper on those expectations, saying that outside of the driverless Robotaxi recently unveiled by Tesla, a regular $25,000 model would be “pointless” and “silly.”
During a conference call with investors, Musk was asked to clarify whether such a model was in the works.
"Basically, having a regular $25K model is pointless,” Musk said. “It would be silly. It would be completely at odds with what we believe." Tesla, Musk continued, has “been very clear that the future is autonomous.”
On October 10, Tesla unveiled its much-awaited robotaxi, called the Cybercab, an autonomous-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals. The company also unveiled the Robovan, a much larger autonomous vehicle expected to carry people or goods.
The automaker said the Cybercab is expected to be produced in 2026 and cost $30,000. Musk, meanwhile, said that it would be a $25,000 car without specifying if that price tag included federal tax credits.
Tesla’s ambiguity about an affordable entry-level model has been going on for years. In 2020, Musk signaled that a $25,000 Tesla would arrive within three years. It was later reported that Tesla had ditched the idea, instead favoring the development of a robotaxi.
Language within Tesla’s latest financial report still hints that new affordable Tesla models are on the way. But Musk’s latest comments are putting a floor on just how affordable these would be. So far, Tesla’s Model 3 Rear-Wheel-Drive remains the company’s cheapest model, with a base price of $38,990.
Some rival EV makers, meanwhile, are entering the affordable space more aggressively in the U.S.
General Motors has already put out its Chevy Equinox EV at a price of $27,500, including federal tax credits. Volkswagen America says it plans to release an under-$35,000 EV in the U.S. by 2027.