One of the special events most appreciated by the visitors to the last edition of Alumotive was surely Aludesign, the focus on materials and style in automotive design that was held on the 19th of October in Modena.

The cars of the future will be ever more similar to those who will drive them, in a new process of 'humanisation' of vehicles that, in the unanimous thinking of designers and car makers’ style directors attending the exhibition, will lead to a way of living the relationship with a car that is more modern, balanced, and positive.

 

Coordinated by Mauro Tedeschini, director of Quattroruote magazine, the encounter offered interesting and diverse points of reflection, thanks first of all to the presence of prepared speakers and their strong comunicative ability.

First, Mihai Panaitescu, a young student of the Turin Design Institute spoke about the 'Flux concept,' an innovative manner of conceiving the automobile that won him the first prize of a prestigious international design competition organised by Peugeot. The name of the vehicle is inspired by the continuous changes that individuals are called to face daily and that are reflected in the way the vehicle is used. The car designed by Panaitescu is characterized by simple structural elements and the use of materials tied to cost control and ecology. Standing out from these is the use of aluminium in various parts of the structure (chassis, armrests, rims), as well as the great freedom of expression that it offers from a stylistic point of view. Mihai Panaitescu stated “Flux has the task of making us think about things in a different way, bringing a little fresh air to the design and the use of materials”. A strength of the work of the young student is the strong relationship between the world of style and that of concrete development, because only through this interaction the design emerges and true progress is made.

Piero Luigi Carcerano (Carcerano Creative Engineering) then tackled a significant current topic, that of urban mobility and the dualism, not always easily applied, between aesthetics and technology. Starting from the assumption that the car is one of those few products that due to its function and mission is integrated in the city, Carcerano launched a research project from which Sonny emerged. Sonny is an Urban Car able to converse perfectly with the urban context in which it is found thanks to the communication technologies installed, the architecture of the vehicle, and its reduced size. Sonny is part of, among other things, a national study conducted on stylistic and technological innovation methodologies that place particular attention on the treatment of vehicles at the end of their life cycle with stringent limits regarding recycling, reuse and energy recovery.

Laura Dilani of the IAAD (Institute of Applied Art and Design) also spoke about the study of a new 'urban car' fuelled by hydrogen – project 'Green Wheels' - which is part of a small group of ecological initiatives which will involve the Institute in Turin and different par tners (Volkswagen in this case) until 2009. The goal of the project (conducted in collaboration with Environment Park) is to conceive a vehicle that can combine the practicality and low cost of a scooter with the safety of an 'urban car.' Thus, the idea is to join functionality and style in accordance with an ethical process that promotes hydrogen as a clean carrier and an alternative to fossil fuels which are highly polluting.

The event continued with the presentation by Paolo Spada (Spada Concept) of TS Codatronca, a modern remake of the historical clean cut design that characterized many versions of the mythical Alfa Romeo Giulietta. A return to the standard of pure design, which for Paolo and his father Ercole means emotion, innovation, and the ability to create a product able to “comunicate with its own design”. TS Codatronca is a supercar that combines the characteristics of racing and tourism and which will be available in three versions in a limited series. It is a timeless car, fruit of the best Italian handicraft traditions, in which technical progress goes hand in hand with the beauty of the design and the details.

Finally, a contribution by Roberto Giolito (Advanced Design-Fiat Group Automobiles) was a must on the car of the moment, the new 500, seen from 'behind the scenes.' In fact, Giolito retraced the steps that led to the relaunching of an Italian icon with the motto 'Invented Here.' In the minds of the Turin car maker’s team of designers this meant digging in the past in order to restore to its former glory, after 50 years, a product able to relaunch the company’s identity.

Thus, the spirit of the first car from 1957 returns with the stylistic features that allow the immediate identification of the car, in the way in which the details have been reinterpreted, in the simplicity and neatness of the surfaces, in the accurate research targeted at creating an emotional link to the classic 500.