Geneva 2009, Part Two

Still saving the best for last.

Press start to play!

Idea ERA Roadster

Neato. Well, I have no idea beyond that this thing has no roof and almost no glass what it’s supposed to do. But you know, I actually like it a lot. Without being insane, it’s definitely very striking. The front fascia looks a bit like a Mitsuoka Orochi…but less deformed and fishlike.

Rating: I’d probably would’ve stared like a fool

Infiniti Essence Concept

So, this gets two pictures! I actually like it a lot, in fact. It’s supposed to echo the new Infiniti styling, and it’s very appropriate, no? Especially from the side profile, you definitely get the feeling of the Nissan heritage, despite Infiniti cars having a different design language than Nissan’s standard sports cars. Let me explain: I once read an interview with the designer of the GT-R and G Coupe. He mentioned that the GT-R had muscular, masculine lines that bulged outward, while the Infiniti had more inwards curving tighter feminine lines. I do believe that that is an excellent piece of design, and thereafter I appreciate the design of the new Infinitis much more (though I’ve still yet to see a GT-R on the road, haha). You know, from the side, you can tell it’s a Nissan because of the Z-like tail light profile and the roofline bearing a trace of the muscular top of the GT-R, but especially with that brake cooling vent behind the front wheels and the short deck/long hood proportions, it’s got a bit of Aston Martin flair to it. And that, is never ever bad.

Rating: A is for makes teenage boys salivate. Oh wait, they’re too dense to understand the intricacies of car design, screw them.

Frazer-Nash Namir by Giugiaro

Huh? What’s up with this name? It’s like a Canadian-Lebanese-country music sitcom. Anyway, I had to give this car another picture to explain what I’m talking about, because now we’re getting into the realm of crazy. What in the hell is going on with this car, exactly? The rear window…it’s more incomprehensible than the Spyker C12′s metaphysical rear lights…how can it possibly work? Well, It’s not supposed to, this being a concept and all. But man, I have to say Giugiaro really knows how to pen a mean conceptmobile! At first glance it looks like a block of cheese, but if you had seen the back first and worked your way to the front, once you arrived there I’m fairly sure that you’d come to the same conclusion that I did: OH GOD ITS A BARRACUDA. And subsequently, hear the opening riff from Heart’s hit “Barracuda” in your head. It’s so fierce! It could even be an extremely sunburnt crocodile!

Rating: OOooooooh, barracuda!

Zagato Perana Z-One

You know, Zagato is kind of hit-miss for me. On one hand, you have cars like the Spyker C12 which are utterly insane and great fun, a real treat for the eyes. Then you get things like the Zagato-fied Bentleys, which are just the host car with more than a liberal touch of Zagato’s favored curvy styling, which sometimes doesn’t work as well as it probably should. This car however, I think works very well. I think it’s made from a Corvette (at least it’s got the engine from one), and I think I would very much like to see this sitting beside the Corvette Stingray concept I saw at the Chicago Auto Show…for one, it’d be an awesome contrast between two very similarly proportioned cars and differing design languages – curves versus sharp angles and hard lines, and two completely different mindsets. Very much a GT-R and G Coupe duality going on there haha. Anyway, what is there to say beyond the fact that this is not just handsome, it’s got more than a touch of beautiful in it. The upwards sweep of the window is evocative of the already undeniably attractive Alfa Romeo 8C, and although I’m fairly sure it was not Zagato’s attention, the front end has a hint of AC Cobra floating about…

Rating: No witty comment here, just appreciation.

Advertisement