The Geneva Motor Show is traditionally the
most popular venue for concept vehicles (not this year, though) and GFG Style
was supposed to display three of them this year. The most significant is called
the Bandini Dora and it envisions an all-electric four-wheel-drive Barchetta
sports car packing a total of 536 HP within the confines of a
space frame aluminum chassis and carbon fiber bodywork.
The design company set up by father and
son Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro describes the Bandini Dora study as a
“hedonistic, open, two-seater car, designed for outdoor leisure, a
quintessential of sports cars manufactured by Bandini in the 50’s.”
Interestingly, the Bandini Dora manages to
envelop the concept of a classic Barchetta in a modern package that doesn’t
compromise on safety. Exterior highlights include the wedge-shaped, long body
with very large headlights defining an equally long bonnet, the roll bar that
also plays the role of a spoiler, and the wraparound windshield diverges from
the A-pillars.
As Giorgetto Giugiaro admits, the latter
feature takes inspiration from modern Formula 1 cars. “Inspired by the Halo of
Formula 1, we thought about creating a car that had a clean windshield as it
used to be used with no reinforcements, thus being as linear and light as
possible,” explains the prolific designer.
Two fully automated scissor doors provide
access to the completely “switchless” cockpit, which is defined by a structural
bridge that divides the driver’s area from the passenger’s. Highlights include
a cloche-type steering wheel with a touchscreen monitor, fixed carbon and
leather seats (with adjustable height and backrest) and unique lighting coming
from within the dashboard.
The name of the concept pays homage to
Ilario Bandini, an artisan from Italy’s Romagna region that produced 75 race
cars from 1946 until 1992. The classic car you see alongside the Bandini Dora
concept is a Bandini 750 Sport International Barchetta that ran the Mille
Miglia road race in 1957, its last competitive edition.
