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Auto e Moto d’Epoca Padova 2021 best of

1950 Lancia Aurelia B50 Stabilimenti Farina

1950 Lancia Aurelia B50 Stabilimenti Farina

Take the construction skills of Stabilimenti Farina and a design by "maestro" Giovanni Michelotti and you get this beautiful Lancia Aurelia B50 coupè built in only 5 speciments (!)

1965 Fiat Decathlon

1965 Fiat Decathlon

It was parked outside, unoticed and shy: This prototype made in 1965 is based on a 500 D chassis with fiberglass body made by Carrozzeria Sibona Bassano. It was owned by the Agnelli family who had used it in the summer residence of Villar Perosa.

1961 Fiat 600 Spider Moretti

1961 Fiat 600 Spider Moretti

The pretty Fiat 600 D cabriolet designed by Giovanni Michelotti was unveiled by Moretti at the 1961 Turin Auto Show. It was restored losing its white paint in favour of this red color. it was not the only car in this slider which faced this destiny. What a pity...

2007 Fiat Barchetta Bertone

2007 Fiat Barchetta Bertone

In 2007, Bertone released this concept car as proposal for a 2nd generation of the Barchetta. Built to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the famous company, the car was based on the Fiat Panda chassis and featured an aluminum body divided into two sections connected to each other by the glass surface of the doors. It is amazing!

1956 Fiat 1100 TV Printemps

1956 Fiat 1100 TV Printemps

This Fiat 1100 designed by Michelotti was presented by Vignale at the “Contest of Elegance of the Pincio” in Rome in autumn of 1956. The car introduced a lot of analogies with a prototype of Michelotti realized for Ghia and also with the Vignale Cadillac Coupe “Bill Frick”.

1953 Moretti 750 Alger - Le Cap

1953 Moretti 750 Alger - Le Cap

This is the last survivor of a 5 units made in pre-series. The “Moretti 750 Alger – Le Cap” was often the subject of publications on automotive history texts and in 1954 it was displayed with full honors, at the Fiat stand at the Turin Motor Show.

1995 Lancia Kayak

1995 Lancia Kayak

The Kayak, presented for the first time at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show, was a Bertone interpretation of a modern Lancia coupé in line with the traditions of the manufacturer. The car is a modern reworking of the style canons of the Italian coupé, of the great cars of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Its gorgeous!

1947 Fiat 500 Panoramica

1947 Fiat 500 Panoramica

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Ugo Zagato abandoned his Milanese home and sought refuge on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Here his desire to experiment with new forms led Zagato to create an original automotive concept, the so-called 'Panoramica', destined to mark the rebirth of his coachworks in the post-war period. This is his interpretation on the Topolino chassis.

1954 Fiat 1100 TV Canta

1954 Fiat 1100 TV Canta

The italian Studebaker Commander: Canta asked Michelotti to take inspiration from the american company creating this beautiful coupè, until it got attentions from the Studebaker lawyers forcing Canta to change slightly the design. Also this car, completely restored, was originally painted white.

2011 Jaguar B99

2011 Jaguar B99

What a surprise! The B99 name stands for B for Bertone and 99 for Bertone’s 99th year in operation. It was first shown to the public on the Bertone stand at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Gorgeous and spectacular. All the Jag Lovers agree with us: It needed to be mass produced!

After a week from “Auto e Moto d’Epoca Padova” we finally found the time to take stock of the situation. This year’s show was spectacular, full of surprises and more. Among these, certainly part of the Bertone collection. As usual, we have put together a top 10 of prototypes and special bodied cars to share with you. Let us know what you think in the comments.

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Aspark SP600

In a landmark achievement, the Aspark SP600, a production intent prototype hypercar, has become the world’s fastest electric hypercar, clocking a remarkable top speed of 438.7kph. This record-breaking feat was realized through the dedicated efforts of Manifattura Automobili Torino (M.A.T.) in collaboration with tire specialist Bridgestone and driven by professional racer Marc Basseng.

A Vision Realized

The Aspark SP600’s journey to this historic moment began with the vision of Aspark CEO Masanori Yoshida, whose company had previously set benchmarks with the Aspark Owl, renowned as the fastest accelerating electric hypercar. For this new project, Aspark once again partnered with M.A.T., entrusting them with the development and manufacturing of a hypercar capable of shattering the world top speed record for electric vehicles.

Collaboration and Innovation

To achieve this extraordinary speed, M.A.T. sought the expertise of Bridgestone to develop a custom-engineered tire. Bridgestone rose to the challenge with bespoke Potenza Race tires designed specifically for the SP600, ensuring they could handle speeds exceeding 420kph while managing the vehicle’s weight and driving dynamics.

The SP600 underwent rigorous testing at M.A.T.’s headquarters in Torino, Italy. This included extensive virtual and physical evaluations, wind tunnel validation, and numerous track testing sessions. M.A.T. meticulously handled the vehicle’s complete development, from powertrain and software integration to suspension and chassis design, as well as software calibration and the bespoke battery’s design and production.

Record-Breaking Achievement

On June 8th, during the second attempt of the day at Automotive Testing Papenburg, Marc Basseng flawlessly piloted the Aspark SP600 to its record-breaking speed of 438.7kph. This achievement was precisely measured using the certified Racelogic V-Box, a high-precision GPS-based device provided by the ATP proving ground.

The event was attended and supported by numerous marketing and premium partners, including the Supercar Owner Circle, who backed the attempt from its inception. Key executives from Aspark, M.A.T., and Bridgestone were present to witness this monumental accomplishment.

Statements from Key Figures

Masanori Yoshida, Aspark CEO: “It has been about 10 years since we started making the OWL Hypercar. We aimed for the world’s Fastest Acceleration car, and then attempted and achieved the top speed world record today. This technical capability inspires all involved to personal excellence and to challenge and grow in leaps and bounds into the future.”

Steven De Bock, Bridgestone VP EMEA Sales and Original Equipment:
“It was a big excitement on this first attempt for the record, which we immediately saw the potential of the cooperation between the car and tires. The whole team at Bridgestone worked extremely hard to deliver this project in such a short period, another testimonial of our technical capabilities and how we cooperate with our partners.”

Paolo Garella, M.A.T. CEO and Founder:
“This record represents a milestone in the continued growth of M.A.T., a company that today represents the best of the Italian tradition in the automotive industry. In 10 years, we have developed more than 11 full vehicle projects and we have demonstrated that with the right resources we are second to none. I am very proud of my team and also extremely happy to reach this milestone in the anniversary of the 10 years of foundation of M.A.T. A special thank you to Aspark’s CEO Mr. Masanori Yoshida for his vision, support, and trust in M.A.T., and to the Bridgestone team for taking on the challenge and supporting with their most advanced technology this record attempt.”

Exclusive Interview with Riccardo Garella

In an exclusive interview, Riccardo Garella, Sales and Marketing Manager at M.A.T., provided insights into the development process of the Aspark Owl. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel here.

This historic achievement not only sets a new benchmark in the electric hypercar segment but also underscores the capabilities and potential of electric vehicles in pushing the boundaries of speed and performance.