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News16 December 2021 by Andreas 1104 Viewed

Ares Design inaugurates its first swiss Studio in St Moritz

• Italian coachbuilder ARES opens its doors to its St Moritz studio
• 280 square meter boutique to present the ultimate in bespoke automotive design
• One of five new European premises for the Italian coachbuilder

Luxury Italian coachbuilder ARES has opened the the doors to its first Swiss studio in St Moritz this week.

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Located on Via Maistra, the studio provides customers with an immersive brand experience and unparalleled customer service; as the Italian company showcases its coachbuilding skills, artisanal craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.

On display at the 280 square meter studio is the company’s recently launched S1 Project, its sumptuous ARES Coupé for Bentley Mulsanne, the commanding ARES Ultra V Eight 1.2 for the Land Rover Defender, its hand-crafted ARES Scrambler for BMW R nineT motorbike and the ARES Cabrio for Tesla Model S.

The opening is one of five new studios across Europe. It marks a significant milestone for the company as it brings the ARES experience closer to its customers in key territories. Visitors will have a choice of exquisite finishes and colour palettes to choose from, alongside the finest leathers and carbon fibre interiors, paint finishes, trims and luxurious fabrics.

The luxurious boutique will play a vital role in the company’s Co-Create philosophy, where both collectors, connoisseurs, customers and designers can work hand-in-hand to build bespoke one-off vehicles – an offering unique to ARES.

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Historically, ARES has only presented its vehicles at prestigious events such as Italy’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the Monte Carlo Yacht Show, and Salon Privé in the UK and the openings its global studios mark a significant milestone for the company.

ARES was founded six years ago and employs 150 people at its 23,000 square metre facility in Modena Italy. The company uses a fusion of artisanal craftmanship and modern-day technology to create and hand-built bespoke one-off and limited-series vehicles for customers from around the world.

Commenting CEO and Co-founder Dany Bahar said: “We are delighted to open this new studio. At ARES, we offer a unique opportunity for customers to build their very own vehicles, to their exact specification. And these new personalisation studios will allow more customers to do exactly that, to realise their dream vehicle and be part of the creation process.”

Chairman and Co-Founder Waleed Al Ghafari commented: “The opening of the St Moritz studio marks a significant point in ARES’ development as we take the brand to our customers in key territories. St Moritz is an important location for us and we are very proud about bringing ARES and its Made in Italy marque of hand-built vehicles to Switzerland and this stunning part of Europe.”

ARES will also be opening studios in Kitzbühel, Zurich, Munich and its hometown of Modena.

the author

Andreas

Italian classic car enthusiast with German roots. Renowned as a respected figure in the classic car community, he serves as a jury member at various international concours d'elegance, including the Classic Gala Schwetzingen and Mantova. As a content creator, Andreas passionately shares his profound knowledge and appreciation for vintage automobiles. His heart beats for cars designed by Giovanni Michelotti, showcasing his discerning taste and dedication to preserving the timeless elegance of automotive history.

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Photo courtesy of Auto Storica

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer (BB), produced from 1973 to 1984, stands as one of Ferrari’s most radical shifts in design and engineering, thanks to the collaborative work with Pininfarina. The BB was Ferrari’s first mid-engine road car, marking a significant departure from Enzo Ferrari’s long-standing preference for front-engine designs. Its introduction signified a new chapter for Ferrari, aligning more closely with the trends set by other supercar manufacturers at the time.

Origins and Design Inspiration

Designed under the direction of Leonardo Fioravanti, the Ferrari 365 GT4 BB (the first iteration of the BB series) debuted at the 1971 Turin Auto Show, and production began in 1973. One fascinating anecdote about the car is that its “BB” initials reportedly stood for Brigitte Bardot, the famous French actress, which was a codename used during development and remained with the model​.

The BB’s design was sleek and revolutionary. It featured a wedge-shaped, low-profile body, which became a staple of 1970s supercar aesthetics. One of its unique design elements was the bicolored bodywork, with a black lower section that visually slimmed the car while emphasizing its elongated shape. Its pop-up headlights and minimalist, flowing lines were indicative of Pininfarina’s ability to combine functionality with elegance, helping the car stand out from its competitors​.

Mid-Engine Innovation

Before the BB series, Ferrari had always adhered to front-engine layouts for its road cars, famously stating, “Never put the cart before the horse.” However, the mid-engine layout, which Ferrari had already used in its Dino models, became necessary as rivals like Lamborghini began popularizing the mid-engine format in supercars.

The 512 BB (introduced in 1976) featured a 5.0-liter flat-12 engine, mounted in the middle of the car, right behind the driver, delivering 360 horsepower. While this engine was commonly referred to as a “Boxer,” it was technically a 180-degree V12, not a true Boxer engine. In a true Boxer engine, opposing pistons move in opposite directions, but in the 512 BB, they moved simultaneously in the same direction​ This flat configuration allowed for a lower center of gravity, which significantly improved the car’s handling.

Performance and Engineering Marvels

The 512 BB was more than just a stylish car—it was a high-performance machine capable of a top speed of 302 km/h (187 mph) and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds. The car’s engineering wasn’t just limited to its engine. It featured independent suspension on all four wheels and a sophisticated five-speed manual transmission mounted below the engine, showcasing Ferrari’s commitment to performance.

Over the years, the BB saw several iterations. The BB 512i, introduced in the early 1980s, swapped the carburetors for Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, which lowered emissions and improved fuel efficiency without sacrificing too much power. Although the power dropped slightly to 340 hp, it remained one of the fastest road cars of its era​.

Legacy and Influence

The BB series laid the groundwork for Ferrari’s later mid-engine supercars, such as the Ferrari Testarossa, which succeeded the BB 512i in 1984. It also marked a significant shift for Ferrari, transitioning from the era of front-engine grand tourers to mid-engine supercars.

Today, the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer remains a prized collector’s item. Its combination of cutting-edge design by Pininfarina, revolutionary mid-engine layout, and Ferrari’s racing heritage makes it one of the most iconic cars in the brand’s history. With only 387 units produced of the original 365 GT4 BB, and slightly more of the later 512 BB and BB 512i models, its rarity further solidifies its place in the pantheon of classic supercars.

The Ferrari BB, both for its groundbreaking design and engineering, represents one of Ferrari’s most influential models. Its innovations in the mid-engine supercar market, coupled with Pininfarina’s masterful styling, continue to captivate enthusiasts and collectors to this day.

Which Ferrari model is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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