Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - Geneva 2010: Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta concept by Pininfarina

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Pininfarina's latest concept reveal at the Geneva Motor Show is an important celebration for both the 80th anniversary of the firm, and the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo. As we predicted yesterday, the new concept, called the 2uettottanta, is a revival of the much-loved Alfa Romeo Duetto first produced in 1966.

The new two-seat spider not only maintains the cuttlebone design, but it even maintains some similar measurements. Though at 1797mm it is a full 170mm wider than the original, the new car measures 4213mm long by 1280mm high, about 40mm x 15mm less than the first version.
Where the pitch to Alfa may live or die is in its front end.

Pininfarina designers crafted the front without several of the elements seen on Alfa's current design theme. Bug-eye headlights set well above the bumper have been replaced with thin LED strip lights.

There are no horizontal air inlets on either side of the signature upside-down grille. A heavily carved hood would make no sense in a car trying to keep the cuttlefish-inspired look, but the hood does not even subtlely alude to the car's nose.

But these things could be quite beneficial to Pininfarina, and Alfa Romeo fans alike. If Pininfarina had simply gone along with Alfa's current theme, they basically would have recreated the 8C Competizione convertible. Instead, the design firm went their own way, choosing to use smoother lines instead of bulbous ones; a decision that will likely spark an argument between Duetto purists and new Alfa fans.

However, the cuttlebone look trails off at the back, where "floating wings" form "roll-over bars behind the seats." The carved bumper is nothing at all like either the original model, or Alfa's 8C. Horizontal LED light clusters look more like something out of Knight Rider than an homage to a classic car.

Performance-wise, Pininfarina would like to see a 1750 cc longitudinal-mount turbocharged engine installed. The company chose this engine size as an homage to the Alfa 1750 Spider Veloce, which replaced the Duetto name in 1968. That car actually used a 1779 cc engine producing 118 horsepower (87 kW).

Inside, occupants ride in lightweight sport seats wrapped in stitched leather, with matching material used around the shifter and the steering wheel. The flat-bottomed three-spoke wheel has shift paddles attached for controlling the gearbox. All instrumentation is pointed towards the driver for convenience.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11003022...ncept-unveiled