2001 Fioravanti Vola

In 1964, Leonardo Fioravanti embarked on his auto styling career at Pininfarina. During his time at Pininfarina, Fioravanti was famous for his assistance in many major designs, including many famous Ferraris, including Daytona and the Dino, Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer, Ferrari 288 GTO and the Ferrari 308 GTB. After 24 years of working for Pininfarina, Fioravanti now works strictly for Fiat Auto and ended up as the head of the Pininfarina Studi and Ricerche research group. Fioravanti set up its headquarters in the historical town of Moncalieri, outside of the city of Turin; and is an Italian automotive design studio that began in 1987.

‘Fioravanti' was set up to offer innovative concept designs not just for cars, but architectural projects with a constant striving to create a synthesis of aesthetics and innovation technology. Fioravanti has even designed clubhouses for several golf clubs in various design projects in Tokyo. Since 1991 he has been a freelance designer and Fioravanti now solely focuses its activities on automotive design.

Based on Alfa Spider front-drive mechanicals, the latest work by Fioravanti featured unique patented glass top pivots through 180 degrees that came to rest and latched down to the rear deck. With the Vola, Fioravanti answered a very difficult question; how to shut a spider in the simplest and most elegant way. The answer to this question was during topless driving; the folding top stays on top of the vehicles rear, and can be closed electro-mechanically. The design of the Vola remains basically the same, whether open or closed. The entire trunk volume is available and accessible, top up or down, and the deck lid hinges are concentric with the top, which eliminated the roof storage problems.

At the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, Leonardo Fioravanti debuted his two-seat Alfa Romeo Spider with hard top, the Fioravanti Vola. The ‘official aim' of the vehicle was to demonstrate both an innovative yet also simplistic suggestion for converting a two-seater coupe into a convertible. The option of removing conveniently and storing the hard top had been quite a dilemma in the past. Fioravanti's invention produces a new concept that is quite fascinating for its simplicity. Not folded and stored in the luggage compartment area, instead the roof is rotated backwards and kept on top of the luggage compartment. This design was both practical and offered more room for luggage. Also, whether the roof is open or closed, there is a very slight variation in the barycenter of the car.

To aid in protection against sun rays and for rear visibility, the roof is supported by a carbon fiber frame that is made of a variable transparent plastic. This roof can be manual or automatic. Also, the rear window area, in opening can rotate on itself to become an anti-turbulence device.

The standard 'Alfa trilobation' showcases a new kind of fog lamps that were very long and thin and become indicator lights and emergency lights on the side. All joined in one single transparent element All joining in one single transparent element, the day light, night lights and high beams all meshed together with also used to let air out of the engine and as support for the rearview video cameras. An additional unique design element was the rear/indicator lights that emerged from the rotation element of the roof. Also typical Alfa Romeo elements were incorporated in the high, thin and separate tail lights in the rear-end of the car. Lit from behind, the rear gear light was placed on top of the license plate.

In a semblance of simplicity and symmetry, the interior was designed in the same criteria as the exterior. The basic element inside the Vola were two identical ‘canoes' in which housed the seat, the instruments, new types of pedals and steering wheel (on the drivers side), and the seat and airbag-glove box (on the passenger side). A very innovative armrest was placed on the symmetrical door panels which also was used a support and opening handle and air outlet.

Also featured inside the Vola was a multi-functional display for GPS, phone, climate controls, minor controls and a button to operate the roof and the control keyboard for various other functions. Lighted side by side, the rearview display was quite original and the main instruments are highly three-dimensional. Featuring F1 gear shifts, the steering wheel was encased in carbon fiber and is partially leather wrapped.

The Vola used an Alfa Spider platform as a base, but widened the track slightly. The engine was housed in the front and was rear wheel drive. The Vola had an overall length of 164 inches, a width of 71 inches and a height of 50 inches.

By Jessica Donaldson