Concept Cars, fiorvanti, geneva auto show, geneva motor show, italy, wagon

Geneva Pre-Show: The Fiorvanti Thalia Concept

Since the demise of the Turin show, the Geneva show's become the default high-design auto forum. All the major houses — Bertone, ItalDesign, Pininfarina, Zagato, Luigi's House of Curves, etc. — show off their latest design concepts. This year, Italian up-and-comer Fiorvanti plans to show its Thalia concept, a wagon with stadium seating and a flexible architecture allowing it to be powered by whatever is the latest alternative energy source, from hybrid to hydrogen to almond panetone-drive. Seats are higher in the rear to allow for a "second front row" in which passengers can experience being out in front. Consider it a fulfillment of the essence of Oldsmobile Cutlass Vista Cruiser. Only Italian. – Mike Spinelli

Fioravanti Thalia Concept at Geneva [World Car Fans]

Related:
Coupe Cabrio Pickup Concept to Debut in Geneva [internal]

9:15 AM on Mon Feb 19 2007
By Mike Spinelli
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9 comments

Comments

il_finn at 10:23 AM on 02/19/07
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A humpback whale. A *pretty* humpback whale!

+ kids at the rearseat have that wonderful vantage point to observe cigarette stumps and other assorted roadside artistry up close and personal when the hoon with a knack for italian design and driving habits flips it over.

- l'esperienza above might leave some scuff marks.
Frost Face at 10:58 AM on 02/19/07
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Oh my god its Homer's space car!
imoody at 10:59 AM on 02/19/07
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It's different, at least.
FЯeeMan at 11:14 AM on 02/19/07
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SuperBus!!!
Seth L at 11:27 AM on 02/19/07
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Pontiac Banshee with a Goiter?
lascauxcaveman at 12:05 PM on 02/19/07
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Connectedness Index: 137
Brought to you by Acura TSX

Mmmmmm ... almond panetone.
dculberson at 12:10 PM on 02/19/07
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The A-Team: 2063
Tomsk at 01:45 PM on 02/19/07
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They forgot the woodgrain paneling. And the front end doesn't look cavernous enough to accommodate a Rocket 455. AND that doesn't look like a two-way tailgate, nor does there appear to be a third row seat.
And FWIW, the "real" Vista Cruisers (1964-72) were never marketed under the Cutlass umbrella; the Cutlass line had its own short-wheelbase, flat-roofed wagon called...wait for it...the Cutlass Cruiser!
This episode of semi-useless Oldsmobile trivia was brought to you by the letter O and the number 88.
my favorite car is a... at 07:11 PM on 02/23/07
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Fiorvanti has a great idea, as long as they fix two things:

1) Don't slice the greenhouse in two with that awkward red faux roofline. Black out the entire window superstructure and make the second windshield step more subtle. Take the styling clues from a French TGV if you have to, but don't forget that American car buyers have been trained over several years that car bodies must be divided into two or three cubes: one for engine, always in front; one for passengers, and one for cargo, always in back. Breaking this convention is a mortal sin on this side of the atlantic. We will not tolerate monoespace, hatchback, mid-engine, or other non-conventional layouts!!!

2) Although Americans seldom actually use the vast pickup bed cargo acreage they have, they love to tell everyone that they have the capability to haul 4x8 sheets of plywood. I mean, OSB -- we've reduced our standards in lumber as well. So for this Cruiser, a mega-selling point would be the ability to shove big, wide, heavy things and oodles of lumber underneath the rear seats. Maybe a dozen half-sheets of 4x4 plywood? With the option to completely remove the rear seats so the handyman can fit in the miter saw on its table in the back for those weekend projects?

That would be a huge sales success. A Honda Element that doesn't look butt-ugly.