Famed Italian design house is reskinning Chinese SUVs
Italdesign, which penned the original VW Golf among many other iconic models, is now working with a small company to redesign Chinese SUVs for Italy.
Italdesign has come a long way since it was founded by automotive icon Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1968, having created the likes of the Lotus Esprit, the Volkswagen Golf and Audi 80 in its early days.
After being sold on to Audi and Lamborghini in 2015, late last year the Volkswagen Group brands gave a majority stake of the design company to US-based firm UST.
The AI firm has wasted no time in diversifying its asset, which has been confirmed to help design the Itala 35, reviving a nameplate which has been defunct since 1934.
Relaunched as a part of Italy’s DR Automobiles plan to bring back a handful of vintage car names under the Historic Italian Brands plan, the Itala 35 will wear a body designed by Italdesign, though its underpinnings are that of a Chinese SUV.
Based on the GAC Emzoom, sold in China as the Trumpchi GS3, the rollout of the Itala 35 will be followed by the 56 mid-sized SUV and 61 large SUV in the future.
“Italdesign’s design team worked from an existing technical base, focusing its intervention on the front and rear, redefining non-structural elements and integrating existing components such as the lighting units,” the design firm said.
“The design is defined yet balanced; the grille takes on a strong identity role, while attention to detail, such as the mesh pattern, symbolically references both the Itala brand and the city of Turin.
“The aim of the project was to create an immediate sense of renewal while maintaining a balance between continuity and innovation.”
Working with DR Automobiles is a slight departure from Italdesign’s most recent work, after it revealed the Honda NSX Tribute earlier this year.
Based on the second-generation NSX which exited production in 2022, the Honda NSX Tribute by Italdesign gave the hybrid twin-turbo V6 sports car a makeover, completely changing its bodywork but with Honda’s blessing.
Jordan Mulach
