This design is a progression of the Fioravanti Thalia design presented last year in Geneva, differing mostly in its rear aspect where it has a lower roof line. The overall theme is of a svelte coupesque estate with similar dimensions to the Pininfarina Sinseti also debuting in Geneva. In typical Fioravanti fashion, the car showcases a new functional design solution and has a delicate design language quite different to the zeitgeist of today.

Designed by Matteo Fioravanti, the core motif of the design is the way the DLO sweeps up into the C-pillar and over the roof and is then echoed by the lower side feature line that sweeps up to form the trailing edge of the C-pillar. There are several other interesting design details such as the downward tapering A-pillars, the way the body color C-pillars stop abruptly at the top (which gives them a fin-like appearance), and the gently flowing upper feature line.

The car also features a patented technical innovation: fine nozzles on the sides of the windshield and rear screen squirt air and or water under high pressure onto the screen to clean it without the need for wipers. This is at the early stage of development, Fioravanti told us, and they are currently looking for suppliers to collaborate in its further development.

While an undeniably handsome design, the full-size exterior model did not attract anything near as much attention as the showy, more contemporary, and more complete designs from other Italian design houses showing cars in Geneva.

Article key :  Fioravanti Hidra, Joseph fioravanti, Geneva2008, 2009.