As people discuss the golden age of auto design, Italian styling houses are always on the list. Their capacity for turning metal, glass, and engineering into fluttering works of art has had generations of impact on cars around the world. Italdesign is certainly one of the most remarkable manufacturers among the legends, such as Bertone, Pininfarina and Zagato. In 1968, the company was founded by the brilliant designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, and developed far beyond being a traditional design studio. It evolved into a full-fledged automotive partner with the ability to go from concept to a working product.

Over the past 50 years, Italdesign has imprinted its name on many famous cars in the spotlight. From compact, budget-friendly family hatchbacks that revolutionised the automotive world, to cutting-edge supercars that defied imagination, its portfolio has spanned everything from affordable family hatchbacks to cutting-edge supercars. Giugiaro didn’t stop at developing appealing designs. Every line, every angle and every proportion was essential and made beautiful, functional and innovative and no one else could have done it quite like that.

The company is in a new era after having changed hands of ownership, but its legacy is untouched. The Italdesign-branded cars are instances of times when creativity defied convention and produced something that was unforgettable. These machines demonstrate the incredible evolution of a design house which has always influenced the automotive industry’s past, present and future.

1. DeLorean DMC-12

The DeLorean DMC-12 is one of the most well-known Italdesign creations, better known for its iconic look than its ride quality. It was designed during a time of bold auto styling, and was known for its brushed stainless-steel body panels, dramatic gullwing doors and sharp wedge-shaped body. The car’s futuristic design set it apart from traditional sports cars and ensured that it became an iconic piece of automotive history.

Futuristic Design and Cultural Impact:

• Stainless-steel body panels with brushes.
• This is an iconic gullwing door design.
• Cutting-edge future-inspired wedge design.
• Legendary cinematic appearance.

While the Peugeot-Renault-Volvo V6 engine wasn’t particularly powerful, the DMC-12 achieved its greatest success in terms of aesthetics. Giorgetto Giugiaro transformed what was a difficult project into a symbol of creativity for the ages and showed that one could impress the world through mechanical specifications or something more.

It was a vehicle that was used in popular movies, bringing it to the attention of many car fans around the world. The DeLorean DMC-12 is one of Italdesign’s most acclaimed masterpieces, and is still a testament to the fearless creativity of the 1970s auto design scene years after it was introduced.

2. Lamborghini Calà

The Lamborghini Calà was Italdesign’s answer to making the Lamborghini more accessible and smaller before the likes of the Gallardo and Huracán became a reality. It was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1995, and was meant to supersede the Jalpa, with all the excitement and character that Italy’s supercar brand has come known for. It was an expression of bold and elegant spirit of 1990s performance cars.

The integration of these concepts:

• Designed to follow in the success of Jalpa.
• A handsome 90s supercar silhouette.
• Outward intake of air by the V10 engine.
• Low weight aluminum chassis structure.

The Calà was smoother, but yet aggressive, drawing attention from all directions, fitting the name which translates to approximately “look here.” The aluminum body and a V10 engine that delivered some 395 hp was what you could expect from a true Lamborghini concept.

The project was discontinued when Volkswagen Group bought Lamborghini in 1998, but its thoughts were to continue influencing future models. The Calà was an important link to Lamborghini’s legacy, as well as a link to the continued success of the Gallardo; Italdesign was able to anticipate the automotive future.

3. Ferrari GG50 (2005)

The Ferrari GG50 was developed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in recognition of 50 years of his brilliant automotive work. The concept was based on the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and provided a grand tourer with a more individual body that combined Italian luxury, performance and everyday functionality. It demonstrated Giugiaro’s philosophy that beautiful cars must be very purposeful.

Luxury Design and Practical Innovation:

• The design is based on the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.
• Attractive sleek rear silhouette.
• Improved everyday usability features.
• Marked 50 years of design design.

While many concept cars were just about style, the GG50 did have some practical enhancements. The more compact body architecture and redesigned fuel tank placement enabled the rear seats to fold completely, providing extra space and making the car more practical to use in the real world. The GG50 showcased Giugiaro’s elegance and functionality. Later it proved to be an innovative concept that impacted on Ferrari’s thinking over the practicality of their high performance grand tourers, such as the Ferrari FF.

4. Volkswagen Golf (1974)

The original Volkswagen Golf was one of the most influential designs of Giorgetto Giugiaro as it changed the course of Volkswagen’s future in a trying time. The Golf’s design was not based on luxury or extreme performance, but rather on a concept of clean, practical and efficient design that reflected the evolving needs of the everyday driver around the world.

A sleek design:

• Sculpted hatchback design with practicality.
• Efficient front-wheel-drive layout.
• Replaced the old Volkswagen Beetle.
• Established a Golf legacy.

With its sharp lines, smart packaging and ease of use, The Golf set a benchmark for compact cars. It was a step towards making Volkswagen less reliant on the Beetle and offered the automaker a fresh path that was highly successful. With the introduction of the Golf GTI, it entered into a new dimension as the practicality of the Golf was merged with high-performance fun driving, making it the founding mother of the hot hatch! The Golf continues to be one of the most successful and influential vehicles of all time.

5. Fiat Panda (1980)

The Fiat Panda demonstrated that a simple design does not have to compromise on such quality as automotive design or cost of materials used in its production. Italdesign designed the Panda to be both affordable and practical, with a clever new engineering solution, making it one of the most innovative city cars ever made.

Simple Engineering and Maximum Practicality:

• Box-shaped space-efficient design.
• Low cost and long-lasting structures.
• The interior is flexible and can be configured to suit the different functions.
• Easy and practical maintenance.

The exterior shape is simple, and was carefully designed to maximize cabin space with the minimum cost in production. The vertical windshield, simple body panels and flexible interior spaces were perfect for everyday use and a wide range of uses. The Panda is one of the greatest successes of Giugiaro’s work as an auto designer, as it was able to overcome complicated design problems by using simple solutions. It demonstrated that Italdesign was as innovative in its other products as it was in its sports cars and luxury vehicles.

6. Ford Mustang (2006)

The Ford Mustang Giugiaro Concept was a blend of American muscle car history and Italian automotive artistry. Following the Mustang’s revival in 2005, Italdesign was given the chance to develop a unique interpretation that combined the aggressive American character with European sophistication and futuristic styling.

American Power meets Italian Style:

• A bold futuristic exterior design.
• Doors that are scissor mounted on a signature system.
• Bigger, stronger V8s. More powerful supercharged V8s.
• Luxury interior materials used to make a luxury product.

It was an idea that had a lower, wider and shorter body than the standard Mustang, hence the dramatic look. Some of the specs included ultraviolet-blocking glass, premium interior materials, and cutting-edge styling elements, making it feel like a contemporary take on a classic muscle car. It’s engineering matched its bold appearance with a supercharged 4.6-liter V8 that generates about 500 horsepower. The Mustang Giugiaro Concept is an indelible example of the marriage between two different auto philosophies to result in a very unique car.

7. VW W12 Nardò (1997-2001)

Before all the Bugatti Veyon, even the VW W12 Nardò was a high-performance supercar that symbolized Volkswagen’s desire to pursue high-performance supercar designs. Italdesign developed an amazing mid-engine design under the direction of Ferdinand Piëch, a true proof of the advanced engineering ability of Volkswagen. The streamlined shape and the extreme proportions showed off Giorgetto Giugiaro’s skill to fuse beauty with extreme performance.

Supercar Ambition and Engineering Excellence:

• Mid-engine high-performance concept.
• The W12 is a 6.0-liter engine that produces a lot of power.
• Aerodynamic, complex bodywork design.
• Record-breaking endurance capability.

The project was morphing from the original W12 Syncro into the higher power W12 Nardò with around 600 hp. It was designed as a design study and also seen as a realistic evaluation of Volkswagen’s car-to-beach powertrain durability and technological expertise. It was a true testament to its engineering prowess that the company was able to compete in the supercar market. W12 Nardò’s best effort was to set a new 24-hour record, covering 7,740 km at an average speed of 322.8 km/h. This achievement proved its dramatic scene was a true performance, and it was one of Italdesign’s most remarkable creations.

8. Parcour (2012)

The Parcour demonstrated Italdesign’s unique interpretation of the growing crossover and SUV trend during the early 2010s. The company didn’t design a traditional ‘van; it blended the best of a high-performance road car, off-road vehicle, and a luxury GT into one of its innovative concepts. The outcome was a car that did not fit into the traditional automotive categories.

Performance SUV Concept Innovation:

• Lamborghini-derived V10 engine.
• Adjustable high-clearance suspension.
• The supercar/suv crossover.
• Several modes of driving in terrain.

The 5.2-liter V10 engine lifted from the Lamborghini Gallardo provided the Parcour with about 542 horsepower. The high technologies it used made it possible to get up to 330 millimeters of ground clearance, making it suitable for both road and rough off-road terrain. Italdesign’s most adventurous idea was the Parcour, a unique blend of luxury, performance and all-terrain capabilities. It predicted the era of high-performance SUVs, and showed the company’s willingness to pursue new and daring automotive concepts.

9. Bugatti EB 112 (1993)

The ground-breaking design of the Bugatti EB 112 made it clear that it is not always possible to be conservative in design. The car was born during Bugatti’s renaissance in the early 1990s as a contemporary reimagining of the classic Type 57 Galibier, and a new concept of a high performance luxury sedan.

Luxury Sedan with Bold Styling:

• Carbon-fiber advanced construction.
• The 6.0-liter V12 engine delivers a powerful performance.
• Four-door supercar concept.
• Distinctive unconventional appearance.

Advanced technology, luxury, and strong performance for the time were all in one package of the EB 112. Italdesign has been committed to designing an It is a tribute to Bugatti’s legacy, yet it is an interpretation of a high-specification performance sedan in a futuristic style. The innovative engineering demonstrated the company’s love for originality.

Its odd dimensions and front end aesthetics led to its being a matter of opinion but the EB 112 is nonetheless a significant piece of Bugatti history. It demonstrated that it was necessary to try new things in order to be able to come up with distinctive and impactful designs for vehicles.

10. Aston Martin Twenty Twenty (2001)

The Aston Martin Twenty Twenty was a unique fusion of British craftsmanship and Italian creativity. It was based on the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, and examined the possibility of developing a design language that would be fit for the twenty-first century, but would still retain the reputation of the brand for elegance and performance.

Futuristic Design and Unique Structure:

• This aluminium exoskeleton design is exposed to the air.
• Sheathed in carbon fiber exterior body panels.
• The innovative industrial styling approach that sets the trend.
• Based on Aston Martin DB7.

One of its most striking aspects was the exposure of its metal design, which showcased the car’s framework and internal structures instead of concealing them behind thick body panels. When put all together with the carbon-fiber and plastic components, it made for a futuristic look that never resembled any previous Aston Martin. Despite its never having hit production, the Twenty Twenty is certainly a wild idea that came out of the British maker. It emphasized Italdesign’s belief in bold, unexpected concepts while maintaining the essence of high-end performance.

11. Brivido (2012)

Italdesign Brivido was made to give excitement; its name means “thrill” or “shiver.” This grand touring concept was a future-thinking vehicle that was both technologically cutting-edge, practical, and stylish. It showed Italdesign’s skills in creating new and groundbreaking cars, which might eventually become available for the market.

The combination of Hybrid Technology:

• A new advanced hybrid power transmission system.
• A grand tour sedan that is elegant in design with 4 doors.
• Aesthetic streamlined body lines of the future style.
• Massive single-piece gullwing doors.

The Brivido was designed with Volkswagen Group hybrid technology, and aimed to challenge luxury four-door coupes. Its swished silhouette and elegant proportions featured top quality comfort and clear-cut Italian design drama. Its characteristic feature was the large gullwing doors which gave access to the front and rear seats. The idea demonstrated Italdesign’s ability to challenge the norms and think outside the box even after decades of innovation in the automotive industry.

12. Italdesign GTZERO (2016)

Italdesign GTZERO represented a new trend in the company under the direction of designer Filippo Perini. The idea was a vision of the future and proved that EVs could be not just high-performing, but also aesthetically appealing. It was a step in Italdesign’s move away from iconic gas-powered vehicles and into the future of automotive innovation.

Electrician’s Future and Performance Vision:

• Three strong electric motors.
• Lightweight carbon-fiber structure.
• Shooting-brake body design.
• Futuristic high-performance concept.

The GTZERO is a fusion of sustainable electric power and the excitement found in a supercar. The shooting-brake shape was unique, offering practicality without sacrificing dramatic effect and significant visual identity. The design also pays homage to the subtle impact of Perini’s experience with high performance Italian brands.

Italdesign’s creative genius was able to adapt to the changing trends in the automotive world as the GTZERO demonstrated. Although it has a storied past of gasoline-powered cars, this concept demonstrated the company’s commitment to the future of electric performance and advanced design.