Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Sports/GTs
IDEA ERA concept built in 30 days to celebrate 30th anniversary
Click on the image for more shots of the IDEA ERA Concept
The term Barchetta, which literally means 'little boat' in Italian, is applied to a small, two-seat open-air sports car called the ERA concept introduced by the Italian styling firm IDEA Institute. Like many past barchettas, the ERA is doorless, meaning drivers and passengers get to do their best Bo Duke impression as they enter the roadster over the doors. What's especially impressive is that such a cool design was drawn up, rendered and molded into reality in just 30 days. Conceived at a meeting on April 8, the vehicle is meant to commemorate IDEA's 30th anniversary and the initial design was approved on the same day. Feverishly working around-the-clock, the vehicle's team pounded out a very nicely designed model, which at this time features no powertrain. With its curvy body and peaked fenders all around, the ERA has a hint of the old Birdcage racer in its profile. Suggested layouts include both a transversely mounted four-banger driving the front wheels or a longitudinal V6 providing the proper rear-wheel-drive layout.
Gallery: IDEA Era Barchetta Concept
[Source: IDEA Institute via Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
iOrange 8:21PM (5/16/2008)
Really beautiful....
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Samurai Jack 8:35PM (5/16/2008)
It needs to be red. A brilliant red barchetta from a better vanished time...
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jeremy.korzeniewsk 8:41PM (5/16/2008)
Samurai Jack, I was totally humming that song as I was researching this post. Shifting and drifting...
james_L 8:45PM (5/16/2008)
theres a hint of aston martin in the styling, looks fantastic.
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firdaus riyanto 3:03AM (5/17/2008)
they could've designed a better rim had they put a couple of extra days into it :p
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Thanh T. 9:37AM (5/17/2008)
For men who no longer have hair this is the convertible concept vehicle for you…heehe.
Introducing IDEA ERA's new Barchetta Concept.
This unique concept vehicle will make you feel incredibly 10 to 20 years younger...just kidding,smile. ; )
IDEA ERA's new Barchetta Concept looks at home on the race tracks. Perhaps, owners can add their own custom graphics and engine setup.
Very Cool design!
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undb 6:18PM (5/17/2008)
you must be joking.
It really does look like it was drawn in one day...typical italian old school hack job. Seriously, this is an insult to the word design and I feel these guys have absolutely no IDEA what the bloody hell they are doing. Go back to school...
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ugg.tryptophan 12:32AM (5/18/2008)
"...was drawn up, rendered and molded into reality in just 30 days." So, yeah, it could've been drawn in one day if the designers already had preliminary sketches completed, but IDEA definitely knows what there doing, if you've been to design college you'd understand how good it is considering its been developed in month.
chrisdavis 2:02AM (5/18/2008)
Snore.
And how does one go over that which is not there?
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tubular_smells 4:13AM (6/05/2008)
1950's Maserati Birdcage anyone? Shame they couldn't copy the Z4 arse properly.
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tubular_smells 5:01AM (6/05/2008)
Oops - missed the bit in article about 'the ERA has a hint of the old Birdcage racer in its profile' sorry.
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