Autoblog

Shelby Supercars Tuatara racks up $13M worth of sales at Dubai Motor Show

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Middle East, Luxury

Shelby Supercars hasn't had any trouble finding buyers for the company's Tuatara. According to Gulf News, the exotic drew a whopping 10 buyers at the Dubai International Motor Show. Global recession? What global recession? Each Tuatara comes with a sticker price of $1.3 million, and even Shelby Supercars didn't expect to find the sort of following that it did at the show. The brand largely decided to attend the event to raise awareness about its efforts in high-performance engineering, with founder Jerod Shelby saying his goal was merely to find a distributor for the region.

The Tautara wasn't the only hit at the Dubai International Motor Show, however. The Lamborghini Aventador drew in 14 new buyers, and Canada's De Macros GT1 enjoyed a fair bit of attention as well.

We can hardly blame Tuatara buyers for their enthusiasm. The coupe looks brilliant, and SSC promises the car will deliver 1,350 horsepower from its 6.6-liter V8. That much power should enable the Jason Castriota design to reach 200 mph in just 16 seconds and power on to a top speed of 275 mph.

Shelby Supercars Tuatara racks up $13M worth of sales at Dubai Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chris Bangle hassles Saab designer Jason Castriota over PhoeniX concept

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Videos, Saab, Design/Style

Chris Bangle and Jason Castriota discuss Saab PhoeniX - Click above to watch video after the jump

In the left corner, from Wausau, Wisconsin, we have Christopher "Flames are Surfacing" Bangle. In the right, from the mean streets of Greenwich, Connecticut, stands Jason "Let Me Out of My Birdcage" Castriota. Alright, gentleman... we know you are both highly accomplished automotive designers, but we want to keep this thing clean. Gloves up, and come out swinging!

The controversial former BMW head and new Saab stylist were caught chatting about the Swedish automaker's new PhoeniX Concept on the Geneva Motor Show floor by CarDesignNews. Known for being an instigator, Bangle questions Castriota about what makes the swoopy coupe a Saab. The ensuing "conversation" is filled with awkward fake-smiles and restraint. Click past the jump to see the footage along with a separate video walkaround of the concept by Castriota himself.

Gallery: Saab PhoeniX Concept: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Sources: CarDesignNews via Jalopnik, Saabs United]

Continue reading Video: Chris Bangle hassles Saab designer Jason Castriota over PhoeniX concept

Video: Chris Bangle hassles Saab designer Jason Castriota over PhoeniX concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SSC Ultimate Aero II: More images and info

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Design/Style

2011 SSC Ultimate Aero II - Click above for high-res image gallery

Top Gear has let loose another batch of pics showcasing the SSC Ultimate Aero II. In addition to the tantalizing imagery, we get some facts and figures. For starters, this new Ultimate Aero is powered by a 6.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that can scream up to a 9,000 rpm redline. Power? 1,350 horses, every last drop of which will be needed to hit the targeted top speed of 275 mph. Obviously, this rocketship won't be available for short money; it's going to cost $970,000.

SSC aims to recapture the production car speed record it initially took away from Bugatti, which responded this year by building the Veryron Supersport just to get it back. Shelby Supercars believes the Ultimate Aero II will once again allow it to take back the speed crown.

SSC team isn't simply relying on monster power and a slick Jason Castriota-styled exterior. In a nod to Colin Chapman, the new Aero weighs much less than a Veyron thanks to a handful of engineering feats. The wheels are the world's first one-piece carbon-fiber units and tip the scale at just under 13 pounds. In fact, there's carbon-fiber all over the Ultimate Aero II, with the exception of some aluminum bracing for added safety in the event of a crash. Overall, the car weighs about 2,600 pounds, giving it a power-to-weight ratio nearly double that of the Bugatti Veyron. Those specs pretty much say that it isn't so much a question of whether the SSC Ultimate Aero II car will set a record, only when it'll finally happen.

Gallery: 2011 Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero II

[Source: Top Gear via Motor Authority]

SSC Ultimate Aero II: More images and info originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSC Ultimate Aero II flashes backside for Top Gear

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Design/Style

SSC recently teased us with shots of their new would-be Bugatti assassin, the Ultimate Aero II and Shelby Supercars has allowed Top Gear to provide the world a new angle with which to view their exotic road warrior.

The SSC Ultimate Aero II is designed by skilled artisan Jason Castriota, who his now putting his pen to paper for Saab. The design of the front is a beautiful mix of flowing lines with subtle, hard creases. The rear end seems much more alien, but equally stunning. The previous SSC vehicle, the Ultimate Aero TT, bested the Bugatti Veyron in the all-out speed competition at 256 miles per hour. This all-new Ultimate Aero II looks like it already beat that mark while simply posing for pictures. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if someone handed us the keys then told us "where we're going... we don't need roads."

Our one nitpick? The eventual damage to the exhaust area. It already looks like that rear pod is sitting on the deck so it's unlikely the SSC will make it through the local Wal-Mart parking lot. Oh well, time to put the checkbook back in the drawer. We'll just wait for the Saab equivalent.

Gallery: 2009 SSC Ultimate Aero

SSC Ultimate Aero II flashes backside for Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSC Ultimate Aero II: Red, white and blue Bugatti killer

Alex Nunez — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:33:00 EST

SSC Ultimate Aero II - Watch the "unveiling" teaser video after the jump

Shelby Supercars' Ultimate Aero TT used to be the fastest production car in the world, its 256-mph record speed eclipsing even the mighty Bugatti Veyron. Then, as of a few weeks ago, Bugatti got its act together and topped SSC's number with the new Veyron Super Sport - to the tune of 267.81 mph.

In August at Monterey, the Ultimate Aero successor, the Ultimate Aero II - penned by new Saab design chief Jason Castriota (he of Bertone Mantide / Ferrari P4/5 fame) - was unveiled in a private ceremony captured on YouTube. It was all a tease; the car was never actually shown in the "unveiling" video, only the attendees' reaction to it. Suffice it to say, the car was well-received.

And now we know why. Jalopnik has secured a pair of leaked images slated to appear in Top Gear magazine in conjunction with the car's official launch next week. As you can see, Castriota's influence is plainly visible in the Ultimate Aero II's detailing. It's got an edgier, more assertive appearance than its predecessor, and we can only assume that it has the power to back up its menacing new looks. We can't wait to get the scoop on September 8 when SSC releases full details.

In the meantime, head over to Jalopnik to see the second leaked photo and follow the jump to watch the teaser video filmed at the Ultimate Aero II's private Monterey unveiling.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Continue reading SSC Ultimate Aero II: Red, white and blue Bugatti killer

SSC Ultimate Aero II: Red, white and blue Bugatti killer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby Supercars teases new 2011 Ultimate Aero

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Specialty, Design/Style

Shelby Supercars 2011 Ultimate Aero teaser - Click above to enlarge

Nobody is disputing that Shelby Supercar's Ultimate Aero is fast. In fact, it may very well be the fastest production car in the world, though Bugatti is sure to raise an eyebrow to that notion. In any case, no matter how aerodynamic it may be, the Ultimate Aero is also ultimately ugly. And we mean really unattractive in an I-drew-this-at-recess sort of way.

Hopefully, that ugly truth is soon to be jettisoned via some well-deserved Jason Castriota love. That's the news that's been floating around the interwebs over the last few months, and the resulting car was apparently shown to a small, private party over the course of the festivities in Monterey.

Now SSC is teasing its next supercar for a September debut. All we get to see for now is an up-close shot of what appears to possibly be part of the front fascia, though we can't really be sure. We wish we could tell you more, but at least we can all rest easy with the knowledge that it couldn't hardly be any worse, right? Here's hoping it's much, much better.

[Source: Shelby Supercars]

Shelby Supercars teases new 2011 Ultimate Aero originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Saab Design Director greets the diehards, calls for "return to Saab's roots"

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Saab, Design/Style

Saabs United, the site that played such a noteworthy role in the General Motors-Saab-Spyker cage match earlier this year that Saab gave the site an award, is at it again. This time, Saabs United is voicing concern about Jason Castriota, who was recently named 's Saab's design director. Castriota took the position above longtime Saab designer Simon Padian, who penned the Aero X concept.

Saabs United is worried that Castriota, moving between Turin and New York with his design consultancy and more known for supercars than family sedans, won't get Saab design and might not understand what the next 9-3 should be. And if that car isn't right, then Saab has a lot of trouble on its hands. So Saabs United wrote Castriota a letter detailing its concerns. Castriota, much to his credit, answered with a 2,347-word response.

Castriota acknowledges that there is no way he can prove himself yet to Saab fans, since the first product we'll see from him is at least two years away. But after relating that his first car was a hand-me-down 900 three-door hatch, he does a good job of explaining how his supercar-designing experience isn't really any different than designing for Saab: if you want to make a worthy Ferrari or Maserati, you've got to understand what the brand means and how to move it forward. Only the year 2012 will reveal the truth of the statement, but for Saabphiles, it's an auspicious start.

[Source: Saabs United]

New Saab Design Director greets the diehards, calls for "return to Saab's roots" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Lancia Stratos revival won't be one-off, production planned

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:24:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Specialty, Luxury, Lancia

The story of the coachbuilt Lancia Stratos gets more curious by the day. Although it appeared that the homage was a Pininfarina-designed one-off for a wealthy and anonymous European, Car & Driver has done some snooping of its own and reports that it wasn't exactly designed by Pininfarina and it won't exactly be a one-off.

Supposedly in the works for four years, word is the new Stratos was penned by Jason Castriota when he was still at Pininfarina before departing for Stile Bertone. Italiaspeed has a sketch of a Stratos with a different front end, signed by Castriota, that was published in the Japanese magazine Zoom. If that sketch is accurate it could jibe with what a tipster wrote to us, saying that the client had asked the front end be changed to something more traditional. Even though the C/D notes the photo above as having been taken on Pininfarina's roof, according to C/D it is Bertone that will get credit for this new Stratos - and we supposed Castriota will, too, eventually.

The best news for all those commenters disappointed that there would be just one: rumor is this thing is going into production. If true, it would be a huge deal for Lancia, an underperforming brand with rebadged Chryslers that would have this to parade around the world. Everyone wins. And to that shadowy, monied-up American, if you made this happen, we salute you.

[Source: Car & Driver]

Rumormill: Lancia Stratos revival won't be one-off, production planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Saab hires Castriota to be new design head, pen next 9-3 [w/poll]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Saab, Design/Style

Jason Castriota at work - Click above for high-res image gallery of the Bertone Mantide

Intriguing news comes by way of BusinessWeek this afternoon indicating that Saab has hired American designer Jason Castriota to serve as its head designer. Surely you remember Castriota, the man responsible for such memorable designs as James Glickenhaus' one-off Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina and the somewhat controversial but striking Bertone Mantide.

It seems that the 36-year-old Castriota's first assignment at the reborn Swedish automaker will be redesigning the firm's bread-and-butter 9-3 range into something a bit more unique and upscale. Expect to see the first fruits of his labor sometime in 2012, which, incidentally, is the year that the quirky company hopes to regain profitability.

We have no idea what the designer has in store for the 9-3, but it had better be good to take on the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. For what it's worth, company CEO Victor Muller said, "The 9-3 design as made by him is basically done, and I can tell you it is spectacular. It is truly aircraft-inspired and Swedish-clean."

Sounds promising... but what else would Muller say? In any case, we're anxiously looking forward to our first glimpse at Castriota's first mainstream project to date. While we're waiting, weigh in on whether Saab's hiring move was a good one or not with our poll below.

*UPDATE: Official Saab announcement added after the jump.

View Poll

Gallery: Bertone Mantide

Gallery: Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Continue reading BREAKING: Saab hires Castriota to be new design head, pen next 9-3 [w/poll]

BREAKING: Saab hires Castriota to be new design head, pen next 9-3 [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Famed designer Jason Castriota to pen for Shelby Supercars

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Design/Style

Bertone Mantide - click above for high-res image gallery

While definitely one of (if not the) fastest production cars in the world, the SSC Ultimate Aero has seldom been praised for its looks. Somewhat resembling just about every other supercar out there in one detail or another, the styling has charitably been described as everything from derivative to kit car-ish. Shelby Supercars wants to do something about that. Now that they've proven they can get their car up to its claimed top speed of over 255 mph, the next step is to get a few more of them out the showroom doors. To that end, the company is said to be courting supercar designer Jason Castriota to pen a fresh look.

Jerod Shelby, the "Shelby" in "Shelby Supercars," has apparently tapped Castriota to design SSC's next generation hypercar. If Castriota's name sounds familiar, and even if it doesn't, he is the designer of record behind the Pininfarina P4/5, the Bertone Mantide (shown above) the neo Maserati Birdcage and the Rolls-Royce Hyperion. Having recently left his post at Bertone, Jason will become the exclusive designer for SSC's next two cars and will add a degree of credibility to the team, or at least that's the plan. According to the Tri-City Herald, the cars will actually be badged with his name to hammer home that point.

While the new Aeros will carry a price tag double the current cars' at $800,000 to $900,000, the company says it will also develop a "little brother version" that will retail for just $300,000. Production targets are a dozen or so Aeros and about 50 Aero-lites per annum. The cars might also show up in a reality TV series that is being pitched to chronicle the project.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: Bertone Mantide

[Source: Tri-City Herald]

Report: Famed designer Jason Castriota to pen for Shelby Supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bertone Mantide goes from blush to pale, looks better for it

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty

Bertone Mantide - Click above for high-res image gallery

Love it or loathe it, the Bertone Mantide is one of the most striking automotive designs of the decade, and coupled with the Corvette ZR1's performance, Jason Castriota has created one of the most exclusive supercars in recent memory.

The second of ten Mantides has been delivered to its new owner before its official unveiling at the Dubai Auto Show next month, and -- to our eyes -- its all-white paint scheme looks even better than the original red example that debuted earlier this year.

Castriota has since left StileBertone and moved back to New York to pursue other endeavors. In addition to tackling the fashion and industrial design world, he's working on a new line of footwear that's expected to be revealed sometime in 2010. While a new set of kicks would be the perfect compliment to the machined aluminum throttle on the angular, LS9-powered coupe, we wouldn't be surprised to see Castriota tackling another automotive project in the future given his penchant for both style and speed.

Gallery: Bertone Mantide in White

Bertone Mantide goes from blush to pale, looks better for it originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: Bertone shows off ZR1-based Mantide

Drew Phillips — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Design/Style

Bertone Mantide - Click above for a high-res image gallery

It's become a recent tradition for a coachbuilt car to be shown at the Gooding auction tent on Friday evening (previous years we got a look at the Pininfarina P4/5 and the Pininfarina Hyperion), and this year we were treated to the ZR1-based Bertone Mantide. The car's owner, Dan Watkins, actually drove the car from New York to Monterey for the unveiling and was on hand along with designer Jason Castriota to introduce the one-off car.

Our sources tells us that Jay Leno is next in line to purchase a Mantide, possibly followed by JK Jamiroquai, both of whom showed particular interest in the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In addition to the new live photos from the unveiling last night, we've also included a new video featuring Watkins at Goodwood talking about the Mantide after the jump.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: Bertone Mantide

Continue reading Monterey 2009: Bertone shows off ZR1-based Mantide

Monterey 2009: Bertone shows off ZR1-based Mantide originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jay Leno could be second buyer of Bertone Mantide

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Celebrities, Specialty, MISC

Bertone Mantide - Click either pic for a high-res image gallery

Following its official unveiling in Shanghai, the Bertone Mantide has begun to make the auto show rounds, beginning with an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where its designer, Jason Castriota, drove the coachbuilt coupe up Lord March's driveway. The next stop on the Mantide's world tour includes a stint at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August, where the rebodied Corvette ZR1 will either be shipped or driven to Monterey by the Mantide's owner, a British ex-pat residing in the States.

Although the video after the jump doesn't reveal exactly who purchased the first of ten Mantides (he's a gentleman racer who owns a substantial car collection that includes a McLaren F1, and has raced in the Ferrari F430 Challenge Series), according to our sources, Jay Leno is potentially in the offing to receive the next production model.

Leno, who attended Goodwood earlier this month, spent a considerable amount of time with Castriota during the event and apparently fell in love with the Mantide. According to reports, Leno would be the fourth or fifth client to put an order in for the re-imagined 'Vette, at a reported cost of around $2 million. Thanks to Bradley Farrell from Kinetic Fin for the update.

Gallery: Bertone Mantide

Continue reading Jay Leno could be second buyer of Bertone Mantide

Jay Leno could be second buyer of Bertone Mantide originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corvette ZR1-based Mantide coming from Stile Bertone this week

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Specialty, Shanghai Motor Show

Now that episode six of the KineticFin-produced mini-documentary has revealed that Project M is based on the Corvette ZR1, we finally have a name for Jason Castriota's newest endeavor. The Mantide, due to debut at the Shanghai Motor Show this weekend, features custom coachwork that appears both angular and organic, and seeks to rekindle Stile Bertone's place in the world of bespoke automotive design. Expect all the details on the concept to be revealed later this week, with the running version set to debut in Italy on April 23.

Corvette ZR1-based Mantide coming from Stile Bertone this week originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Episode VI reveals what lies beneath Bertone's Project M

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty

Click above to jump to episode six of the Project M web video series

After the first and subsequent four webisodes of Stile Bertone's Project M hit cyberspace, everyone's wanted to know just what the upcoming supercar would be based on. Talented young designer Jason Castriota has designed Ferraris, Maseratis, Rolls-Royces and more, but since leaving Pininfarina to head the reborn Stile Bertone, would his projects employ the same exotic underpinnings? Initial speculation was that the trickle-teased Project M was based on the Nissan GT-R, but those and other rumors can now be finally put to rest with the release of the sixth episode of the Brad Farrell/KineticFic-produced web series.

We won't spoil the surprise for you, except to say that it's genuine Detroit steel which Castriota's playing with here. Follow the jump to view the video and find out for yourself.

Continue reading Episode VI reveals what lies beneath Bertone's Project M

Episode VI reveals what lies beneath Bertone's Project M originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Project M is not a Nissan GT-R, new episodes tell more of the tale

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Supercars, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, Specialty

Project M - Click above for a high-res image

Early last month, the first webisode of Inside Project M surfaced, showing a cloaked, bespoke supercar designed by Jason Castriota, the man behind the Maserati GranTurismo, Rolls-Royce Hyperion and James Glickenhaus' Ferrari P4/5. Over the ensuing weeks, four more videos have been released by Bradley R. Farrell's production company, KineticFin, that delve into the details behind Castriota's latest project.

As expected (and encouraged), speculation has been running rampant about what chassis and drivetrain lies beneath the shrouded concept, and although information is scarce, that hasn't stopped some from declaring the Nissan GT-R as the basis for the concept. As the image above proves, they're more than a bit off.

According to our sources, Project M will have a full greenhouse (similar to the P4/5), will be approximately 250 pounds lighter than the vehicle on which its based and will benefit from enhanced aerodynamics and greater down-force.

The most recent episodes of Inside Project M are posted below the fold, and expect more information to be revealed before the vehicle debuts in concept form at the Shanghai Motor Show, followed by the road-going version's arrival at the Balocco proving grounds in Turin, Italy.

Continue reading Project M is not a Nissan GT-R, new episodes tell more of the tale

Project M is not a Nissan GT-R, new episodes tell more of the tale originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Episode One of Inside Project M - The journey, and speculation, begins

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Videos, Supercars, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty

Click above to view the first episode of Inside Project M after the jump

If you're not familiar with Jason Castriota, you've undoubtedly seen his creations. The New York native worked under Ken Okuyama at Pininfarina for eight years, during which he had a hand in designing such masterworks as the Maserati Birdcage 75, Maserati GranTurismo, Ferrari 599, Ferrari 612 Kappa and the Rolls-Royce Hyperion. He's also the man behind James Glickenhaus' Ferrari P4/5, the rebodied Ferrari Enzo that set the world (and forums) ablaze a few years back.

After leaving Pininfarina in late 2008, Castriota joined Stile Bertone in December of last year and his newest creation is being teased out in a series of webisodes that will document the design and development of a new supercar based on an unknown architecture. The first episode in the weekly series (posted after the break) offers some cursory details surrounding Castriota's new project before its official unveiling at the Shanghai Motor Show this April. Visitors to the InsideProjectM website are invited to speculate on what lies beneath the cloaked shape above, vote on the vehicle's name and follow the project's progress on something called Twitter. Our interest is piqued and judging by his past efforts, we doubt Jason will disappoint.

Continue reading VIDEO: Episode One of Inside Project M - The journey, and speculation, begins

VIDEO: Episode One of Inside Project M - The journey, and speculation, begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bertone hires former Pininfarina designer Jason Castriota

Noah Joseph — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

It's no news that business has been tough for Italy's most vaunted design studios and coachbuilders. But that hasn't stopped Bertone from hiring Jason Castriota as its new design director. Castriota has spent the past several years at arch-rival Pininfarina, where he worked on such projects as the Maserati Birdcage concept and GranTurismo, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, custom P4/5 and the Rolls-Royce Hyperion one-off, before leaving with the aim of starting his own studio. But as the Italian-American stylist says himself, Bertone "made me an offer I couldn't refuse".

Castriota, 34, will head a young design team at the resurgent Bertone, starting immediately. He'll have his work cut out for him bringing the stoic design house back to its feet following its brush with bankruptcy, and we'll be looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us.

[Source: CarDesignNews]

Bertone hires former Pininfarina designer Jason Castriota originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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