Studiotorino presents a cultural, non-profit project: the COUPETORINO, a single to-scale model inspired by the iconic Mercedes SL spider.
COUPETORINO will make its debut December 12, 2008 at the “BESPOKE COACHWORK” exhibit to be held at Turin Gallery as part of the greater event “Turin World Design Capital 2008”. In cooperation with L’Istituto di Arte Applicata e Design di Torino (IAAD).
THE PROJECT
As part of the event “Turin World Design Capital 2008”, Studiotorino presents a cultural, non-profit project. The COUPETORINO is a technical and stylistic study aimed at transforming series and off-set automobiles with reliable technical solutions while maintaining the car’s identity. With this objective in mind the iconic Mercedes SL spider was chosen as a lone specimen. Its original architectural structure was transformed into a true coupé.
Amongst the various design studies directed by STUDIOTORINO in cooperation with Istituto di Arte Applicata e Design (IAAD) and informally presented to the Mercedes Design Center in Como to Professor Peter Pfeiffer, a more typically Italian coupé style was chosen.
This project includes an accurate 1:4 scale maquette personally modeled by Alfredo Stola and a photographic exhibit presenting all of its developmental stages, from its conception to its realization.
An in depth study presents all of the construction methodology and aerodynamics with the goal of creating a perfectly functional prototype with the reliability akin to that of series automobiles. COUPETORINO was presented on December 12, 2008 at the Première held at Turin Gallery with an exhibit titled “Bespoke Coachwork”.
THE STYLE
Directed by Alfredo Stola, the style of the COUPETORINO was attained through cooperation with Istituto di Arte Applicata e Design (IAAD) and in particular with Piotr Degler Jablonski, a student who participated in its creation as part of his final internship.
The theme is clear: to project an off-set starting with the Mercedes SL and to transform it into a coupé all while maintaining its identity and adding a touch of Italian flair in order to make it exclusive.
Initially research took off in several directions; after several designs the first choice focused on two fast-backs and a traditional coupé.
Later on July 9, 2008 at the Mercedes Design Center in Como an informal and cordial meeting between Professor Peter Pfeiffer, Dr. Michele Paganetti and Alfredo Stola, Studiotorino is given
suggestions as to in which way aim its choice for the creation of the to scale model of “our C version” or what we like to call a traditional coupé ‘all’italiana’.
For the event “Torino World Design Capital 2008” Mercedes generously supplies us with a 1:4 scale model of the SL, indispensable element for the fashioning of the COUPETORINO model.
The model was created in a traditional manner –that is by hand. In fact, the back is completely restyled and was personally modeled by Alfredo Stola with the collaboration of student intern Piotr
Degler Jablonski for the design.
The Première of COUPETORINO to be held on December 12, 2008 in the exhibit “Bespoke Coachwork” at Turin Gallery will present in addition to a photographic exhibit of all the designs and
developmental stages, a 1:4 scale model purposely without wheels, monochromatic in bronze on a transparent support as if a sculpture.
Source: StudioTorino Press Release
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