Students at the IED Torino design school pay tribute to the Pagani Zonda and its creator

The world of design goes far beyond fashion. The designs of the most spectacular cars in the world are also part of that demanding market, so there are figures who are indispensable in this aspect of design too. Horacio Pagani is one of the great designers in the automotive industry, so the students at the IED Torino design school wanted to pay him tribute with a vehicle they have named the Pagani Alisea Concept.

This model is an update of the Pagani Zonda, which celebrates 25 years since its launch. Its lines are rounded and more contemporary, yet it is very recognizable and easily recalls the original Zonda. The bubble-shaped cabin made of glass, the four-outlet exhaust and its recognizable silhouette are the signature of a car that serves as a tribute to the Argentine designer.

The students worked alongside Pagani’s studio to shape the vehicle. To do so, they carried out everything from the freehand sketch of the car to its 3D rendering. Every idea came from the members of the design team, who contributed to the development of the design both inside and out.

The result of this project is a car that draws on the past to carry that design language into the present. Its dimensions are 4,522 mm in length, 2,055 mm in width and 1,070 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,794 mm. The design is very clean, with no gaps in the bodywork.

It is a two-seater that offers an elliptical image connecting the front and rear through a glass bubble that houses the cabin for two people. The engine it carries has an AMG V12 origin, while at the front it features LED lighting technology. The rear lights are made up of several backlit parametric elements.

As for the aerodynamics, the model includes an active spoiler, side skirts and a diffuser, which frame the silhouette of the car. The colours used highlight the side view to make it feel lighter and give it a novel, attractive image.

Inside the Alisea, we find a repetition of the elements seen on the exterior. The instrument panel is set within an elliptical element. The analogue gauges join a digital screen, marking the integration of both worlds. In the centre of the cabin, the gear lever has been placed, unlike the current trend toward a rotary or button selector.

The steering wheel is a piece of craftsmanship clad in leather with several colours and stitching patterns. This is repeated in the seat upholstery. All of this achieves a union of Pagani’s legacy with the novelties proposed by the students of the Turin design centre. The 1:1 scale model joins the rest of the concept models that have been built alongside the technical sponsors of the project, Pirelli, OZ Racing and Lecher. In addition, other companies related to the Italian automotive industry also collaborate.