Two Concept Cars Brought to Life from André Franquin’s Iconic Comic Strips

Comicborn Machines - Before we get into the four-wheeled machines mentioned in the title above, some of you might be asking: who exactly was André Franquin? He was a brilliant Belgian cartoonist whose work on 'Spirou et Fantasio' from 1947 to 1969 is still considered by many as the series’ golden era. Besides Spirou, Franquin also gave the world the lovable Gaston Lagaffe and the exotic Marsupilami, two creations that remain icons of European comics.

The Turbot Rhino (Turbotraction 1) roadster on display at the 2007 Exposition Le Monde de Franquin in Brussels, with the Turbotraction 2 visible in the background. (Picture from: Deviantart)

André Franquin (January 3, 1924
– January 5, 1997). (Picture from:
Deviantart)

In the strips of Spirou et Fantasio, Franquin didn’t limit himself to characters and landscapes. He filled his stories with futuristic gadgets and one-of-a-kind vehicles, from scooters that could fly to submarines and wild roadsters. For today’s story, the focus is on the four-wheeled designs that looked so real readers might have thought they came from famous European carmakers of the 1950s. In fact, they were purely Franquin’s own inventions, drawn back in 1953 for the sake of adventure and fun. 

Illustrations of the Turbot Rhino (Turbotraction 1) and the Turbotraction 2 from André Franquin’s famous comic series Spirou et Fantasio, published between 1947 and 1969. (Picture from: Sbarro)

The reason his vehicle sketches stood out was not only the detail but also the world-building behind them. Franquin even went so far as to invent a fictional brand name: Automobiles Turbot. This imaginary car company first appeared in the 1951 album Spirou et les héritiers with a bright yellow tandem racing car. From that point on, the Turbot badge would reappear on different models, including the two that eventually escaped the comics and became reality.

1. 2004 Turbot Rhino (Turbotraction 1)

The very first car Franquin gave the Turbot name was the Turbot Rhino, also known as the Turbotraction 1, a futuristic blue roadster that debuted in the adventure La corne du rhinocéros (The Rhinoceros Horn). Its proportions and curves looked years ahead of its time when it was first drawn in 1953.

The Turbot Rhino (Turbotraction 1), built in 2004 by Sbarro as a fully functional tribute, was directly inspired by André Franquin’s comic illustrations from Spirou et Fantasio. (Picture from: Reddit)

More than half a century later, in 2004, Swiss designer Franco Sbarro decided to honor Franquin by building the Rhino as a full-scale concept car. His workshop produced a faithful interpretation that could actually drive on the road. Built on a Citroën Xantia Activa chassis and powered by its V6 engine, the tribute roadster wasn’t just a model for display. 

The Turbot Rhino (Turbotraction 1) roadster, was constructed on the Citroën Xantia Activa chassis and fitted with its V6 engine, making it a fully drivable prototype rather than just a static show car. (Picture from: Deviantart)

It was first unveiled at the Paris exhibition Le Monde de Franquin and caught attention immediately with its rounded nose, which many compared to the 1950s French turbine prototype Socema Grégoire. Whether this similarity was intentional or just coincidence remains unclear.

The Turbot Rhino (Turbotraction 1) roadster made its first public appearance at the 2004 Exposition Le Monde de Franquin in Paris. (Picture from: Deviantart)

The Rhino quickly became a fan favorite, not just for its unusual design but also because it was actually seen driving on real streets. That detail made the car feel alive, almost as if Franquin’s drawings had literally rolled out of the comic panels.

The Turbot Rhino (Turbotraction 1) roadster made a brief appearance in a short scene of the 2018 French film Les aventures de Spirou et Fantasio. (Picture from: IMCDB)

Its story didn’t end there. In 2018, the Sbarro-built prototype made a short appearance in the French film Les aventures de Spirou et Fantasio. The cameo served as a playful nod to fans and created a direct bridge between Franquin’s original vision and its modern on-screen adaptation.

2. 2006 Turbotraction 2

The second Turbot creation to leave the comic panels behind was the Turbotraction 2. First illustrated by Franquin around 1958, this design was heavily inspired by futuristic show cars of the era, most notably the 1954 Ford FX-Atmos. Its sleek lines and space-age styling made it the perfect candidate for a real-life recreation. 

The Turbotraction 2 roadster was realized in 2006 through the creative work of Belgian designer Louis de Fabribeckers, who at the time was with Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. (Picture from: Pinterest)

In 2006, Belgian designer Louis de Fabribeckers, working with Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, turned the idea into reality. The project was commissioned by a passionate collector of Spirou et Fantasio, who wanted to see Franquin’s dream car come alive. The Turbotraction 2 was built on a Porsche 924 platform, reportedly keeping its engine as well. Which exact engine remains a question: some suggest the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated unit with 125 horsepower, while others believe the more powerful turbocharged 931 version with up to 177 horsepower would be closer to Franquin’s original idea of a “turbo car.”

The Turbotraction 2 was a front-engined roadster created in 2006, built on the chassis of a Porsche 924 and carefully adapted to capture the spirit of Franquin’s original comic design. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Once completed, the roadster was revealed to the public at the Brussels edition of Le Monde de Franquin in 2006. The car still exists today and may even remain drivable, though the mystery of its true powerplant—turbocharged or not—has never been settled.

The Turbotraction 2 was completed by Touring and unveiled in October 2006 at the Exposition Le Monde de Franquin in Brussels. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Franquin probably never imagined that two of his playful sketches would inspire real-life engineers and designers decades later. Yet the Turbot Rhino of 2004 and the Turbotraction 2 of 2006 stand as proof that imagination can cross from paper to pavement. They are not just tributes to a legendary cartoonist, but also rolling reminders that comic book creativity can sometimes transform into actual automotive history. *** [EKA [21022021][17122022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FRANQUIN | SBARRO | IMCDB | WEBCARSTORY | IPERNITY | DEVIANTART | REDDIT | MEINEKLEINFABRIK | CARJAGER ]

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