Russian-Designed Iso Rivolta Marella: Corvette ZR1 Like You’ve Never Seen

Crossbreed Muscle - At first glance, one might wonder—what is this? That’s the question we all ask when something unexpected makes us stop and stare. Especially when it’s a car—something familiar—suddenly transformed into something wild, daring, and completely new. That’s exactly what happens when you come across the Iso Rivolta Marella, a concept car that dares to reimagine Italian-American automotive heritage through the eyes of a young Russian designer.

The Iso Rivolta Marella, a concept car that dares to reimagine Italian-American automotive heritage through the eyes of a young Russian designer named Fedor Stetskevich. (Picture from: Autoblog)

At its core, this dramatic machine is built on the foundation of Chevrolet’s Corvette ZR1—an American brute known for its front-mounted 640-horsepower supercharged V8 engine, aluminum chassis, and unforgiving rear-wheel-drive layout. The ZR1 isn’t subtle, but it’s undeniably a perfect blank canvas for bold reinterpretations. And it’s not the first time someone has tried.

Front view of the Iso Rivolta Marella, showcasing its aggressive stance, wide grille, and bold lines sculpted with unmistakable Italian flair. (Picture from: Autoblog)

In 2009, legendary Italian design house Stile Bertone unveiled the Mantide, a futuristic rebody of the Corvette ZR1 that pushed boundaries both visually and technically. With sharp creases, unconventional proportions, and a focus on aerodynamics, the Mantide felt like something out of a sci-fi comic. It was loud, proud, and unforgettable—a high-stakes gamble in coachbuilt design that showed what could happen when Italian flair met American muscle.

Side profile of the Iso Rivolta Marella reveals a sleek silhouette with flowing surfaces, where Russian creativity meets aerodynamic elegance and Corvette muscle. (Picture from: Autoblog)

But while the Mantide felt almost alien in its execution, the Iso Rivolta Marella takes a slightly different route—still dramatic, still bold, but with a more sculptural sensibility. Designed by Fedor Stetskevich, a student of Moscow's renowned Stroganov University of Industrial and Applied Arts —founded back in 1825—the Marella represents a new kind of design voice. Stetskevich teamed up with Italian coachbuilder Zagato to bring his vision into form, reviving the historic Iso Rivolta badge in the process—an emblem once known for blending Italian design with American brawn.

The 2009 Bertone Mantide concept, a futuristic rebody of the Corvette ZR1 that pushed boundaries both visually and technically, felt like something out of a sci-fi comic. (Picture from: TopGear)

From the first glance, the Marella oozes presence. Its low stance, flared arches, and assertive proportions suggest immense power, but the details are what make it truly special. The front end is sleek and menacing, with narrow LED-style headlights and a sculpted hood that channels both airflow and attention. The side profile is long and flowing, with a wedge-like tension that rises from front to back. Zagato’s signature design language appears subtly here: you can catch echoes of the Perana Z-One in the body lines, but the Marella stands apart with its more dynamic surfaces and futuristic personality. | PB2P35ZnB1g |

At the rear, the design feels tightly wound, almost aggressive in its visual compression. Wide-set taillights nestle beneath an angular deck, framed by bold aero elements and what looks like serious rear diffuser work. The entire car seems to hunker down, ready to pounce, even if it currently exists only as a scale model. 

The Iso Rivolta Marella sketch highlights a sleek and aggressive front end, featuring narrow LED-style headlights and a sculpted hood that guides both airflow and attention. (Picture from: Autoblog)

Still, the Marella doesn’t need to move to make an impact. It’s a conversation piece, a design study that plays with heritage while refusing to be nostalgic. It doesn’t try to copy the past—it builds on it with confidence. And in doing so, it becomes more than just a student project. It becomes a statement.

Rear design of the Iso Rivolta Marella emphasizes sharp contours and sporty proportions, hinting at the Marella’s performance roots beneath the striking form. (Picture from: Autoblog)

Comparing it to the Mantide makes things even more interesting. Where the Bertone creation was angular and almost confrontational, the Marella feels like a more cohesive sculpture—still radical, but with elegance beneath the aggression. Both share the same ZR1 skeleton, but they walk completely different paths: one through the wild imagination of Italian futurism, the other through a modern rebirth of a once-celebrated brand, filtered through Russian precision and Zagato’s timeless sensibility.

Three-quarter angle highlights the Iso Rivolta Marella’s dynamic presence—an international blend of design passion and raw V8 power. (Picture from: MotorLegend)

The Iso Rivolta Marella may not be headed to production anytime soon, but its existence alone says a lot about the global nature of car design today. It shows how ideas can cross borders, blend cultures, and reinterpret icons in ways we never expected. And it proves that sometimes, all you need is one daring vision to make us ask: What the heck is this? And then, maybe, quietly hope we’ll see it on the road one day. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOBLOG | GTSPIRIT | MOTORLEGEND | SPEEDFANS.FR | TOPGEAR ]

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