Earned Eccentricity - In the late 2000s, when the supercar world was crowded with ever-louder engines and increasingly aggressive styling, a small Italian manufacturer dared to take a different path. Rather than chasing mainstream appeal, it pursued individuality, even at the risk of controversy. That ambition materialized in the form of
the Simbol Design C8, a car that refused to blend in and instead challenged expectations about what an Italian supercar could look like and feel like.
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| The Simbol Design C8, a car that refused to blend in and instead challenged expectations about what an Italian supercar could look like and feel like. (Picture from: CarsDB.ru) |
The C8 was unveiled in
2008 by
Simbol Design,
a company previously known as Automobili Lavazza.
Founded in 1975 by Enrico Lavazza, the brand had long existed on the fringes of the automotive industry, driven more by passion and experimentation than commercial certainty. With
the C8,
Simbol Design attempted to step out of the shadows and present a fully original vehicle, not a reinterpretation or homage, but a statement of independent engineering and design philosophy.
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| The Simbol Design C8 drew inspiration from Le Mans–homologated prototypes, featuring a dome-like cockpit with panoramic glass, oversized air intakes, and unconventional lighting elements. (Picture from: CarsDB.ru) |
At its core,
the C8 relied on
a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter engine producing 385 horsepower and 520 Nm of torque.
While these figures may sound modest by today’s hypercar standards,
they were paired with an impressively low curb weight of just 1,100 kilograms.
Thanks to an aluminum chassis and composite body panels,
the car achieved a power-to-weight ratio that allowed it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in five seconds and reach a top speed of 295 km/h, placing it firmly within the performance conversation of its era.
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| The Simbol Design C8 presented a different story inside, where behind its dramatic bodywork the cabin was praised by some experts for thoughtful ergonomics and high-quality materials. (Picture from: CarsDB.ru) |
The driving dynamics were clearly a priority.
Independent double-wishbone suspension on all corners and disc brakes with ABS gave the C8 handling characteristics closer to a racing prototype than a typical road-going exotic. Unlike many production supercars that relied heavily on electronic aids,
the C8 emphasized mechanical balance and driver involvement, offering a level of control that rewarded skill rather than masking it.
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| The Simbol Design C8 combined an aluminum chassis and composite body panels to achieve a remarkably low weight, enabling performance figures that kept it competitive among supercars of its era. (Picture from: CarsDB.ru) |
Where
the C8 truly divided opinion was its design.
Inspired by Le Mans-homologated prototypes,
the exterior featured a dome-like cockpit with panoramic glass,
oversized air intakes,
and unconventional lighting elements.
The proportions,
especially at the rear,
were seen by many as awkward or unfinished, yet undeniably memorable.
Adding to its eccentricity were scissor-style doors combined with windows that swung upward,
an unusual pairing rarely seen elsewhere.
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| The Simbol Design C8 was powered by a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter engine delivering 385 horsepower and 520 Nm of torque. (Picture from: CarsDB.ru) |
Interestingly,
the interior told a different story.
Behind the dramatic bodywork,
the cabin was praised by some experts for its thoughtful ergonomics and high-quality materials.
This contrast between a refined interior and a polarizing exterior only deepened the debate around the car’s identity, making it difficult to categorize or compare directly with its contemporaries.
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| The Simbol Design C8 was often criticized for its awkward rear proportions, yet remained memorable thanks to eccentric details such as scissor-style doors paired with upward-swinging windows. (Picture from: CarsDB.ru) |
With a reported price of around $350,000 and a strictly limited,
undisclosed production run,
the Simbol Design C8 was never meant for the masses. It emerged at a time when rivals could offer far more power for similar money, yet few could match its rarity or distinct character.
Today,
the C8 is remembered less for outright numbers and more as a bold experiment—an example of how independent vision can both inspire and isolate, leaving behind a supercar that remains as intriguing as it is divisive.
*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSDB.RU | A777AA77.RU ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
