Forgotten ONES Back in the late 1990s, you may have played the 'Gran Turismo 2' racing game on the Sony PlayStation console. If you have, then you certainly have seen and know the Venturi Atlantique 300 produced by French automaker company called MVS(Manufacture de Voitures de Sport) or today known as the Venturi.
The first Ventury GT Concept built in 1984 by the French engineer duo, Claude Poiraud (left) and Gérard Godfroy (right) and is powered by a Volkswagen Golf GTi engine. (Picture from: LookCharms)
As quoted of Wikipedia, the French automaker company was founded in 1984 by the French engineer duo, Claude Poiraud and Gérard Godfroy with vision to create a luxury sports car to rival Porsche, Lotus and Ferrari.
The Venturi Coupe 200 (in pictured was 1988 model)
was built from 1987 to 1988 and is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter V-6 making 200 horsepower. (Picture from: ClassicCarWeekly)
The first car shown had a Volkswagen Golf GTi engine and the name was originally spelled "Ventury", with a "y" at the end. In 1985, the car was shown with a 200 PS (147 kW) Peugeot 505 Turbo engine, but by the 1986 Paris Motor Show it had reached its definitive form with the PRV V6 engine. Production began in 1987, with five cars built in the first year with production increasing in the subsequent years.
The Venturi Transcup 210 (in pictured was 1990 model) was built from 1990 to 1995 and is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter V-6 making 210 horsepower. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
The company built the mid-engined Venturi coupés and roadsters (now spelled with an "i") starting in 1987 to the mid-1990s, powered by turbocharged PRV engines and Renault gearboxes. Unfortunately, those early-generation MVS Venturi Coupé and Transcup (consisting of 200, 210, and 260 APC models) did not get a good response from the world's automotive enthusiasts.
The Venturi Coupe 260 APC (in pictured was 1991 model) was built from 1990 through 1996 and is powered by a turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 making 260 horsepower. (Picture from: ClassicCarWeekly)
Nevertheless the company continues to strive to conquer the harsh automotive world, later the company name MVS was dropped in favour of Venturi in 1990. Shortly after that the light of success begins to appear when the company was involved in the F1 racing car development of the Larrousse Formula One Team in 1991.
The Venturi 260 LM (in pictured was 1996 model)
known as the final iteration of the 260 models and is powered by a turbocharged
2.8-liter V-6 making 260 horsepower. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Then the company revised the design of its sportscars by using the F1 racing car technology. The first supercar production was named the Venturi 260 LM which was a revised version of the Venturi 260APC, is powered by a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine with 256 hp, but with a reduced weight of 1,110 kg. It was good for a top speed of 167 mph (269 kph) and accelerated from 0-60 mph (97 kph) in 5.2 seconds.
Under its widened considerably massive aero kits made the Venturi 400 GT look like a Ferrari F40, but it remains based on the same architecture of the existing Venturis with its wheelbase lengthened by 100 mm. (Picture from: Autozine)
Although it's slowly but sure, the world's automotive began to give a good response when those French company presented its Venturi 400 GT and Atlantique 300 models which sensationally succeeded in juxtaposing themselves on a par with the Porsche 911 Carrera, Ferrari F40 and Lotus Esprit V8.
The Venturi 400 GT is only built 15 cars and said it able to accelerate from still to 100 kph in just 4.7 seconds and able to run up to a top speed of 291 kph. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Overall, the Venturi 400 GT
is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine capable of spewing out
402 hp with a maximum torque of 520 Nm. By such engine power, the Venturi 400 GT able to accelerate from rest to 100 kph in just 4.7 seconds and run up to a top speed of 291 kph. Even more great, the Venturi 400 GT is the world's first supercar equipped with a carbon fiber brake system.
The Venturi Atlantique 300 (in pictured was 1996 model) was built from 1996 through 1998 and is powered by a turbocharged
2.8-liter V-6 making 260 horsepower. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Meanwhile the Venturi Atlantique 300 was a mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied sports car built by those French automaker in between 1996 to 1998. It looked like a cross-breeding between Ferrari F355 and Lotus Esprit, known later produced into several models such the Venturi Atlantique 300, 300 Biturbo, and 300 GTR, were powered by the PRV V6 in turbo, twin-turbo, or naturally aspirated form with later cars by using the V6 ESL engine. The turbocharged version that we discussed here capable to produce power of 281 bhp and got to run up to a top speed of 280 kph (174 mph).
The Venturi Atlantique 300 kept the superb handling of the old car intact while it improved further on ride quality, refinement (especially the Biturbo, whose power delivery was smoother) and build quality. (Picture from: Autozine)
As the ultimate model of the Venturi 600 LM is no less great and has shocked the automotive world, because the MVS technicians managed to make its 3.0-liter V6 PRV engine capable of producing powerful bursts of power up to 600 hp! That's an extraordinary achievement, because only a handful of supercars (can be counted on the fingers) were able to do so at the end of the 1990s era. With a such great engine, it is not surprising that the Venturi 600 LM was a success when it was used to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race and the World Racing Championship series of GT1 group.
The Venturi 600 LM (in pictured 1996 models) was managed to give success to the French automaker while used to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race and the World Racing Championship series of GT1 group. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)
Throughout its life, the French brand has only produced 700 units of Venturi all models, now most of the population fills the garages of billionaires in the Middle East. Although the echo is not as grand as the world's leading automotive brands, it must be admitted that the Venturi is one of the best sports cars ever made in France and a commensurate opponent for the Lotus Esprit V8, Lamborgini Diablo, Ferrari F40 and F355.
The Venturi Fétish EV known as the first true electric sports car, powered by next-generation lithium-ion batteries came out in the early 2000s even predates Tesla's original roadster. (Picture from: Venturi)
Unfortunately Venturi's journey in the world's automotive industry did not last long and had to end when the French company was declared bankrupt. And then in 2000 the company acquired by a Monaco wealthy entreprenuer named Gildo Pallanca Pastor. Then he shifted its focus to the development of electric vehicles. As its result, the two-seater sportscar named Venturi Fétish EV came out in the early 2000s even predates Tesla's original roadster.
To this day Venturi's flag continues to fly in the world's automotive through its work in the Formula E World Championship since the championship's inaugural race in 2014, and remains contesting every E-Prix to date.😉 While most of us may have forgotten the 1990s Venturi Atlantique sportscars now, but there are probably plenty of fans out there who would love to see those Alpine-styled sports cars rise from the dead. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | VENTURI | LOOKCHARMS | AUTOZINE | SILODROME | WIKIPEDIA | NLWIKI ]
Concept ONLY In fact, we currently live at the end of the 21st century, where electric-powered vehicles have slowly but surely taken up the role and portion of conventional internal combustion engined ones, and are also herd it towards its ending. Even especially now there have been many hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles emerging to take part in the competition and the conventional internal combustion engine will be more and more abandoned.
The Bugatti La Finale which was digitally created by Serkan back in the 2020 intended to be his bachelor thesis sponsored by the Molsheim-based automaker, also to pay tribute for the glory days of conventional internal combustion engined cars. (Picture from: Behance.net)
However, it turns out that there is a super car concept called the Bugatti La Finale which was digitally created by Serkan Budur back in the 2020 as his bachelor thesis sponsored by those Molsheim-based carmaker company. Besides that also intended to pay tribute for the conventional internal combustion engined vehicles that had been continuously supplied for decades by automotive manufacturers.
The Serkan Budur's Bugatti La Finale concept is said to take the design attributes from the Bugatti La Voiture Noire and also the iconic Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)
As quoted of YankoDesign, this La Finale concept is not just a supercar design, but it is a vessel, a museum for conventional internal combustion engines. Instead of hiding its pinned vintage technology under an opaque hood, the La Finale concept displays this vintage technology like a crown jewel keeps under a transparent hood that lets many able to see those engine and pistons shape with all their glorious parts.
The Bugatti La Finale is not just a supercar design, but it is a vessel, a museum for conventional internal combustion engines. (Picture from: CarScoops)
Further in terms of design, the La Finale concept is said to take the design attributes from the world's most expensive car, Bugatti La Voiture Noire also to pay tribute to the iconic Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante then amps it up with split surface bodywork that does not feel completely like the modern-day Bugatti DNA.
The Bugatti La Finale retains the Bugatti's characteristics horseshoe grille, so if you look at the front fascia as a whole, it looks like a fox grinning wildly. (Picture from: CarDesignWorld)
As You can see, the car concept featured with double-tones paneling
bodywork by using metal sheets as well as carbon fibers to create an
interplay that makes the car look less blockish and more smooth
sculptural body panels.
As the name suggests, the La Finale is envisioned as Bugatti’s last car with an internal combustion engine. (Picture from: CarScoops)
But actually the center of attention of the La Finale concept lies in its hood made of transparent glass which is made as if it continues to flow upwards to then turn into a windshield. The glass has a function such a storefront window to look into the car’s
W12 engine, which described will be a vintage rarity in the future by
its designer, Serkan Budur.
The Bugatti La Finale is planned to use a newly envisioned W12 engine instead W16 due to the engine’s smaller dimensions would allow for tighter packaging as well as significant weight savings. (Picture from: YankoDesign)
This showcase gives the car’s engine the precious treatment it deserves, while right in front of it, visible through the gap between the two surfaces, are suspension-springs that further the car’s approach to showcasing its internals in an exhibitionist fashion.
The center of attention of The Bugatti La Finale lies in its hood made of transparent glass which is made as if it continues to flow upwards to then turn into a windshield. (Picture from: YankoDesign)
Besides that, the La Finale concept also retains the characteristics of the vehicle from the manufacturer based in Molsheim, such as an iconic element that unites all the company's cars that has existed since the era of its founder, Ettore Bugatti, namely the horseshoe grille. So if you look at the front fascia of the car concept as a whole, it looks like a fox grinning wildly.
The Bugatti La Finale The Bugatti La Finale concept is thoroughly modern and embraces Bugatti’s design philosophy with a futuristic twist. (Picture from: YankoDesign)
Indeed, not all typical Bugatti elements appear in this Serkan Budur concept car, such as the C bar design which is usually found in all more contemporary Bugatti models. In our opinion, the absence of the C bar design is not a problem for the overall design of the La Finale concept.
The unique design of the Bugatti La Finale concept extends to the passenger compartment as it features wraparound glass and an angular roof. (Picture from: Behance.net)
After all, the point of the La Finale concept isn’t to look at the C bar, it’s to admire the car in its entirety, and also its internal combustion engine described by its designer such a precious relic in the next few decades ahead. Frankly, we really admired this Bugatti La Finale concept and thought it would be a shame if this design had to end up as a concept only without ever being realized into a real car.😟 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BEHANCE.NET | SEKO91| YANKODESIGN | CARSCOOPS | UK.MOTOR1 | AUTOEVOLUTION ]
Unique ONES For those of you had ever felt life in the 1980s or 1990s, you may still remember the supercars that were hits at that time. Whether it's the Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari 512 Testarossa or any other supercar. Now those cars mentioned above are classified as rare and much sought after, and here's another of the most limited considered as well forgotten ones is the De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S.
De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S along with its GT5 sibling is produced back in the 1980s as a radical refresher to the Pantera design. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
As we all know, this supercar is one of the car variants of the De Tomaso Pantera models that was developed by an Italian automaker based in Modena called De Tomaso Modena SpA. (todays De Tomaso Automobili) ranging of 1971 to 1993.
De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S featured with its new 'wide-body stance,' represented the first significant body redesign of the Pantera since its introduction back in the 1971. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
As quoted of SportsCarDigest, by launching these variants intended to be a radical refresher to the Pantera design that consisting of the Pantera GT5 and GT5-S. Furthermore, the GT5 variant was firstly develop based on the GTS in 1980, followed by the GT5-S variant in 1984.
De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S has an advanced neatly interior upholstered in tan leather and appointed with burlwood trim, black Veglia gauges with green numerics. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
Actually both Pantera variants have the
same shape, but only slightly differ from their bodywork material (where
the GT5 has a fiberglass-made bodywork, while the GT5-S is made of
all-stell). Although the racing aura is not as thick as Ferrari or Lamborghini, but the car appeared with a thick Italian style coupled with an American-made Ford V-8 engine capable to make it accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in just 5.5 seconds.
De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S is powered by an American-made Ford V-8 engine that can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 5.5 seconds. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
With
such a tremendous burst of power from an American-made engine and combined
with Italian-touches technical capabilities, this car is the right
combination for those of you who like high performance classic cars. Plus its
slim body and the distinctive appearance of a supercar, and of course
it will attract many eyes.
Even
though the racing aura of De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S is not as thick as
Ferrari or Lamborghini, it feels like the car also really deserves to be
one of the iconic supercars of the 1980s. (Picture from: RoadAndTrack)
Especially if you look at the number of units that have been produced by the maker, the De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S is much more worthy of being a collectible item because it only produced 182 units when compared to the Lamborghini Countach which was made in an amount of around 2042 units worldwide. It feels like this car really deserves to be one of the iconic supercars of the 1980s equal to the Lamborghini and Ferrari supercars.
According to BlackXperience, nowadays if it's in good conditions, this 38 years old De Tomaso made supercar could had a price tag of around $239,000 or equivalent to Rp. 3.65 billion. Even though in its hey day, this car used to be marketed for less than $100,000 or only around Rp. 1.5 billion only.😎 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SUPERCARNOSTALGIA | SPORTSCARDIGEST | ROADANDTRACK ]
Trying to Revive As what we've seen todays, that Tatra is a Czech' manufacturer of military-purposed vehicles or heavy trucks, though in the history of Koprivnice-based automaker also had ever been produced a number of sporty vehicles several decades ago. By seeing those facts, so it is not surprising then many Czech people wanted to see the manufacturer make exotic and sports cars again.
The Tatra AML Lanta is designed by AML of
Milan Láník, and based on the Tatra 700 was known as the last passanger
car made by Czech's automaker Tatra in 1996. (Picture from: Garáž.cz)
Apart from the Tatra Ecora Sport V8, which was designed by the Czech manufacturer in the 1990s, there are often several car designs bearing the Koprivnice-based automaker name that come from independent projects. Some of them had been discussed before here such as the Tatra JK 2500 Coupe of Július Kubinský back in the 1950s, then the Tatra MTX V8 designed by Václav Král in the 1990s.
The Tatra AML Lanta has a a curb weight of 1,400 kg and said under such appearance refers to the original Tatra's aerodynamic shapes. (Picture from: Garáž.cz)
Not only that, it turn out the Czech people's efforts to revive the Tatra brand including another unique sports car design called the Tatra AML Lanta is made in the same way as mentioned models and debuted to public in the early 2000s. The car design was made by Milan Láník of Luka nad Jihlvou independently without any real support from the Koprivnice-based automaker.
The Tatra AML Lanta's interior wrapped in red and white leather coupled with walnut accents, retro shapes steering wheel. (Picture from: Garáž.cz)
It is known that he was a well-trained mechanic and has been designing cars since his young-ages so it is easy to understand why then he would be developed this AML Lanta since 1998. Related to the car name, AML is derived of Auto Moto Láník, his workshop names, while Lanta is an abbreviation of his family names and those famous Czech manufacturer.
The Tatra AML Lanta has simple dashboard arrangement with all instrument panel displays dropped in the center. (Picture from: CS CAR project)
This AML Lanta car has a fiberglass bodywork with rounded lines streched down to the stern, and is built on a tubular chassis. According to the automaker, the such appearance refers to the original Tatra's aerodynamic shapes with a curb weight of 1,400 kg. Then he decided to use the air-cooled 3.5-liter V8 engine taken from the Tatra T700 as its drivetrain.
The Tatra T700 was known as the last fancy sedan models made by Tatra in 1996, and one of them used as base of the Tatra AML Lanta by Milan Láník. (Picture from: CEAutoClassic.eu)
Those engine has been upgraded so that the power increased up to 220 hp with a torque of 300 Nm. Other parts also come from Tatra's last fancy sedan model, for example, the front axle although had to be extensively modified due to the low front height, then the rear axle also taken from the Tatra T700, while all wheels applied an independent suspension system.
The Tatra AML Lanta is claimed able to run up to 250 kph . (Picture from: Garáž.cz)
Furthermore, Milan Láník also pays special attention to the car's interior, where the dashboard with all instrument panel displays dropped in the center, and is made in harmony with walnut accents retro shapes steering wheel (reminiscent of the BMW Z8). Furthermore, the seats and all other interior compounds near by are wrapped in red and white leather. The such interior arrangement looks simple, unlike the exterior which looks glamour like an exotic car in general.
The Tatra AML Lanta is powered by an upgraded air-cooled 3.5-liter V8 rear-mounted engine with power of 220 hp and torque of 300 Nm. (Picture from: CS CAR project)
The developing process of this car model took approximately five years. Although the finished car model had caught Tatra's attention in 2003, it did not continue by signing an agreement to produce it, because the Czech's brand had not produced such passenger cars for a long time.
The Tatra AML Lanta has a fiberglass bodywork with rounded lines streched down to the stern, and is built on a tubular chassis. (Picture from: CS CAR project)
As quoted of Garáž.cz, which mentions that there are other possibilities because Milan Láník likes the car models, so never considered the fully used of the one-off car model he made. Therefore the Lanta was not really usable as building a fully functional worthied prototype would be too complicated for him if should be done without any supporting sponsors. Well, there're number of complex requirements should be met for the final homologation and possible modifications so the car could be registered for legally used on the Czech Rep's highways.
At the rear, the Tatra AML Lanta has flowing fins and a distinctive rear window shape reminiscent of the legendary 1940s Tatra models.(Picture from: CS CAR project)
Unlike other full-scaled car models that are likely to be scrapped after the completion of their duties. Currently, the Tatra AML Lanta model was in good condition, and known also still under the possession of Milan Láník as recently shown on his Instagram page. To this day, the Tatra AML Lanta unfinished prototype still existed and parked neatly in his family garage to mark all the success and great achievements of the Czech's auto designer. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AML.DESIGN | SOVIETAUTO.FR | CARSTHATNEVERMADEITETC | GARÁŽ.CZ | CEAUTOCLASSIC.EU | CS CAR PROJECT ]
Unique ONES It may be that Finland is known as a country that has a series of famous racers such Valtteri Bottas, Heikki Kovalainen, Kimi Raikkonen, Mika Hakkinen, Juha Kankkunen, etc. But not many know that the country had supercar manufacturer as well. This is probably because it less in prestige with its neighbour country supercar manufacturer, Koenigsegg Automotive AB managed to achieve success in the world's automotive.
The Toroidion 1MW is a fully-electric powered supercar with an appearance inspired by retro-classical 1960s era. (Picture from: CarScoops)
Toroidion, a Finnish supercar manufacturer has recently introduced an electric supercar concept named Toroidion 1MW Concept at the Top Marques Monaco 2015. Although still a concept, but the manufacturer claims that the power of Toroidion 1MW is equivalent to Koenigsegg One:1.
The Toroidion 1MW is powered by by a series of electric motors with an aoutput of 1,341 hp.(Picture from: CarScoops)
Prior to the debut, Toroidion could provide some teaser photos, which is described in the all-sloping design. This is a supercar and definitely going to be sold very expensive price, because it is said to be produced by hand made, with high quality materials.
The Toroidion 1MW has attached also a clean, elegant design with classic proportions and a little bit of retro touches inside the cabin.(Picture from: CarScoops)
Finnish car manufacturer to build a 1MW supercar with designs inspired by retro-classical era, with an output of 1,341 hp which is equivalent to 1,000 kW or 1 MW as the name implies. Even more impressive, the entire power generated by a series of electric motors and making it as all-electric supercar that has the biggest power in the world today.
The hand-built, gull-winged electric Toroidion 1MW supercar is fully road-legal and has been developed entirely in-house in Finland.(Picture from: CarScoops)
Toroidion say that the battery system used has a light weight but has high performance. Toroidion also claims that the lightweight supercar concept designed, developed and built in Finland have 'measurable performance.' At the time, the company also said that the Toroidion 1MW can be used on public roads, even for everyday activities.
Well, more details about the specifications and performance of Toroidion 1MW will be released in the near future, after this supercar undergoing various tests beforehand. Unfortunately, as quoted of Wikipedia, on March 3, 2022, this Finnish automotive company having financial problems and filed for bankruptcy.😢 So that the continuation of the 1MW car project is not known. *** [EKA [22042015]| FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TOROIDION | CARSCOOPS | WIKIPEDIA ]
To this day Venturi's flag continues to fly in the world's automotive through its work in the Formula E World Championship since the championship's inaugural race in 2014, and remains contesting every E-Prix to date.😉 While most of us may have forgotten the 1990s Venturi Atlantique sportscars now, but there are probably plenty of fans out there who would love to see those Alpine-styled sports cars rise from the dead. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | VENTURI | LOOKCHARMS | AUTOZINE | SILODROME | WIKIPEDIA | NLWIKI ]
