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"The 2012 Geneva Auto Show proves that nothing generates buzz or grabs attention quite like a bold shape and unapologetic design. And if the finished product happens to wear an iconic Italian nametag, well, then so much the better. This is an era when seemingly every auto show now features a huge variety of powertrains\u2014everything from electrics and hybrids to high-performance gasoline engines and micro turbines. All that technological prowess and innovation still needs a slinky skin, something that will make the concept car both topical and timeless. Italian design houses\u2014such as Bertone, Pininfarina and Italdesign\u2014have been building dream machines for decades, and their latest creations here in Geneva help push the automotive art form forward.   Bertone Nuccio Concept        Bertone Nuccio Concept    Bertone&amp;#039;s current American-born head of design, Michael Robinson, makes a point to credit the firm&amp;#039;s stunning 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero as being the inspiration for the Nuccio Concept presently on display in Geneva. Named after Nuccio Bertone, the founder of the Turin-based design company, this wedge-shaped sports coupe is a fitting tribute. The bright orange roof extends almost to the taillights, and contrasts sharply with the black body that has a multitude of angles and dramatic ridges. Unlike the original Stratos concept, where you accessed the cabin via an opening windshield, the Nuccio has a pair of side doors. The Nuccio&amp;#039;s mid-mounted 483-bhp 4.3-liter V-8 engine is also a serious step up from the Lancia-sourced 1.6-liter V-4 used back in 1970. According to Bertone, the Nuccio accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 4.0 seconds, and has a top speed approaching 200 mph.   Pininfarina Cambiano Concept        Pininfarina Cambiano Concept    Clean and uncluttered is the best way to describe the sleek Pininfarina Cambiano Concept, a 4-passenger vehicle motivated by a turbine-electric hybrid powertrain. From the driver&amp;#039;s side, the Cambiano looks like a swept-back luxury coupe. Yet on the passenger side, you&amp;#039;ll discover an extra rear-hinged door that permits easy access to the back seat. This 3-door sedan should have plenty of stretch out space, since it measures a substantial 198 in. from front to rear. The Cambiano is powered by hub-mounted motors at all four wheels, and total output is 600kW and 472 lb.-ft. of torque. A lithium-ion battery pack provides up to 125 miles of pure EV range, and Pininfarina claims the Cambiano can run for up to 28 miles at its 170-mph top speed. Even more impressive is the diesel-powered Blandon Jets micro turbine that can recharge the battery pack in less than one hour, and provide an additional 500 miles of driving range.   Giugiaro Brivido        Giugiaro Brivido    Like the other concept cars in this list, the Giugiaro Brivido represents a 21st-century take on the traditional Italian-built dream machine. Except in this case, the firm&amp;#039;s recent acquisition by VW has a noticeable impact on the technology lurking within this 4-passenger coupe. The cabin has instrument displays for the driver and front passenger, along with video camera displays and a place to plug in an iPad. Another clever detail is the &amp;quot;V&amp;quot; shape in the hood, a design flourish that looks cool and houses exterior airbags in case of a pedestrian impact. Brivido is Italian for &amp;quot;thrill,&amp;quot; so it makes sense the engine is something suitably exotic. A 360-bhp 3.0-liter V-6 is the starting point, until you decide to engage an electrically assisted bump up to 408 hp. That should be enough to show most drivers the tail of this Brivido, which is the car&amp;#039;s most attractive angle\u2014and has more than a hint of the Maserati Bora from the 1970s. No surprise there: Giorgetto Giugiaro designed that mid-engine masterpiece too.   Disco Volante 2012        Disco Volante 2012    Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera is making a dramatic comeback by re-imagining a sublime creation from the past. The Disco Volante 2012 is a modern spin on the original concept from the 1950s. That first Disco Volante, which means &amp;quot;flying saucer&amp;quot; in Italian, combined a lithe aerodynamic body with a 4-cylinder engine. An outrageous wind-hewn shape still rules in the updated version, except the modern Disco has a powerful 450-bhp V-8 engine under its hood. The Disco Volante 2012 uses the Alfa 8C Competizione sports car as its base, though it would be hard to spot any similarities between the two. The concept&amp;#039;s body has been hand-fabricated out of lightweight alloy, along with a variety of carbon-fiber pieces to help keep weight low and performance high. The Disco Volante 2012 is said to accelerate from 0\u201360 mph in 4.2 seconds, and exceed 180 mph. Touring would be happy to build you one, so long as your pockets are deep enough and you have a donor Alfa 8C Competizione handy. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/geneva-auto-show/news/a18064/italian-design/>