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A New Chapter: The Bizzarrini ‘Giotto’
1st February 2023
The Bizzarrini brand, reintroduced to the world with the 5300 GT Corsa Revival early in 2022, has revealed its first completely new car, The Giotto. Named after company founder, Giotto Bizzarrini, it is a limited run super sports car focused on delivering Italian design, exceptional luxury and an ultimate dedication to driving enjoyment. A purist choice, authentic and incredibly rare.
In the Giotto, a partnership first established 60 years ago is rekindled, with Giorgetto Giugiaro penning the design alongside his son Fabrizio. A young Giugiaro, whilst at Bertone contributed to the design of the Bizzarrini 5300 GT, so naturally there was no more qualified an individual to establish the design language of the first entirely new Bizzarrini model. The bespoke carbon fibre body is intricately sculpted to intersect the mindsets of the designer, engineer and driver – crafted with purpose through the collective brilliance of the team.
Classic low-slung supercar proportions are seamlessly blended with core elements of Bizzarrini’s signature design DNA. The prominent dual bonnet-mounted vents of original Bizzarrinis are evolved into a new frontal visual character for the Giotto, incorporating ultra-slimline LED headlights. As they end in the centre of the bonnet, they cradle a prominent centre-mounted Bizzarrini badge, just as it was framed on the 5300 GT.
In profile, the Giotto is marked out by a reimagining of the 5300GT’s triangular B-pillar and a rear windscreen that wraps so far around the rear it almost seems to cascade onto the wheel arches. Rear-mid-engined, rather than front-mid-engined like the 5300 GT, the predatorial forward stance of the Giotto is a visual representation of power driving from behind and conveys the might of the power unit. The tail gently tapers and curves away gracefully, creating an aerodynamic teardrop shape.
Giorgetto Giugiaro said: “To have the opportunity to design an entirely new car from Bizzarrini is a privilege. Our two names are united in nearly six decades of history and a series of now iconic designs. With the Giotto, we honour the past but we focus wholly on the future. Designed for purpose, and incorporating active aerodynamic technologies, we have created something that is both recognisably Bizzarrini and totally relevant for an entirely new era of this cherished Italian brand.”
Giotto Bizzarrini is renowned as a genius engineer and test driver who initially made his name as controller of experimental, Sports and GT car development at Ferrari. He played the key role in the development of the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO, latterly developing the advanced aerodynamics for the legendary Ferrari 250-based ‘bread van’.
Also lauded for his work in building the famous Lamborghini V12 engine, first used on Lamborghini’s debut model, the 350 GT. Bizzarrini’s V12 engine proved such a compelling design that aspects of this power unit were used by Lamborghini right up until 2010.
In the Giotto, the rare set of diverse skills possessed by the founder of Bizzarrini have come to define the character of the car.
Full technical details will be revealed later this year, as Bizzarrini will again look to its heritage for powertrain options. Bizzarrini’s work on the Lamborghini V12 provides inspiration, with an exclusive naturally aspirated V12 engine planned. Designed to meet Bizzarrini-specific performance, drivability, emissions compliance and emotional targets, it will be paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Development of the powertrain, as well as all engineering aspects of the Giotto will be overseen by newly appointed Bizzarrini, CTO, Chris Porritt, who has led engineering divisions at Aston Martin, Tesla and Rimac.
Chris Porritt, Bizzarrini CTO, said: “We have a very clear vision for the Giotto, defined ultimately by how it makes a driver feel. Bizzarrini is a brand built on genius and passion, established by a polymath with world-class talents as a designer, engineer and test driver. We now very deliberately and authentically recreate Giotto’s vision, choosing not to chase acceleration times or lap records, but to develop a car that appeals to those experienced drivers seeking purity, authenticity and rarity. This is vocal and emotive, it’s mechanical and it’s tactile. But it’s also incredibly practical and luxurious, delivered with the personality and emotion of a bespoke Italian brand.”
One of Giotto Bizzarrini’s most valuable talents was his ability to push the limits of contemporary engineering. The 5300 GT made extensive use of the strongest lightweight material of its day, the Giotto will likewise make use of the lightest, strongest and most suitable materials available to its creators. As well as the purposeful carbon fibre body, the Giotto will be based on a composite body structure - designed to meet or exceed worldwide safety standards, using technologies and manufacturing processes developed in top-tier motorsport.
Testing of the Giotto will begin in 2024, with further technical details divulged throughout 2023. Its reveal comes at a time of enormous momentum at Bizzarrini. In addition to the appointment of Chris Porritt as CTO, Julian Jenkins is appointed as CCO responsible for the commercial and operational aspects of the business. Similar to Chris, Julian brings over 30 years of automotive experience including senior positions with Porsche, Bentley, Aston Martin and most recently Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Both Julian and Chris will report to Ian Fenton who recently joined as CEO. Ian also brings over 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry, including senior or director roles in Ford of Europe, Ford Motor China, Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin Lagonda and Aston Martin Works.
Ian Fenton, Bizzarrini CEO, said: “As we continue to deliver the 24 examples of the 5300 GT Corsa Revival to customers all over the world, we now focus on the development of the Giotto. Envisioned as a car for connoisseurs, exclusively rare, built for pure enjoyment and luxury.”
“The 5300 GT Corsa Revival was an introduction to the world of the genius of Bizzarrini but the Giotto is the centerpiece of our future as an exclusive supercar manufacturer. It forms the heart of a ten-year strategy that will see additional variants and more Revival models from Bizzarrini while also firmly placing this historic and revered name among the very best performance brands in the world.”