- Italdesign has taken the wraps off the new Itala Automobili 35.
- Classic Italian brand is being revived by DR Automobiles Groupe.
- The 35 is reportedly a restyled version of the Trumpchi GS3.
We haven’t heard much from Italdesign since Audi offloaded the company last year, but they’ve quietly unveiled the Itala Automobili 35 at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile earlier this month. It resurrects the Itala brand, which was established in 1903 and reportedly went defunct in 1934.
Created for DR Automobiles Groupe, the Itala 35 is believed to be a restyled version of GAC’s Trumpchi GS3. Italdesign was light on specifics, but said they primarily focused on the front and rear ends as they undertook a “complete redesign of all non-structural plastic parts, including bumpers, the upper bonnet fascia, tailgate and spoiler.” Some elements – such as the lighting units – carryover, but they’ve been “integrated into the new identity.”
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Without further ado, the 35 has a large SEAT-style grille that is flanked by sweptback headlights and prominent Itala badging. They’re joined by a wide central intake as well as a rounded lower lip.
Moving further back, we can see streamlined bodywork and flush-mounted door handles. They’re joined by a rakish windscreen, plastic body cladding, and an angular rear window.
The interior images show a flat-bottom steering wheel and what appears to be two digital displays. We can also see gloss black plastic trim and a minimalist shifter. They’re accompanied by an upholstered dashboard and metal speaker grilles.
Italdesign’s Exterior Project Leader, Cristiano Fracchia, said “This was not about developing a vehicle from scratch, but about shaping its visual identity through a measured and coherent approach, one capable of being immediately recognizable, working on an existing structure and several fixed elements, such as the lighting units. This meant relying on design to build a distinct identity by focusing on replaceable components.”
What The 35 Brings Mechanically
Under its Italian costume, the 35 runs a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 170 hp and 199 lb-ft (270 Nm), sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch. The 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint takes 7.5 seconds, top speed is 118 mph (190 km/h), and Itala quotes 34.6 US mpg (6.8 l/100km) on the combined cycle.
The compact crossover measures 173.6 inches (4,410 mm) long, 72.8 inches (1,850 mm) wide, and 63 inches (1,600 mm) tall, on a 104.3-inch (2,650 mm) wheelbase. Cargo room runs from 12 cubic feet (341 liters) to 44.9 cubic feet (1,271 liters) with the second row folded.
The design house went on to note they’ve been tapped to work on five- and seven-seat Itala models known as the 56 and 61. The former appears to blur the line between compact and mid-size crossovers, while the latter is likely a large SUV.
The new Itala 35 is set to go on sale in Italy this September, with prices starting at around €35,000, or roughly $40,700 at current exchange rates.
