This Italdesign Concept Is A Throwback To 1973

We’d forgive you for having never heard of the Asso di Piche. It’s a four-seat concept Italdesign and Karmann worked on back in 1973, based on the humble Audi 80, that would eventually go on to inspire the Lancia Delta concept. 50 years on, Italdesign has decided to pay tribute to the original

This is the Asso di Picche In Movimento (Ace of Spades in Movement) which, like its namesake, is a 2+2 four-seater coupe. There’s no Audi under the skin though, with this concept a bespoke electric car - styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italdesign’s founder and the man behind greats like the Ferrari 250 GT, Alfa Romeo Giulia and even the DeLorean.

The car’s bodywork is constructed entirely from aluminium - the exposed lower half surely a nod to the original - with the top half in gloss black. Though the design itself is very smooth, there’s a single indented line reaching from the lowest part of the car and stretching to the back.

Notice the bonnet catch too - on the Audi-based ‘70s version, that was a NACA duct to provide cooling. Obviously, that’s not needed on an EV, but instead serves as a design link between the two.

Polycarbonate windows are used too, which are said to have been treated ‘like a polarised lens’ and can filter out 100% of UVA rays.

Italdesign hasn’t showcased the doors open but says they’re ‘generously sized’ and use a double-hinged mechanism - first sliding forward and then rotating to open.

Once inside, you’ll see a minimalist cylindrical dashboard and a typically-concept car square steering wheel. Within the dashboard is an ultra-thin screen which rolls up to act as an instrument cluster and infotainment system when the car is in use.

We’re not sure it needs to be said, but the Italdesign Asso di Picche In Movimento isn’t going to go into production - albeit will surely serve as inspiration for the design house’s future work. Keep your eyes peeled in 2073 for the Asso di Picche In Movimento di Nuovo.