Italdesign Updates Classic 1970s Audi Concept That Inspired The VW Scirocco | Carscoops

The digital-only anniversary show car blends past design studies with advanced technology in an homage to the original Asso di Picche concept

Italdesign has breathed new life into one of its iconic 1970s designs with an entirely new digital concept, aptly named the “Asso di Picche In Movimento,” which translates to “Ace Of Spades In Motion” in Italian. This modern interpretation is a direct heir to the 1973 Asso di Picche concept. Much like its predecessor, this latest creation from Italdesign showcases audacious design elements and a monolithic exterior.

The 1973 concept was born on request by Karmann for a four-seat sport coupe. Underpinning the original Asso di Picche was the Audi 80 (B1) of the time, but most wouldn’t know it from looking at the finer details of the car.

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Italdesign’s original 1973 Asso di Picche and the VW Scirocco that it inspired

An interesting fact about the original concept was that, despite being labeled as an Audi, it never evolved into a production model for the four-ring brand. Instead, it had a notable influence on the development of another VW Group vehicle: Volkswagen’s first-generation Scirocco. Moreover, design elements from the Asso di Picche concept found their way into the creation of the first iterations of the Lotus Esprit and Lancia Delta, both masterminded by Italdesign.

This new concept isn’t bound by having to feature a specific brand’s logo, however, as it was conceived as as an Italdesign project. As a result, this purely digital creation blends both the hard lines of the original car with a few very subtle soft curves that Italdesign says would fit a “next-generation” EV platform. While Italdesign didn’t delve into specific details, given its status as a subsidiary of Lamborghini since 2010, itself owned by VW, it’s reasonable to assume that if it were to materialize, it would be based on the German group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) or the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).

While Italdesign didn’t delve into specific details, given its status as a subsidiary of Lamborghini since 2010, itself owned by VW, it’s reasonable to assume that if it were to materialize, it would be based on the German group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) or the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).

The front of the Asso di Picche In Movimento features a storage area and what was an air intake in the original concept is now the charge port. The doors use a double-hinge mechanism to allow easier entry and exit and that’s vital as this is a true 2+2 coupe. Above all four passengers is a structural transparent panel that blocks 100% of UVA light.

The cabin is meant to be a tranquil place for all passengers and thus, Italdesign says that few basic features are constantly visible. A rounded dash rotates to unroll a thin screen that sits just ahead of the driver. The steering wheel is squared off to enhance visibility, and the door handles harken back to the leather belts that served as secure storage in the original concept.

“Fifty years later, an automobile’s design continues to be the formal interpretation of the concept of movement.”, said Joquin Garcia, Italdesign’s Head of Design. That’s high praise from the company that made this product but now all we can do is wait to see if the concept inspires real-world vehicles.