Italian design firm Fioravanti has launched a new prototype called LF1 at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The puristic track car is designed with a number of F1-inspired technologies, not to mention F1-like styling. It’s not clear if the car is intended for production or if it, like Fioravanti’s past concepts, is merely a design study.
Fioravanti has unveiled thirteen concepts since 1994, excluding the LF1. None of the cars have seen production. It’s not known if the LF1 shares this fate, but it’s an interesting design study nonetheless. It certainly looks like it would be a reasonable competitor to Caparo’s T1, if it received a number of street-legal modifications.
The company say it views the car as a convergence between racing and street technology. For example, it combines with the proposed 1.8-liter turbocharged standard for 2012 F1 racing with active suspension, which is common on advanced road cars. It also has 18-inch wheels, common to many performance-oriented street cars.
“In a period of heavy economic crisis, in particular for the automotive world, Formula 1 has to be reviewed in its principle,” explains Fioravanti. Accordingly, the company says it should be a goal to create “more connection between the F1 research the road cars production, making the races more interesting with more overtaking manoeuvres still maintaining the Grand Prix a the top of the media global events.”
Aerodynamics are a big focus, and the Fioravanti claims to have achieved some pretty impressive stats, based on Computer Fluid Dynamic Simulation. This includes a lift-to-downforce ratio of “close to zero,” according to the company. Fully integrated front and rear wings are said contribute greatly to generating consistent down force.
Fioravanti was founded by Leonardo Fioravanti, who worked twenty-four years at famous automotive design firm Pininfarina. He contributed to the designs of the Ferrari Daytona, Dino, 512 Berlinetta Boxer, 308 GTB, and 288 GTO.
