Alfa Romeo LEA Concept
by Wallace Wyss –
We hear about the supercars, the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, etc. but had almost given up on Alfa Romeo coming up with an exotic until we saw the Alfa Romeo LEA Concept sports car designed by a new designer. But it turns out Luigi Memola is not an Alfa designer but an independent, Head of Design at EPTA Design ltd London.
Alfa Romeo LEA
His design is illustrated on a site called Car Body Design. Apparently it is only a model car now, as Alfa is not working on a mid-engine sports car at the present.
The designer admits his inspiration for the Alfa Romeo LEA Concept was the ‘60s car, the 33 Stradale. I would say the fender bulges come from that. From the side, I see a little Ford GT40, and a little bit of the Lamborghini Miura. The back window even has Miura-like slatted sunshades but only three instead of however many the Miura has. I like the way the wheels look flat surfaced at speed.
The design started out on paper but was later developed in 3D with subdivision surface modeling techniques in Blender.
Regarding the name, he explains “Lea is the name of a person really special for me, but is also the Italian acronym of: Linea (Line) Emozionante (Exciting) Aerodinamica (Aerodynamics).”
I have not checked on Alfa sales but I think they need a true mid-engined car to compete with the new Corvette on US soil. It would be a real trick to build the Alfa Romeo LEA Concept for the same price, as the Corvette is so bargain priced.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is the author of 18 automotive histories and a fine artist depicting postwar classics in oil on canvas. For a list of available works, write mendoart7@gmail.com
All images from Car Body Design.
This may be the best looking super-car concept design I have seen.
But is it all for not as Alfa and Fiat are in negotiations to be sold to the French
From the side view, this is the Corvette that Chevrolet should have come up with as their mid-engine design. From the side, it screams “Corvette!” so loud that all other consideration is drowned out. Had Chevrolet come up with this design, there would have been no dissension among Corvette faithful, it is that “perfect” an extension of the Corvette lineage. But hey, it also really rocks as an Alfa. Alfa would be wise to put this design into production, and bring it to America. It could go head-to-head with Corvette, and win.