by Wallace Wyss –
While I’ll admit that I was taken back by the radical lines of the Maserati Neptune (mostly regarding visibility) I hafta admit that it is a giant step for Maserati in that they used an existing chassis for this new concept, that of a Formula E race car.
Usually concept cars at first blush are mere push mobiles with no drivetrain. While this is a single seater chassis, it could be reconfigured. This car follows on the heels of their halo car, the MC20. Designer Salvatoreandrea Piccirillo worked with FCA Group as a part of his training course at IED Transportation Design. So he’s a student! I say this is very mature work for a student.
The Maserati Neptune is powered by the Formula E race car platform with the battery behind the front wheels. The Gran Turismo car has a splitter located at the front and a big diffuser on the rear, giving it what Maserati calls “a very speed demon-like character.” Despite that image (which I find rather immature…), Maserati says he kept in mind “driving pleasure, sportiness, and comfort.”
The car looks more like a sci fi prop than a roadable car. Still his drawings are so inspiring, I’m showing one here. I’d say he has a great career ahead of him if this is what he can do as a student!
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is a fine artist, depicting the classics in oil, on canvas. He will be manning the Art & Books booth at Concorso Italiano.
Ugh!
In my opinion….While the overall design is very innovative, I find the greenhouse and roof line a little low. The front wheel arches are obtrusively high, wide and imposing on the sleek design. Adaption to include a passenger should not upset the design scheme.
Hot Wheels!
Buckboard suspension?
It seems to have a sophisticated suspension, that of the race car. I should have mentioned, no bucket seat,just padded form-fitting floor of the cockpit. Some of the best concepts of the past like the Ferrari Modulo, were built on race car chassis. That one was recently made into a drivable car by the new owner at great expense.
I’m sorry but if I look at the first photo through the rear duct it looks to be a solid axle housing mounted to the floor pan.
Hmmm. Given that your eyes are about 4 inches below the top of your head, which needs to be 1 inch (at least) below the roof (more with a crash helmet), I’m guessing the driver of this is looking at the road through a tube that runs from the dash out over those batteries and through the grill.
Sorry, but i can only see a student designer wet dream in this one.
Make two, flip them over, tie them together and you’ll have a nice catamaran, imho.