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'Giacomo Bertolio - stile per
l'automobile' is a new car styling consultancy based in
Turin, the world capital of auto design. Chief Designer
Giacomo Bertolio, a former student of the renowned
Istituto Europeo di Design (the only car design school
which exhibited a model at the Geneva International
Motor Show this year), aims to freelance for both
manufacturers and established styling houses.
Projects
are directly modelled in Alias Studio Tools, the
world-leading CAS software for automotive surface modelling,
therefore shortening the creative process. Being
Turin-based, the studio has easy access to a unique
knowledge base of the car industry, from model builders to
engineering services.
Introduction
As a first showcase for his activity, Giacomo Bertolio has
decided to show a concept detaching itself a bit from the
current trend of out-and-out sportscars or ecology-conscious
hybrids. Jana ’08 is instead a pure concept focused on
practical and technically feasible innovations for the
everyday needs of the driver, such as easy access, ample
cabin space within compact dimensions, visibility and
optimized weight distribution when the car is fully laden,
packed in an attractive and different bodywork. Jana ‘08 is
ideally based on the floorpan of the Mini, one of the
biggest technical and sales successes in the B Premium
segment.
Jana is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning People, used in the
national Indian anthem Jana Mana Gana. Jana ‘08 is an
ancient woman’s given name of the Hindu-European area. Jana
recalls also the myth of the Latin god Janus Bifrons,
inspired by the peculiar rear-facing seats.
DESIGN
Doors
Jana ‘08 is equipped with scissor doors allowing easy entry
and exit in the most confined spaces. A revolutionary
tailgate sliding on the roof eases off loading and unloading
in the tightest of parking places, as well as giving
comfortable access to the rear facing passenger seats.
Therefore Jana ‘08 with all apertures in opening position
has an identical footprint to when it is fully closed.
Opening doors and tailgate are governed by safe
electro-hydraulical mechanisms and do not overlap in fully
extended position, being guided by the ingenious roof
rails.
Cabin
Jana ‘08 is unusually equipped with rear facing rear seats,
providing passengers in the back with ample space to stretch
their legs, easy access through the large sliding tailgate,
a view unobstracted by the front headrests and better safety
in case of accident, especially for kids. A large mirror is
installed on the inside of the rear hatch centre pillar
allowing vision of the road ahead and preventing sickness.
Luggage is stored between the seat rows in order not to be
thrown around in case of accident. A single central airbag
protects the four heads of the occupants. Weight
distribution is optimized with all masses leaning toward the
centre, with no difference when the car is fully laden.
Roof
Divided in three sections, the full-length rails on the roof
of the Jana ‘08 represent not only a distintive styling cue,
but serve also many different functions: in the front
section, glued to the windscreen, they conceal the wipers
and reinforce the structure acting as thin A-pillars made of
high-tensile steel; in the centre section on the roof, they
guide the sliding tailgate, act as rain gutters, channel the
sunroof and provide mounting points for the optional luggage
rack; and in the rear section, they hide the rear screen
wiper and the aerial, strengthening the tailgate glass and
acting visually as C pillars.
Cell
The structure of the Jana ‘08 is built around the sturdy
B-pillars, transmitting loads on the robust longitudinal
shoulders in case of rollover. They are connected to an
exceptionally rigid roof and are placed in the less used
parts of the passengers’ visual field. A-pillars are
relatively slim in order to allow for a panoramic view for
the driver; for the same reason C pillar are absent, only
visually substituted by the prosecution of the roof rails on
the tailgate. The cruciform structure on the sides contain
all safety elements such as side impact bars, airbags and
foams. The cross structures of the front and rear are made
of composite materials absorbing energy and regaining shape
in small impacts.
STYLE
Glass
Jana ‘08 sports ample glass surfaces extending to the lower
part of the car, providing natural light to the footwells
and a sensation of intimacy with the road. The windscreen
offers an all-round view only slightly interrupted by the
slim A-pillars. Chrome surroundings are placed strategically
only around windscreen and front side windows in order to
emphasise driving cockpit.
The panoramic rear screens,
separated by the centre pillar of the hatch, are
complemented by the lower windows. The glass arrangement is
a welcome break from the usual ratio between metal and glass
of traditional cars, innovating the classic architecture
based on A, B and C pillars.
Arches
Jana ‘08 has two imposing front wheelarches characterizing
its profile and substantially dimensioned in order to
accomodate the complex mechanism of the scissor doors. The
shape of the wheelarch suggests the rotary movement of the
opening doors. They also emphasise the front wheel drive and
engine layout of the sporting Mini chassis the Jana ‘08 is
based upon. The rear wheelarches are integrated into the
back shoulders in order not to cause a mirroring effect
between the front and rear of the car, as well as to
visually enhance the length of the compact bodywork.
Mirrors
Rear view mirrors are one of the most distinctive details of
the Jana ‘08. Like all modern compact cars, the Jana sports
a “cab forward” layout maximizing interior space within a
short overall length. This generally causes an unpleasing
short bonnet line. The Jana mirrors add visual length to the
bonnet they directly sprout from with simple and flowing
lines. Their design resolves also brilliantly the difficult
meeting point between the strong door shoulder and the
wheelarch.
Crosses
The cross-theme is repeated on all sides of the Jana ‘08
bodywork. The cruciform protruding elements have a safety
role, while the recessed compartments on each side have a
functional task. Glass surfaces are recessed for lower
exposure in case of side impact and for better cleaning in
bad weather driving. On the front, the lower recesses
contain the air intakes while the upper ones give access to
the engine compartment. Even the four individual seats show
the cross-theme, albeit inverted. Finally, crossed elements
help in visually slimming the compact bodywork of the Jana
‘08.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Front engine, Diesel cycle, 1,6 litre, 4 cylinders
Front wheel drive
6-speed automatic transmission
Power 80 Kw (110 hp) @ 4000 giri/min
Torque 240 Nm @ 2000 giri/min
Maximum speed 188 km/h (117 mph)
Fuel consumption 6,6 x 4,2 x 5,1 l/100 km (42,8 x 67,3 x
55,4 mpg)
Dimensions 3850 x 1690 x 1450 mm
Unladen weight 1250 Kg
Luggage capacity 350-1100 dm3
Colours
In addition to the Aubergine launch colour, the following
shades have been expressly developed for the Jana ‘08:
Lipstick - Snow - Sunburst - Outerspace - Sage - Saffron –
Aluminium – Zinc – Gunmetal – Oxblood – Vanilla – Chocolate
- Morning – Midnight.
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