Fioravanti will unveil a new concept car at the Geneva Motor Show which it classifies as an MPC (Multi Purpose Coupé), the project being introduced as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The Hidra, which is described as a "sporty multifunctional vehicle", has evolved from the Thalia concept car that Fioravanti presented on the occasion of last year's Geneva Motor Show. The firm dub the Hidra as a MPC (Multi Purpose Coupé) which features a layout of five seats and four doors, and promise an innovation and patented roof section.

The studio was founded twenty years ago by Leonardo Fioravanti, one the major Italian automotive stylists. During his career at Pininfarina he was responsible for a string of well know models, including the sensuous Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' and the brutal 288 GTO.

Fioravanti has a tradition of showing off its new ideas at the Geneva Motor Show and has built up a reputation for innovation. As well as the Thalia (2007) it presented the Grande Punto based Skill (206) which was fitted with a patented electric folding roof that was soon afterwards used by Ferrari on its limited-edition Superamerica sportscar, based on the 575 M Maranello.

Fioravanti have released little information about the project except to say that it builds on the principles of the Thalia project, which looked to explore the dynamics and submitted unconventional new solutions to packaging future energy sources of automobiles.

Thalia proposed a unique concept of raising the rear seating and fitting a 30 cm high screen to allow the rear passengers to have an uninterrupted view of the road ahead. This initiative though has been discarded on the Hidra which features another new Fioravanti-style glass roof section which meets the rear side windows and wraps into the vertical rear window which itself curves onto the C-pillar in a fashion that matches the concept's prominent side crease which flips up to meet the sharp roofline and incorporate the rear lights. Fioravanti say that the roof will be a patented new design. And just as on the Thalia the door mirrors have again been discarded in the interests of aerodynamic efficiency in favour of cameras located in the rear spoiler.