Unveiled at the Company’s headquarters on Thursday May 15, the ERA officialy debuts at the Automotive News Europe Congress in Turin (19-20 May 2008).

According to the Italian studio, "ERA reflects the true essence of classic Italian car styling, taking Design back to its origins, to the instinctive drawing of shapes for beauty’s sake."

ERA is the first in a series of models representing a renewed IDEA Institute.

The car is the fruit of the work of a team of young designers who apply their expertise to car styling projects as well as to the design of motorcycles and a wide range of industrial products.

The ERA concept is a roadster designed for pure driving pleasure through the instinctive pencil strokes of the designer on a blank page.

"Its smooth curves come to life from taut yet harmonious lines which give the car its elegant yet powerful appearance. Its simple interior, composed of a visible tubular structure, expresses the car’s pure essential nature typical to sports cars."

ERA Concept - Technical specifications

Dimensions:

• Length : 4300 mm
• Width : 1840 mm
• Height : 920 mm
• Wheelbase : 2560 mm
• Tyres : 245/40 R19
• Kerb weight : from 1500 to 2000 Kg

Chassis

• Existing monocoque chassis M2 segment
• Possible horsepower up to 300 HP
• Gearbox : manual/sequential 5/6 gears.
• Suspension:
  
  • Front : independent in wheel double triangle
  • Rear : independent in wheel double square
• Power-assisted ventilated front/rear discs
• Alloy Wheels (front/rear) : 19 * 8,5

Layout

• Passengers : 2 seats
• Fuel tank in central position
• Front engine 4/6 cylinders with 2 possible solutions:
  • Transverse engine for front-wheel drive version
  • Longitudinal engine for rear -wheel drive version

About the I.DE.A. Institute

Founded in 1978 as a family-run company by Franco Mantegazza, IDEA Institute has transferred from its original operating centres in Moncalieri to a 12,000 square metre facility in Turin and has added three branches in Europe and Asia.

Over the years such great names as Renzo Piano, Walter de Silva and Ercole Spada have cooperated with IDEA Institute.

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, IDEA Institute has begun a renewal process aimed at further building the company to develop even more successful projects in an ever more dynamic way for its international customers:

• the Design Center is expanding and is equipped with state of the art tools to work closely with customers on the styling of their new vehicle models as well as on IDEA Institute’s own show and concept cars for future Motor Shows.
• Design to Cost activities will grow both on domestic and international markets along with IDEA Institute’s long-standing capabilities in low cost vehicles.
• A renewed image and a new brand identity for the Design Center will be introduced.

During its 30 years’ of activity, IDEA Institute has worked with the world’s major vehicle manufacturers providing Design, Engineering and Prototyping services as well as complete turn-key projects.

In addition to its Headquarters in Turin, the company has built up an international network with facilities in China (Shanghai), France (Paris) and Rumania (Pitesti), with an engineering team based in India and the planned branch in Brazil.

Since 2000, IDEA Institute has been part of the Swiss multi-national Rieter Group with its headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, around 15,500 employees worldwide and 2007 sales of 3.93 billion Swiss Francs.

(Source: IDEA Institute)