WRITTEN BY ALEX JACKSON
A purist choice, authentic and
incredibly rare – the Giotto. The
Bizzarrini brand reveals its limitedrun super sports car focused on
delivering Italian design, exceptional
luxury and an ultimate dedication to
driving enjoyment.
Founded in 1964 by legendary engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, Bizzarrini is an iconic name in Italian automotive history. Reborn in 2020 under new ownership, the marque brings together the finest design, craftsmanship and engineering excellence for a new
generation of collectors and enthusiasts. The Giotto is the result of a rekindled partnership that was first established 60 years ago between company founder Giotto
Bizzarrini and Giorgetto Giugiaro. A young Giugiaro, whilst at Bertone, contributed to the design of the brand’s first car – the 5300 GT, which was reintroduced to the world in early 2022 with the 5300 GT Corsa Revival. It made sense that Guigiaro would be the individual to establish the design language of the first entirely new Bizzarrini model.
Classic low-slung supercar proportions are seamlessly blended with core elements of Bizzarrini’s signature design DNA. The prominent dual bonnet-mounted vents of original Bizzarrinis are evolved into a new frontal visual character for the Giotto, incorporating ultra slimline LED headlights. As they end in the centre of the bonnet, they cradle a prominent centre-mounted Bizzarrini badge, just as it was framed on the 5300 GT. In profile, the Giotto is marked out by a reimagining of the 5300GT’s triangular B-pillar and a rear windscreen that wraps so far around the rear it almost seems to cascade onto the wheel arches. Rearmid-engined, rather than front-mid-engined like the 5300 GT, the predatorial forward stance of the Giotto is a visual representation of power driving from behind and conveys the might of the power unit. The tail gently tapers and curves away gracefully, creating an aerodynamic teardrop shape.
T H E B E S P O K E C A R B O N F I B R E B O D Y I S
I N T R I C AT E LY S C U L P T E D T O I N T E R S E C T
T H E M I N D S E T S O F T H E D E S I G N E R ,
E N G I N E E R A N D D R I V E R – C R A F T E D W I T H
P U R P O S E T H R O U G H T H E C O L L E C T I V E
B R I L L I A N C E O F T H E T E A M .
“ T O H AV E T H E O P P O RT U N I T Y T O D E S I G N
A N E N T I R E LY N E W C A R F O R B I Z Z A R R I N I
I S A P R I V I L E G E . O U R T W O N A M E S
A R E U N I T E D I N N E A R LY S I X D E C A D E S
O F H I S T O R Y A N D A S E R I E S O F N O W
I C O N I C D E S I G N S . W I T H T H E G I O T T O,
W E H O N O U R T H E PA S T, B U T W E F O C U S
W H O L LY O N T H E F U T U R E . D E S I G N E D F O R
P U R P O S E A N D I N C O R P O R AT I N G A C T I V E
A E R O D Y N A M I C T E C H N O L O G I E S , W E H AV E
C R E AT E D S O M E T H I N G T H AT I S B O T H
R E C O G N I S A B LY B I Z Z A R R I N I A N D T O TA L LY
R E L E VA N T F O R A N E N T I R E LY N E W E R A O F
THIS CHERISHED ITALIAN BRAND,”
Renowned as a genius engineer and test driver, Giotto Bizzarrini made his name as controller of experimental, Sports and GT car development at Ferrari. He played the key role in the development of the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO, latterly developing the advanced
aerodynamics for the legendary Ferrari 250-based ‘bread van.’
He is also lauded for his work in building the famous Lamborghini V12 engine, first used on Lamborghini’s debut model, the 350 GT. Bizzarrini’s V12 engine proved such a compelling design that aspects of this power unit were used by Lamborghini right up until 2010. In the Giotto, the rare set of diverse skills possessed by the founder of Bizzarrini have come to define the character of the car.
Full technical details will be revealed later this year, as Bizzarrini will again look to its heritage for powertrain options. Bizzarrini’s work on the Lamborghini V12 provides inspiration, with an exclusive naturally aspirated V12 engine planned. Designed to meet Bizzarrini-specific performance, drivability, emissions compliance and emotional targets, it will be paired with an eightspeed dual-clutch transmission. Development of the powertrain, as well as all engineering aspects of the Giotto will be overseen by newly appointed Bizzarrini, CTO, Chris Porritt, who has led engineering divisions at Aston Martin, Tesla and Rimac.
“ W E H A V E A V E R Y C L E A R V I S I O N F O R T H E G I O T T O , D E F I N E D U LT I M AT E LY
B Y H O W I T M A K E S A D R I V E R F E E L . B I Z Z A R R I N I I S A B R A N D B U I LT O N
GENIUS AND PASSION, ESTABLISHED BY A POLYM ATH WITH WORLDC L A S S T A L E N T S A S A D E S I G N E R , E N G I N E E R A N D T E S T D R I V E R . W E N O W
V E R Y D E L I B E R AT E LY A N D A U T H E N T I C A L LY R E C R E AT E G I O T T O ’ S V I S I O N ,
C H O O S I N G N O T T O C H A S E A C C E L E R AT I O N T I M E S O R L A P R E C O R D S , B U T T O
D E V E L O P A C A R T H AT A P P E A L S T O T H O S E E X P E R I E N C E D D R I V E R S S E E K I N G
P U R I T Y, A U T H E N T I C I T Y A N D R A R I T Y. T H I S I S V O C A L A N D E M O T I V E , I T ’ S
M E C H A N I C A L , A N D I T ’ S T A C T I L E . B U T I T ’ S A L S O I N C R E D I B LY P R A C T I C A L
A N D L U X U R I O U S , D E L I V E R E D W I T H T H E P E R S O N A L I T Y A N D E M O T I O N O F A
B E S P O K E I T A L I A N B R A N D ,”
EXPLAINS CHRIS PORRITT
One of Giotto Bizzarrini’s most valuable talents was his ability to push the limits of contemporary engineering. The 5300 GT made extensive use of the strongest lightweight material of its day, the Giotto will likewise make use of the lightest, strongest and most suitable materials available to its creators. As well as the purposeful carbon fibre body, the Giotto will be based on a composite body structure – designed to meet or exceed worldwide safety standards, using technologies and manufacturing processes developed in top-tier motorsport.
Testing of the Giotto will begin in 2024, with further technical details divulged throughout 2023. Its reveal comes at a time of enormous momentum at Bizzarrini. In addition to the
appointment of Chris Porritt as CTO, Ian Fenton recently joined as CEO. Ian brings over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, including senior or director roles
in Ford of Europe, Ford Motor China, Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin Lagonda and Aston Martin Works. “As we continue to deliver the 24 examples of the 5300 GT Corsa Revival to customers all over the world, we now focus on the development of the Giotto. Envisioned as a car for connoisseurs, exclusively rare, built for pure enjoyment and luxury,” says Ian Fenton, Bizzarrini CEO. “The 5300 GT Corsa Revival was an introduction to the world of the genius of Bizzarrini, but the Giotto is the centrepiece of our future as an exclusive supercar manufacturer. It forms the heart of a ten-year strategy that will see additional variants and more Revival models from Bizzarrini while also firmly placing this historic and revered name among the very best performance brands in the world.”
T O B E O N E O F T H E F I R S T T O E X P E R I E N C E T H E G I O T T O , C H E C K O U T
WWW.BIZZARRINI.COM