Italdesign Giugiaro releases ‘Timeline’ app

Home > News > Italdesign Giugiaro releases ‘Timeline’ app

Italdesign Giugiaro releases ‘Timeline’ app

by Eric Gallina

1976 BMW Karmann Asso Di Quadri concept was created following a request from Karmann. It was built on BMW 320 mechanicals. Click for larger images

Two of Giugiaro's most iconic products: the 1974 VW Golf - the car that marked a new beginning for the German company (left) - and the Lotus Esprit, which Colin Chapman commissioned Giugiaro to design in 1972

1980 Lancia Medusa was conceived to be the most aerodynamic car in the world following the energy crisis at the end of the 1970s

Hundai Pony Coupe (1974), based on the sedan’s mechanicals, would become the biggest source of inspiration for the DeLorean DMC 12 (left); 1974 Hyundai Pony was the brand's first worldwide model (sales started in 1976) and the first car to be built entirely in South Korea

Long before Bertone tried to create a Jaguar, this 1990 proposal called the Kensington was designed by Italdesign (left); the Capsula (1982) featured a modular platform with interchangeable body panels

Italdesign Giugiaro has released a new app called the "Giugiaro Timeline", spanning the company's illustrious design history. Available for the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 4 and the iPod Touch (sorry Android and Blackberry users) the app enables design enthusiasts to check out some of the products the company has been responsible for since its inception in 1968 (the year the Bizzarrini Manta made its debut at the Turin motor show).

The Bizzarrini Manta made its debut at the Turin motor show in 1968

Fiat’s brief to Giugiaro was to design a utilitarian city car that would be as successful as the Topolino, the 500 and the 600. The Panda was born

Implemented by the Italian web agency Easybit, the Giugiaro Timeline for the iPhone and the iPod Touch offers the same features as the iPad version. With the Giugiaro Timeline app, everyone can take a look at the projects developed by the Italian coachbuilder Italdesign Giugiaro and by the industrial design division Giugiaro Design.

Users can slide the timeline forward and backward to access thousands of pictures and information telling the story of the company founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro.

In addition to the cars and everyday-life objects, historic key-moments are also included in the app. The awards (five ADI Compasso d'Oro – to the Panda, Punto, Brera dental system Isotron and to Giugiaro himself – and two Goldene Lenkräder commendations, for the Punto and Giugiaro's career) are shown as well.

Users can also peruse the 1983 Newsweek edition, where an article was dedicated to the "Marille", the first pasta ever designed by a car designer. Or, more recently, the 2005 Time cover where USA star LeBron James grips the Molten GL7 basketball by Giugiaro Design in his hands.

For us though it was the numerous sketches and obscure concepts – ranging from the Hyundai Pony Coupe, which inspired the design of the DeLorean DMC 12, to Giugiaro's own vision for the New York City Taxi and the Chevrolet Corvette – that we found most inspiring.

But don't just take our word for it, download the app for yourselves. And for those of you who can't, we've compiled a few more photos and sketches in our gallery.