Ares Wami Lalique Spyder harks again to a golden age of coachbuilding

As soon as upon a time, the artwork of crafting a bespoke physique for automobile from scratch – in any other case generally known as coachbuilding – was the norm. Automobiles have been uncommon, extremely private and prized possessions, and coachbuilders may create distinctive automobile our bodies with their extremely expert groups of designers, panel beaters and engineers. The artwork peaked within the Nineteen Fifties and Sixties, an age that gave approach to creations just like the Ferrari 250 GT California by Pininfarina, the Maserati A6GCS by Frua and the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante by Touring Superleggera.

Whereas the transfer in the direction of mass manufacturing noticed the apply decline from the Nineteen Seventies onwards, coachbuilding is again on the map, largely all the way down to the work of corporations like Ares Modena. Primarily based within the coronary heart of Italy’s fabled Motor Valley, Ares was based in 2014 to convey extremely personalised, coachbuilt creations to life, akin to its newest, bespoke construct – the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder. Behind the Spyder’s uncommon title, lies the story of its creation – made in partnership with French crystal maker Lalique, the Wami takes its title from the person who created it, Ares government chairman Waleed Al Ghafari. 

Ares Wami Lalique Spyder

‘As a younger little one, I used to be captivated by the automobiles pushed by the movie stars within the Nineteen Fifties and Sixties, throughout that carefree and fantastic period recognized to all as La Dolce Vita,’ says Al Ghafari, glancing over at a cream-coloured, pre-production mannequin on the firm’s Centro Stile in Modena. ‘It was this admiration that led us to design and develop a automobile like no different – a retro-styled roadster that not solely pays homage to a few of the most stunning automobiles ever created however one that includes exceptional artistry and craftsmanship from Lalique.’ 

Made in collaboration with Lalique, many of the 13 handcrafted crystals could be discovered contained in the automobile, embedded into the dashboard, centre console and headrests, whereas 4 crystals sit proudly in the midst of the Spyder’s wire wheels. Whereas it’s the primary time Lalique has utterly outfitted a manufacturing automobile, Lalique’s automotive pedigree is nicely based, with the French firm chargeable for making the detailed crystal mascots that adorned a lot of Ettore Bugatti’s automobiles within the Twenties. 

Beneath its coachbuilt, carbon-fibre physique lies a naturally aspirated 3.0-litre straight-six engine that places out 231hp. Whereas it’s no match for any modern-day supercar, the unit was chosen for its character and sound high quality, with Al Ghafari choosing an engine that might be sympathetic to the automobile’s midcentury aesthetic.

On that be aware, there’s greater than a touch of the Maserati A6GCS Frua concerning the Spyder, with the entrance grille designed to reference Al Ghafari’s favorite traditional automobile. From the grille, an unbroken, sweeping shoulder line rounds off rear, the place three stacked taillights resemble that of the Aston Martin DB5 – one other Italian-designed traditional from the interval.

‘Because of the right marriage between Lalique’s bespoke crystal design and Ares’ excessive stage of excellence in automobile design and expertise, the results of this collaboration is the final word luxurious accent,’ says Silvio Denz, Lalique’s chairman and CEO, on the reveal of the manufacturing automobile. ‘This very particular collaboration perpetuates the work of René Lalique, whose iconic automobile mascots have been a few of his best-known items created within the Roaring Twenties.’

With simply 12 examples of the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder deliberate for manufacturing, the corporate’s newest coachbuilt providing can be a uncommon sight. Priced just below £400,000 the Spyder is available in solely a handful of colors, akin to Amalfi Pink or Mediterranean Gentle Blue, to make sure it stays true to the pastel palate of the midcentury automobiles it emulates. 

Whereas the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder is a major buy, like many of the firm’s creations, it’s assured to face out from the group, even within the supercar scenes of Monaco and Modena. With different tasks nicely within the works, Ares’ dedication to coachbuilding is guaranteeing the artwork of crafting totally bespoke vehicles survives nicely into the long run.

AresDesign.com, @AresModena