Unveiled as a work in progress at the Gasoline Juice Designers’ Night on September 14, the restored Fiat X1/9 blends innovative design with cutting edge engineering. At the base of the project will be Envisage Group’s Colour of the Year, ‘Blurple’, a versatile hue that will soon serve as the canvas for a unique art piece designed by Cesar Pieri, the creative mind behind Pieri Design and Gasoline Juice.
Envisage’s Colour, Materials, and Finish (CMF) team worked closely with Cesar to create concepts and moodboards, demonstrating the car’s interior, and defining its personality. After thorough research and studying the car’s shape, the team presented two concepts: Futuristic Modern, a sleek design reflective of retro-futurism; and Sporty Retro, designed to portray the thrill and joy of driving with a playful, yet nostalgic twist.
The car will soon be returned to Gasoline Juice for the artwork to be added. This will pay homage to car designer Marcello Gandini, who designed the Fiat X1/9.
Nick Colledge, CEO of Envisage Technologies, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. "It's a pleasure to be collaborating with Pieri Design and Gasoline Juice," he said. "This project not only brings our Colour of the Year to life but also showcases the full range of our in-house skills and capabilities for classic restoration projects. What we've unveiled is just a taste of the amazing things we can achieve by combining Cesar's talents with our own."
Cesar Pieri, the founder of Gasoline Juice and Pieri Design, echoed this sentiment. "There is so much synergy between our companies," he noted. "I'm thrilled to see how the designs I create can be turned into reality by the skilled team at Envisage. While I can't wait to see the finished X1/9, I'm even more excited about the possibilities this collaboration opens up for the future."
The collaboration between these two innovative companies was born out of a previous project where Envisage utilised Gasoline Juice's creative space to showcase its Model 01: The Couch. Now, with Pieri Design operating from a design office at Envisage's headquarters in Coventry, UK, the stage is set for a series of exciting future projects.
At the Designers’ Night event, guests were treated to a sneak peek of the Fiat X1/9 in its current state. The presentation included the two CMF concepts for the interior and a scale model showcasing the ‘Blurple’ exterior. This exclusive glimpse into the project allowed industry experts, automotive designers, and classic car enthusiasts to engage in discussions about the Fiat, the design concepts, and the potential for future collaborations.
As the project progresses, it will serve as a showcase for the full spectrum of Envisage's capabilities. From CMF Design and Paint Technologies to Electronics R&D and Precision Metalwork, every aspect of the company's expertise will be brought to bear on this unique restoration.