Isuzu Asso di Fiori

The Isuzu Asso di Fiori, a masterpiece in Italdesign’s Aces series, stands as the rightful heir to the iconic Isuzu 117 Coupé, conceived in 1966. Its inception marked what design maestro Giugiaro dubbed as “the fifth Copernican revolution,” a pivotal moment in automotive evolution that laid the groundwork for the subsequent birth of the Isuzu Piazza. Guided by a singular condition from the manufacturer—to utilize the Gemini 1800 platform, the Japanese counterpart to the Chevrolet Corvette — the Asso di Fiori made its grand debut at the 1979 Geneva Motor Show, drawing an eager and captivated audience. The Isuzu Asso di Fiori encapsulates the essence of Giugiaro’s design prowess, showcasing a revolutionary approach to automotive aesthetics. Giugiaro’s previous design breakthroughs include the introduction of the first cowling with incorporated lights in 1960 (exemplified by the Alfa Romeo 2000 Sprint), the pioneering use of stuck windows borrowed from the Alfa Romeo Canguro in 1964, the introduction of painted mudguards with the Asso di Picche in 1973, and the innovation of the first rear door cut in 1974. With the Asso di Fiori, Giugiaro once again reshapes the automotive landscape. The most notable features include the elimination of external drips, replaced by a gutter-pipe integrated into the door pillar gasket. Moreover, the windows seamlessly close to the bodywork, showcasing a cohesive design language. The revolutionary concept of total doors—both front and rear—represents a groundbreaking departure from conventional design. The unveiling of the Asso di Fiori at the Geneva Motor Show in 1979 triggered a ripple effect across the industry. Giugiaro’s ingenious solutions, witnessed in the Asso di Fiori, became a blueprint for future production cars. The 1987 French Revue Automobile documented a significant shift, noting that one-third of cars produced between 1981 and 1987 embraced the total door concept, a testament to the enduring influence of the Isuzu Asso di Fiori on automotive design.