Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Touring

Touring Superleggera is pleased to showcase the first production model of the legendary Disco Volante at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, after the release

Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Touring

Touring Superleggera is pleased to showcase the first production model of the legendary Disco Volante at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, after the release of the full-scale style model in 2012. The discriminating consumer will now be able to purchase the Disco Volante. The Disco Volante is another example of Touring's ability to develop and produce custom automobiles that meet world-class quality standards in minimal quantities, following the remarkable triumphs in the most recent Geneva exhibitions. The Disco Volante has gone from a prototype to a production model in less than a year, and it is now prepared for customers who value its distinctive fusion of quality, craftsmanship, cutting-edge design, and automotive heritage. Collectors, race car drivers, and design enthusiasts will be among them. The Disco Volante is a Gran Turismo with two seats. It is based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione coupé, which has an unaltered 4.7-liter V8 engine in the front and a transaxle rear drive. Only on demand will each unit be constructed, requiring 4,000 hours of manual labor. Almost immediately after its 1952 debut, the lightweight and incredibly aerodynamic Alfa Romeo C52 Disco Volante was hailed as a design classic. During that year's Carrozzeria Touring briefing, it was mentioned that a wind-insensitive shape was necessary. A design patent was even filed for the original basic design. Alfa Romeo 1900 C components were used to create a new tubular chassis and an aluminum body that is lightweight, aesthetically pleasing, and efficient. The C52 Disco Volante, first designed for sports car racing, is among the best examples of Touring's founder Felice Bianchi Anderloni's motto: "Weight is the enemy, air resistance is the obstacle."

Design

The current Disco Volante celebrates the story of the 1952 style icon.  The new design brief called for combining elements like creativity, emotion, and aerodynamic qualities to create a timeless and fundamental shape. Bold, inventive, refreshing, and adventurous are the keywords. Louis de Fabribeckers, the head of design, and his staff worked with the engineers virtually every day during the development phase. According to de Fabribeckers, we concentrated on maintaining the core of the design. After the design was set, we had to identify the manufacturing issues and provide quick solutions without sacrificing the design.  Many things were altered at this point, such as the slightly raised bonnet required for engine bay ventilation. However, these alterations won't be very noticeable because the original proportions were kept. Compared to the style study presented in 2012, the outcome is even more striking and remarkable. The car's interior has a science-fiction vibe,  consistent with its design philosophy. Features like red LED interior light profiles contributed to this spaceship feel. Additionally, aeronautics-inspired components like the dashboard, instrumentation, and seat-changing lever. Leather hides were custom-made to match the exterior color hue for the upholstery. Alcantara in black matches these. According to Touring's personal commissioning philosophy, the offer includes interior design customization to the customer's tastes.

Rolling Chassis

Because of its exceptional dynamic qualities and lightweight, rigid design, the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione chassis was selected. Consequently,  the ideal foundation for the Disco Volante's coach-built bodywork preserves the rolling chassis and drivetrain. The steel spaceframe and other structural components of the Alfa Romeo 8C were kept to ensure excellent performance, torsion stiffness, and quality standards. The central carbon cell and the frame elements did not alter. Along with the dashboard and instruments, the pedals, and the steering wheel, other components of the body and underpinning have also been kept, including the engine bay and firewall, the windscreen and cowl, the a-pillar, the locks, and the hinges. The C-pillar, roof frame, and doorframes have all been altered to fit the new design. An ideal weight distribution of 49–51% between the front and rear axles is provided by the configuration of a front-centrally located engine, a transaxle transmission, and a rear-wheel drive. The front and rear double-wishbone suspension systems are paired with forged aluminum hub carriers and additional trailing arms for the rear suspension to guarantee superior handling. The small, light, 4.7-liter V8 engine produces 450 horsepower and 480 Nm of peak torque. A six-speed sequential transaxle gearbox with paddle-shift gear selection and computerized management is connected to it. A  limited-slip differential and a cutting-edge braking system featuring large-diameter, ventilated discs guarantee a precise, dynamic, and proactive drive. The Disco Volante has a top speed of roughly 290 km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds.

Engineering

The Disco Volante's new and altered parts are all CAD-designed. Utilizing the latest cutting-edge IT tools and modeling techniques, this approach encompasses feasibility, safety, homologation, aerodynamics, and structural analysis. The under-body structure and its components, such as the roll bar connecting the c-pillars and the tubular frames supporting the rear wings and bumper, have received particular attention because torsion stiffness and noise reduction are crucial. The front tire covers, the 3D-cambered door window, and the tailgate hinges were further intricate design elements. After that, a CFD aerodynamic analysis was performed on the Disco Volante to improve airflow and provide the best possible downforce in the back. The resistance and stiffness of every component undergoing homologation were then evaluated using FEM calculations. The production of lightweight bodywork is linked with Touring Superleggera. One of the advantages of Touring Superleggera's building techniques is the weight benefit of aluminum. These days, however, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic is used in conjunction with the art of hand-beating aluminum panels. Touring chose to use this aluminum and CFRP combination for the Disco Volante. Research was done to determine the best use of materials for the bodywork in terms of weight, resistance, accuracy, finish,  quality, and ease of repair in the event of damage. Certain parts, such as the bonnet, skirts, boot lid, integrated rear-window frame, front bumper and grille, and bonnet, are made of CFRP. Nomex filler is sandwiched between the boot lid and the bonnet to improve the stiffness/weight ratio and reduce noise and vibration. An epoxy mold is used to hand-beat the aluminum panels. Aluminum must be glued to carbon fiber since CFRP makes up the inner frames of most bodywork. Because the adhesive contains structural qualities, this method increases the rigidity. A jig preassembles the body panels on a laser measurement platform. This guarantees adherence to the stringent tolerance needed. The panels are either glued or welded after being changed. All trim pieces, molding, and bright ware are assembled and fitted using the body-in-white. The production process is digitally logged and documented to guarantee consistent and reproducible quality. Like in series production, there is a Bill of Materials and a quantified manufacturing cycle. Measurements, tolerances, and other quality requirements are quantified. Before the vehicle is approved,  static and dynamic test runs are part of the quality control procedure. High standards for interstice and surface alignment, paint and coating quality, interior trim, and assembly must be met to comply with the static-test methodology. A climatic chamber is used to conduct a functionality test. The proving field is where the dynamic test is performed. It focuses on steering, braking, and all other functions and routinely checks for creaking, rattle, and other noises. High-speed runs, turning, and other handling tests on various surfaces are all part of it. By EU Directive 2007/46 EC for small series, the Disco Volante has been granted EU-type approval.