An I.DE.A ERA for the 2009 Geneva Auto Show

What began as a means to celebrate Italian styling firm's IDEA Institute 30th anniversary, turned last year in a barchetta like sports car. The vehicle came to be in just in 30 days, starting from drawing, rendering, molding and ending with the actual build. Almost one year has passed since then and the design company had plenty of time to work on the "little boat." They did, and the 2009 Geneva Auto Show will witness the new I.DE.A ERA.

The new I.DE.A is a two seater gull-winged door roadster. ERA has been designed in proportioned curves and lines, while the interior is as simple as it could be, its visible tubular structure aside.

We forgot to tell you... It has no engine. Or wiring. Or any other moving part that makes a pile of metal usually known as a car go from here to there... ERA is just an I.DE.A. If by chance it happens you have a 3.0l turbocharged lying around in your house, this is the best place you can put in in.

The body of the I.DE.A is a monocoque M2 segment chassis. It can withstand up to 300 horsepower from a front mounted four or six cylinders engine. The powerplant can be fitted either transversely for the front wheel drive version or longitudinally for the rear wheel drive one.

“With ERA we are looking to the future: this is just the first in a series of models we are creating to reaffirm our design capabilities,” Pietro Lardini, I.DE.A chairman said.

It looks interesting, but does it serve a purpose? Is it as thrilling as the Rinspeed iChange or E2? We would say not. The concept does not bring anything new to the automotive industry. True, last year's 30 days build was something of an achievement, but that's about all there is in ERA: an I.DE.A.