BMW Asso Di Quadri - The Bavarian Scirocco

We've previously discussed the Asso Di Picche project. Now, let's get acquainted with Asso Di Quadri. This is yet another automobile designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, crafted with an identical purpose - initiating the mass production of a compact coupé.

Both Asso Di Picche and Asso Di Quadri stem from the same creative mind and were conceived concurrently. The distinction lies in their intended clientele: Asso Di Picche was designed for Audi, while Asso Di Quadri was taken up by BMW.

Two designs with shared traits

In the early '70s, a meeting between two leading figures set the stage for automotive innovation. On one side stood the director of Karmann, and on the other, the visionary from Italdesign. Their primary objective was the conception of a sporty, dual-door, four-seater coupe that combined aesthetics, comfort, and affordability. It's apt to note that this endeavor eventually laid the groundwork for the Volkswagen Scirocco concept.

Asso Di Fiori

The joint project of two companies (at least technically) didn’t differ much from the Volkswagen Group cars that have been introduced shortly after. In short, it was a front-wheel-drive platform. It allowed engineers building four-cylinder engines with different power and installing a four-wheel-drive gear.

Both chiefs had the same ambition - get a lucrative Volkswagen Group contract that would ensure financial stability. Sadly, it didn’t happen.

When one of the most prominent German car builders decided to go separate ways, Karmann and Italdesign studio decided to offer the same project to another company - BMW.

BMW Karmann Asso Di Quadri '1976

Upon returning to the primary Italdesign office, Giorgetto Giugiaro set about refining the Asso Di Picche's body lines, which unmistakably echoed the design language of the Audi lineage.

BMW’s coupé got rid of very strict, sharp as a knife forms. They were replaced with a somewhat sleeker and not-so-aggressive looking model which still strongly resemble famous Volkswagen Scirocco.

The third time didn’t lie

Asso Di Quadri project wasn’t meant to reach mass production after all. Perhaps it was somehow connected to evident relations with Volkswagen Scirocco, or maybe BMW was too focused on a completely different type of vehicles. However, a third Italdesign attempt to realize a production-ready concept was successful.

BMW Karmann Asso Di Quadri '1976

This time, Italdesign provided their services to Isuzu that was already a well-known guest at their design studio. Before, Giorgetto Giugiaro created an exterior design for “117”, and later, body lines for Isuzu Piazza. A car that have made drivers from all around the world happy for ten years.

Asso di Fiori - that’s how the compact car’s concept was called when in 1979 it was presented at the Geneva car show. It immediately became a center of attention. Excellent reviews from attendees were a great encouragement that accelerated the production of a new Isuzu model.