At a time when many manufacturers created a foldable hard-top for their open cars, Fioravanti debuted an altogether different solution on the Vola show car of 2001. Based on an Alfa Romeo Spider, the Vola is equipped with a rotating roof that pivots just behind the passenger compartment. Rather than taking up valuable luggage space, the opened roof is stored on top of the bootlid.
A number of parties were interested in using the rotating roof design, but Fioravanti first offered the system to Ferrari, for which he designed a number of cars in the 1970s. Although the system looks simple, there was one big problem to overcome. The engine rotating the roof had to be both powerful and small enough to fit in the relatively tight space available. Almost four years after the introduction of the Vola, Ferrari launched the 575 SuperAmerica, which incorporates the Fioravanti roof design.
Originally livered in black, Fioravanti's Alfa Romeo Vola is pictured here at the 2005 Geneva Motorshow with a coat of red paint. Interestingly Fioravanti now refers to the car as 'Alfa Romeo LF'.
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Vola Concept
At a time when many manufacturers created a foldable hard-top for their open cars, Fioravanti debuted an altogether different solution on the Vola show car of 2001. Based on an Alfa Romeo Spider, the Vola is equipped with a rotating roof that pivots just behind the passenger compartment. Rather than taking up valuable luggage space, the opened roof is stored on top of the bootlid.
