Covini Engineering
Encyclopedia
Covini Engineering is an Italian car manufacturer that was formed in 1978 by Ferruccio Covini. The company is generally best known for the Covini C6W
, a 6-wheeled sports car that has two axles (four wheels) in the front of the car.
Covini's first prototype, the Covini T44 Turbo, was a 4x4 off-road vehicle with the exterior body consisting entirely of flat, interchangeable panels. It was powered by a 2000 cc turbocharged diesel motor. However, the T44 never saw actual production beyond the one prototype. Over the following 20 years, Covini developed several two-door sport cars
with diesel engines: the T46, B24, T40, and C36. Only the B24 was produced in small quantities (including a few BT424 with Lancia Gamma
petrol engine), while the other models remained at prototype level. The B24 was the first diesel car to reach 200 kilometre per hour, and the C36 in its final prototype form reached 300 kilometre per hour with its VM Motori
diesel engine.
In 2008, after several years of renderings and photographs, Covini officially announced the public release of the C6W. The peculiar 6-wheel format draws inspiration from the Tyrrell P34
Formula One
car of the 1970s.
Apart from developing its own prototypes, the organization has also done consulting and design work on other projects. The firm contributed to the redesign of the Cadillac STS
for the European market, as well as for the design of the Callaway C7. Outside of the automotive industry, Covini also worked on the Dragonfly Project, which was an attempt to build an ultralight helicopter
.
. It was the first diesel road vehicle to exceed 200 km/h, with a top speed of 205 km/h.
. It was sometimes known by its nickname "Summit", because it is a refined version of the earlier Covini T46, an innovative diesel sports car
. The car featured a 5-cylinder diesel engine
and a top speed of 235 km/h.
Covini C6W
C6W is an Italian 2-seat, 2-door sports coupé with a removable roof section. Inspiration for the car was taken from the 1976 Tyrrell P34, which had two pairs of smaller front wheels, a principle applied to the C6W. The project was started in 1974 but abandoned shortly after, and left dormant into...
, a 6-wheeled sports car that has two axles (four wheels) in the front of the car.
Covini's first prototype, the Covini T44 Turbo, was a 4x4 off-road vehicle with the exterior body consisting entirely of flat, interchangeable panels. It was powered by a 2000 cc turbocharged diesel motor. However, the T44 never saw actual production beyond the one prototype. Over the following 20 years, Covini developed several two-door sport cars
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
with diesel engines: the T46, B24, T40, and C36. Only the B24 was produced in small quantities (including a few BT424 with Lancia Gamma
Lancia Gamma
The Lancia Gamma is an executive car from Italian Fiat Auto's up-scale Lancia marque. Presented in 1976 at the Geneva Motor Show as Lancia's new flagship, it filled the void in Lancia's lineup left by the demise of the Flavia...
petrol engine), while the other models remained at prototype level. The B24 was the first diesel car to reach 200 kilometre per hour, and the C36 in its final prototype form reached 300 kilometre per hour with its VM Motori
VM Motori
VM Motori S.p.A. is a diesel engine manufacturing company in Cento, Italy, in Emilia-Romagna, an Italian region which is also home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati.- History :...
diesel engine.
In 2008, after several years of renderings and photographs, Covini officially announced the public release of the C6W. The peculiar 6-wheel format draws inspiration from the Tyrrell P34
Tyrrell P34
The Tyrrell P34 , otherwise known as the "six-wheeler", was a Formula One race car designed by Derek Gardner, Tyrrell's chief designer....
Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
car of the 1970s.
Apart from developing its own prototypes, the organization has also done consulting and design work on other projects. The firm contributed to the redesign of the Cadillac STS
Cadillac STS
The STS is a mid-size luxury sports sedan / executive car manufactured and sold by Cadillac. It is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with performance algorithm shifting and driver shift control.- Origins :...
for the European market, as well as for the design of the Callaway C7. Outside of the automotive industry, Covini also worked on the Dragonfly Project, which was an attempt to build an ultralight helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
.
B24
The Covini B24 Turbocooler or Sirio is an experimental car built by Covini Engineering and unveiled to the public in January 1981 at the Geneva Show. It was built to test new technologies such as the air-liquid intercoolerIntercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
. It was the first diesel road vehicle to exceed 200 km/h, with a top speed of 205 km/h.
T40
The Covini T40 Overboost is a car designed by Ferruccio Covini and produced by Covini Engineering between 1985, when it was introduced, and 1988. It is a 4-seater coupeCoupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
. It was sometimes known by its nickname "Summit", because it is a refined version of the earlier Covini T46, an innovative diesel sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
. The car featured a 5-cylinder diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
and a top speed of 235 km/h.
External links
- http://www.coviniengineering.com/ - Website for Covini Engineering
- http://www.covinic6w.com/ - Dedicated home for the C6W