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Imperia (car)
Encyclopedia
Imperia Automobiles was a Belgian automotive factory. The brand name was revived in 2009 to market a hybrid sports car based on research from the company Green Propulsion
.
Impéria was a Belgian
automobile
manufactured from 1906 until 1948. Products of the Ateliers Piedboeuf of Liège
, the first cars were designed by the German Paul Henze. These were fours of 3, 4.9, and 9.9 liters. The next year, the company moved to Nessonvaux, Trooz
municipality, and began production in the old Pieper
factory. Impéria produced a monobloc
12 hp in 1909; in 1910 the company merged with Springuel
.
The Nessonvaux factory began producing Impéria-Abadals from about 1916; in 1921, it built three ohc
5·6-liter straight-eights
. These were quickly replaced by an ephemeral ohc 3-liter 32-valve four which was capable of going 90 mi/h. This was followed by an 1100 cc side-valve 11/22 hp four designed by Couchard, one of the first cars ever built with a sunroof
. Its engine
rotated counter-clockwise, and its transmission
brake also served as a servo
for those on the front wheels. In 1937 a six of 1624 cc appeared; this had been available in three-carburettor Super Sports form from 1930. Over the course of four years Impéria took over three other Belgian car manufacturers: Métallurgique
(1927), Excelsior
(1929), and Nagant
(1931). From 1934 until the company folded it built mainly front-wheel-drive Adler
s with Belgian-made coachwork
. The company merged with Minerva in 1934, but they split in 1939. After 1948 Impéria assembled Adlers and Standard Vanguard
s under license. After Standard decided to set up a new factory in Belgium, the factory was left without work and had to close doors in 1957.
In 1925, the company hired Louis de Monge as chief research engineer. Some of his work included torsion bar suspension and automatic transmissions. De Monge left in 1937 to join Ettore Bugatti
for whom he would design the Bugatti 100P racer plane.
In addition to its production in Belgium, Impéria made a number of cars in Great Britain
; these were assembled at a factory in Maidenhead
.
over 1km long. The track was built in 1928.
s already opened.
The motorisation of the Imperia GP roadster
relies on the PowerHybrid motorization technology developed by Green Propulsion.
Green Propulsion
Green Propulsion is a Belgian research and development center specialised in ever cleaner motorization among which battery electric and hybrid vehicles. The Imperia GP car is developed by Green Propulsion.- Imperia GP :...
.
Historical Impéria
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured from 1906 until 1948. Products of the Ateliers Piedboeuf of Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, the first cars were designed by the German Paul Henze. These were fours of 3, 4.9, and 9.9 liters. The next year, the company moved to Nessonvaux, Trooz
Trooz
Trooz is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. On January 1, 2006 Trooz had a total population of 7,641. The total area is 24.20 km² which gives a population density of 316 inhabitants per km²....
municipality, and began production in the old Pieper
Pieper
Pieper was a carmaker in Belgium.In 1900, Henri Pieper of Germany introduced a hybrid vehicle with an electric motor/generator, batteries, and a small gasoline engine. It used the electric motor to charge its batteries at cruise speed and used both motors to accelerate or climb a hill...
factory. Impéria produced a monobloc
Monobloc engine
A monobloc or en bloc engine is an internal-combustion piston engine where some of the major components: cylinder head, cylinder block, or crankcase are formed, usually by casting, as a single integral unit, rather than being assembled later...
12 hp in 1909; in 1910 the company merged with Springuel
Springuel
The Springuel was a Belgian automobile manufactured from 1907 until 1912. The company called Societe Anonyme Automobiles des Springuel was founded by Jules Springuel-Wilmotte in Huy. It was a 24 hp pair-cast four, built in small numbers. The company merged with Impéria in 1912. The 1911 12HP won...
.
The Nessonvaux factory began producing Impéria-Abadals from about 1916; in 1921, it built three ohc
Overhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
5·6-liter straight-eights
Straight-8
The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
. These were quickly replaced by an ephemeral ohc 3-liter 32-valve four which was capable of going 90 mi/h. This was followed by an 1100 cc side-valve 11/22 hp four designed by Couchard, one of the first cars ever built with a sunroof
Sunroof
An automotive sunroof is a fixed or operable opening in an automobile roof which allows light and/or fresh air to enter the passenger compartment. Sunroofs may be manually operated or motor driven, and are available in many shapes, sizes and styles...
. Its engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
rotated counter-clockwise, and its transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
brake also served as a servo
Servomechanism
thumb|right|200px|Industrial servomotorThe grey/green cylinder is the [[Brush |brush-type]] [[DC motor]]. The black section at the bottom contains the [[Epicyclic gearing|planetary]] [[Reduction drive|reduction gear]], and the black object on top of the motor is the optical [[rotary encoder]] for...
for those on the front wheels. In 1937 a six of 1624 cc appeared; this had been available in three-carburettor Super Sports form from 1930. Over the course of four years Impéria took over three other Belgian car manufacturers: Métallurgique
Métallurgique
Métallurgique were cars made by SA L'Auto Métallurgique, Marchienne-au-Pont, Belgium between 1898 and 1928. Before making cars, the company had made railway locomotives and rolling stock.-Production:...
(1927), Excelsior
Compagnie Nationale Excelsior
Compagnie Nationale Excelsior, more simply known as Excelsior, was a Belgian car manufacturer established by Arthus de Coninck in Brussels in 1903, The company first started to manufacture cars in 1904....
(1929), and Nagant
Nagant
The firm Fabrique d'armes Émile et Léon Nagant was established in 1859 in Liège, Belgium, to manufacture firearms.Émile and Léon Nagant were brothers, and probably best known for their important contributions to the design of the Mosin-Nagant Russian service rifle, adopted in 1891...
(1931). From 1934 until the company folded it built mainly front-wheel-drive Adler
Adler (automobile)
Adler was a German automobile and motorcycle manufacturer from 1900 until 1957. Adler is German for eagle.-History:The Adler factory produced bicycles, typewriters, and motorcycles in addition to cars...
s with Belgian-made coachwork
Coachwork
Coachwork is the body of a horse-drawn coach or carriage, a motor vehicle , a railroad car or railway carriage. Usually reserved for bodies built on a separate chassis, rather than being of unitary or monocoque construction...
. The company merged with Minerva in 1934, but they split in 1939. After 1948 Impéria assembled Adlers and Standard Vanguard
Standard Vanguard
The car used a conventional chassis on which was mounted the American inspired semi-streamlined four-door body, which resembles a Plymouth. Suspension was independent at the front with coil springs and a live axle and leaf springs at the rear. Front and rear anti-roll bars were fitted. The brakes...
s under license. After Standard decided to set up a new factory in Belgium, the factory was left without work and had to close doors in 1957.
In 1925, the company hired Louis de Monge as chief research engineer. Some of his work included torsion bar suspension and automatic transmissions. De Monge left in 1937 to join Ettore Bugatti
Ettore Bugatti
right|thumb|Ettore Bugatti in 1932Ettore Arco Isidoro Bugatti was an Italian-born and French naturalized citizen automobile designer and manufacturer....
for whom he would design the Bugatti 100P racer plane.
In addition to its production in Belgium, Impéria made a number of cars in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
; these were assembled at a factory in Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
.
Rooftop test track
Around and on top of the factory buildings, there was a test trackRace track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
over 1km long. The track was built in 1928.
Imperia GP
The Imperia GP, the first model of the revived brand, is going to be sold in 2011, from 78,091€ before taxes, with preorderPreorder
In mathematics, especially in order theory, preorders are binary relations that are reflexive and transitive.For example, all partial orders and equivalence relations are preorders...
s already opened.
The motorisation of the Imperia GP roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
relies on the PowerHybrid motorization technology developed by Green Propulsion.