Evidemment, avec un monument du sport automobile qui célèbre son centenaire, il y avait de quoi avoir le tournis. Plusieurs halls, deux expositions complètes entre palmarès exceptionnel et innovations. La présence de Chenard & Walker, Tracta, pour les plus anciennes, mais aussi de la Howmet TX (célèbre voiture à turbine) ou du prototype de l’ACO à hydrogène, la liste était des plus éclectiques. Pour les modèles plus récents, des stands privés accueillaient prototypes du groupe C (Jaguar XJR-14, Porsche 962…), des stars des années 90 avec la Peugeot 905 et la Toyota GT-One. Aussi, des GT1 (Viper, Corvette, Panoz), des LMP900 (hello les Audi R8), et quelques rares LMP1. Les habitués du salon auront croisé facilement la Porsche 917 trônant fièrement au centre du hall 1 chez Fiskens.

 

Les autres anniversaires

1963-2023: 60 ans pour la Porsche 911. Le constructeur germanique est venu présenter bon nombre de variantes de ce modèle mythique, ainsi que les derniers concept-cars comme la 911 Dakar. De son côté, Renault fêtait les 30 ans de la commercialisation de la petite Twingo, avec un parterre d’éditions spéciales, toutes dans un état remarquable. Enfin, pour ne citer qu’eux, Caterham célébrait les 50 ans de la Seven, reprenant les droits de diffusion de la Lotus auprès de Colin Chapman.

 

Des stands immanquables.

Mentionné plus haut, Fiskens est un exposant récurrent de Rétromobile. Reconnaissable à son stand recouvert de motifs à tartan, il expose une quantité de modèles rarissimes souvent mis en vente pendant le salon. Ce n’est pas le seul, car celui de l’horloger Richard Mille vaut tout autant le coup d’oeil. Amateur très éclairé de l’automobile (et du sport), son fondateur éponyme y présente quelques unes de son incroyable collection. On y trouve donc la Ferrari 643 qu’Alain Prost pilota pendant la saison 1991 (avant de se faire limoger. Mais aussi, deux chefs-d’œuvre de Mauro Forghieri réunis : la Ferrari 312 T (1975) de Clay Regazzoni et la 312 T5 (1980) de Gilles Villeneuve.

 

 

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Guillaume Coolen
Photographe et designer
Basé à Paris, je travaille pour les secteurs automobile, horloger et aéronautique.
Passionné de mécanique à travers l’image, l’objet et la sensation.

 

Opening the car meetings season, the Festival Automobile International 2020 did occur late january. And let’s cut to the chase: Bugatti came with La Voiture Noire. Quite simply the most expensive brand-new car to be sold, with a €11 million price tag, to an anonymous buyer. As an homage to Jean Bugatti (Ettore’s son) and his Type 57 SC Atlantic coupe creation, called by the same name. You can then appreciate the all-carbon fiber body, the 1500 bhp W16 8 liters engine, 3D printed wheels and crystals fitted in the lights. This probably make her value justified, as the car will be an unique model.

At the top of the bill, were displayed two spectacular but in a rather opposite fashion Lamborghini’s V12 Vision Gran Turismo and Bentley’s EXP 100 GT. The fighting-bull manufacturer created here a physical model of the version to be included in the famous simulation game. Some technical and design specs will be find again in the Sian. Like uses the powertrain, being an hybrid (the brand’s first one), and Y-shaped lights. This single seater, remembering the 2013 Egoista, is built around the monocoque cockpit. Unmistakably Lamborghini’s DNA, with an extreme approach of what a hypercar should be.

At the opposite specter of automotive philosophy, the EXP 100 GT shines under the dome of Festival Automobile International 2020. Designers attention to detail went beyond exterior or interior standard styling. This feels like a haute-joaillerie masterpiece: diamond-facetting front grille and lights with similar patterns appended on body panels. Just like the interior furnitures that could have been made by Murano glass makers.

Need more fuel? See another edition of Festival Automobile International.

The Festival Automobile International 2019 is once more a high-end vintage. Displaying the 504 coupé-inspired Peugeot E-Legend, that in my opinion is more looking like a frowning 505, let’s be honest. The €6M Bugatti Divo ultimate car designed for corners, taking its name from the 1928 & 1929 Targa Florio winner. The Formula E Gen2 looks like being straight out of a Batman movie universe. Pretty original, an asymmetrical DS X E-tense having two uses: do drive or be driven. Renault presents the autonomous EZ Ultimo. A vision of the car to be a home’s extension/copy-paste. Note the losange exterior body layout being Renault badge nod. More contemporary, the Mercedes Maybach Ultimate Luxury Vision: says it all. Finally, two very exclusive Ferraris: the SP38 inspired by the 308 GTB and F40 and a 812-based Ferrari Monza SP1.

Need more fuel? See the last edition of Festival Automobile International.

The Festival Automobile International 2017 came as a pretty special edition. Porsche bringing two endurance winner cars. The first is the very 917 K chassis (1 of 3) that won the 1970’s 24 hours of Le Mans and driven by Hans Herrmann & Richard Attwood.  That year, only 16 of 51 cars did cross the finish line. A fourth one was not accepted: the drivers to be Steve McQueen and Jackie Stewart. It would have been a thrilling onboard basis for the movie « Le Mans ». The second car is a 919 Hybrid driven motorised by a tiny V4 2,0 L and an electric power unit (500 + 400 bhp). Amazing to see that in its original « 24 hours-enduring » state, full of dirtiness, scratchs and oil.

Also displayed an original 1958 Maserati Eldorado, known to be the first sponsorized monoplace (Eldorado being an ice cream company). Alfa Tipo B, Renault Trezor, Formula E, Avion Voisins C28 Aerosport.

The Festival Automobile International (2014) has been created in 1986. It took originally place in Chamonix, then Place Vendome in Paris and henceforth at Invalides. Many cars are displayed there either it be concepts or early productions. Two red gems as the chinese native Icona Vulcano and the new DS Wild Rubis including a shiny glassy face grid paying tribute to the SM. Designers from Renault created a detailed map of Paris obtained by material-removal technic for the Espace Initiale Paris’ roof. Also displayed: hypercars like Porsche 918 Spyder, and coupés like gullwing-opening doors Opel Monza, BMW CS Gran Coupé. Finally, Peugeot Onyx concept made of copper and carbon for the exterior panels; felt, wood and recycled newspaper for the interior.

Need more fuel? See the last edition of Festival Automobile International.