This was not the first time Bertone had worked with GM, given that the 1984 Ramarro and the 1990 Nivola both have Chevrolet Corvette engines. In 1991 Bertone decided to design a new body for the chassis of the Lotus Esprit, produced by General Motors. A static version of the Emotion was presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit: a beautiful display of classic elegance blended with undeniable modernity without exaggerating current trends.
Emotion was a really exciting project: its discreet elegance stood out at the Detroit show, which focused on concepts derived from the field of biodesign. The design of the proportions and surfaces, with total attention to eliminating stylistic excesses, creates a body with clean, elegant, and masterfully compact lines. The beltline is tight, smooth, and almost horizontal. An air inlet, placed under a panel fold, is the only detail on the minimal, essential wings.
The chassis is the same length as the Lotus Esprit (245 cm), but with the total length at just over 4 meters (406 cm), this really is a very compact car. It is comparable to the Lancia Stratos or Lamborghini Bravo, two memorable Bertone creations that featured the same structure, based on a centrally-mounted engine.
And in the style of the Turin designer, there is a highly original use of glazed surfaces, with the side windows closing in towards the rear to create a pointed rear windscreen. This singular design feature dictates the triangular shape of the roof. With the Emotion, Bertone and his team establish their distinctive design identity in the context of pure style.
Source: Mario Buonocunto Concept Cars Page
Images: Bertone; Mario Buonocunto Concept Cars Page
