We're fully aware that even supercars must undergo crash testing. But we like to think of the process the same way we do hamburgers. When we get hungry, we're able to totally banish any curiosity about what gruesome process transformed the cow into lunch.
Photos from inside a slaughterhouse would evoke the same emotions as these shots of a Ferrari California after crash testing. The Italian Web site that posted them says they were taken at Ferrari supplier Webasto. The Germany-based company created the convertible top for Ferrari's Superamerica, and are apparently testing their product on the California.
But, thanks to Google's interesting Italian translation we're not exactly sure what's going on. Can you make any sense of, "According to recent information, however, Webasto has yet to make up because their folding roof is still suffering from a children's diseases." We sure hope it's not contagious and that not too many more Californias are sacrificed in the search for a cure.
Webasto's LiGHT concept isn't due to be unveiled for another week, but the convertible and sunroof manufacturer from Deutschland has released the first image of its drop-top, two-seater.
Webasto tasked IED Automotive, associated with Istituto Europeo di Design, to create the concept and its pseudo-Italian flare is supposed to be inspired by the Fiat 124 Spider. While the design is attractive enough, the major party piece of the LiGHT concept is its frameless soft-top that features a heated glass rear window and is made from a polyurethane material that's both strong and lightweight. From an aesthetic point of view, when the roof is stowed away, it sits flush with the LiGHT's haunches, something that maintains the concept's lines while reducing wind disturbance and not detracting from boot space.
All right. Let's get one thing out of the way right now. The picture above is not the LigHT concept that Webasto will be showing in Geneva. No, that square-jawed little number is the aftermarket firm's Welcome 2 concept that debuted back in 2003, based off a Mercedes CL500. With that out of the way, Webasto will be showing off a roadster concept next month that plays off the German company's idea of "Moving Innovations" by featuring a vehicle that includes a "hybrid top" that makes use of new structural materials and some kind of auxiliary heating system. We'll be on hand in Geneva to get all the details, but in the meantime.
