Bronze Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design · 2026
Gillet Bellariva Multipurpose Supercar
by Francesco Riva and Gillet Automobiles
- A' Design Award 2026 Bronze Winner in Vehicle, Mobility and Transportation Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Gillet Automobiles
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 17,181
- Verification code 8A916705F0 · Verify this award
About Gillet Bellariva Multipurpose Supercar
Gillet Bellariva is a supercar designed for daily use and for long journeys. The exterior recalls the sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s and the lines of luxury speedboats and yachts. The chassis and the body are hand built in carbon fibre for a light structure and a weight of 1200 kg. A wooden rear deck recalls the deck of a yacht and hides a 30 litre safe, while the cargo space holds 400 litres. The dashboard is made of mahogany with a sliding panel. The wooden base of the headlights adds a nautical detail. Butterfly doors and a front lift suspension complete the design.
Francesco Riva's Gillet Bellariva Multipurpose Supercar emerges from a distinguished lineage of specialized performance vehicles emphasizing lightweight construction methodologies and aerodynamic optimization strategies that trace their conceptual heritage through decades of motorsport engineering refinement and exotic automotive craftsmanship traditions, representing a contemporary interpretation of the mid-engine supercar archetype that balances functional aerodynamic requirements with sculptural aesthetic ambition, the design demonstrates sophisticated understanding of airflow management principles visible in the prominent hood ventilation channels that extract heat from frontal radiators while simultaneously generating downforce through carefully calculated pressure differentials, these functional elements integrated seamlessly into the overall formal composition rather than applied as superficial styling gestures, the matte carbon fiber finish celebrates material authenticity in the tradition of motorsport applications where exposed composite weaves signal technical purpose and weight reduction priorities, this surface treatment requiring exceptional precision in layup and finishing processes to achieve uniform texture and coloration across complex three-dimensional geometries, the vehicle's proportions adhere to mid-engine supercar conventions with compact frontal overhang, elongated door panels, and abbreviated rear deck suggesting optimal weight distribution for dynamic handling characteristics, the aggressive character lines radiating from the frontal grille establish visual tension and directional energy that animate the static form, suggesting latent velocity even in repose, wheel arch sculpting accommodates wide track dimensions and substantial tire contact patches necessary for high-performance cornering capabilities, the fastback roofline executes a elegant transition from passenger compartment to rear deck integrating both aesthetic continuity and aerodynamic efficiency, the contextual placement within alpine landscape creates meaningful dialogue between human engineering achievement and natural geological majesty, the pristine mountain environment providing both dramatic visual contrast and implicit performance context, suggesting the vehicle's capabilities extend beyond urban circuits to encompass challenging high-altitude roadways where elevation changes, decreasing air density, and demanding switchback sequences test both machine and operator, the photographic composition itself demonstrates deliberate editorial choices positioning the vehicle as protagonist within sublime natural theater, the clear atmospheric conditions and diffused midlight illumination rendering both automotive detail and environmental grandeur with equal clarity, this work invites consideration of how contemporary performance vehicles negotiate between pure functional optimization and sculptural expression, between motorsport heritage and daily usability, between technological specialization and aesthetic refinement, how advanced materials and manufacturing processes enable formal complexity previously unattainable, how automotive design continues evolving visual languages balancing aggressive performance signaling with sophisticated restraint, and how the placement of human-crafted objects within natural landscapes generates productive tensions between the engineered and the organic, the ephemeral and the enduring, the specific and the sublime.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- New unique exterior design architecture for front engined cars. The car interior has a complete rear wood deck with a strong nautical appeal and a hidden 30L safe, a cargo space of 400L and a double counter under the sliding panel on the mahogany wood’s dashboard. The wooden base of the front headlights is an original stylistic touch that integrates perfectly with the spirit of the car.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Lenght 4.46 m, width 1.94 m, height 1.19 m, weight 1200 kg, V6 biturbo petrol engine (can operates with only 3 cylinders when needed for lower emissions), engine type V6 biturbo, engine power 580 BHP, 30L safe, 400 L trunk space
- Tags
- Speedboat for the road, Streetyacht, Hybrid concept design car, Riva Boats, Classic elegance supercar
- Production Technology
- Design draws and 1:1 scale model to optimize the car shape.
Hand built carbon fiber chassis and hand built carbon fiber body for the maximum lightweight construction of the car. - Design Challenge
- Combine the shape of a sportcars with the look of a speedboat or yacht was the hardest challenge. The idea of using the image of a boat that runs through the entire car and blends harmoniously with it allowed to overcome this conceptual obstacle.
- Project Duration
- Project has started in January 2022 and will be completed shortly, latest in April 2026. The project location is Gembloux, Belgium, at Gillet Automobiles.
- Operation Flow
- Vehicle focused on luxury elegance, comfort and top performances. It has butterfly doors for a greater look. The front lift suspension ‘allows the car to avoid obstacles on the road. The 30L safe offers the highest secutity for great value objects or documents. The car is conforttable for every day use or long journeys. The engine is also capable of operating on just 3 cylinders to minimize fuel consumption and emissions in the city or when needed.
- Research
- An extensive visual web search was conducted to identify the stylistic traits that have made certain automobile models of the past particularly fascinating and famous over time. The research was conducted almost entirely through the Google search engine. Images of cars produced in the last century were viewed and saved, with a particular focus on the most iconic cars, considered among the most beautiful in the world (with particular attention to cars such as the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic, Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Pontoon, Alfa Romeo Disco Volante, Alfa Romeo BAT 5-7-9, Jaguar E-Type, Mercedes SLR 300 Uhlenhaut and Porsche 993 GT1).. This research was conducted personally by Mr. Francesco Riva over a period of approximately a decade. The research allowed Mr. Riva to identify the most aesthetically appealing shapes to use on the BellaRiva. Nautical inspiration also led to the innovative design of the headlights, which flow from the outside to the inside of the car while remaining below the hood line. The new automotive design concept conceived by Mr. Riva was later able to be implemented thanks to the meeting between Mr. Riva and Mr. Tony Gillet, founder of the Belgian automobile manufacturer Gillet Automobiles.
- Inspiration
- This supercar reinterprets in a modern key the automotive design of the golden age of the 50s and 60s, with particular focus on cars today considered among the most beautiful and prestigious in the world, such as the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Pontoon and Ferrari 250 GTO, taking inspiration from luxury speedboats and yachts.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Creator Gillet Automobiles, 2025
Image #2: Photographer Francesco Riva, 2025
Image #3: Creator Gillet Automobiles, 2025
Image #4: Creator Gillet Automobiles, 2025
Image #5: Designer Jose’ Figueres, 2022 - Patents
- Patent procedure in progress.
Colors of Gillet Bellariva Multipurpose Supercar
Design Interview about Gillet Bellariva Multipurpose Supercar
The fusion of two worlds, the automotive and the nautical world.
Identify the most fascinating stylistic traits of automotive history to create a modern and versatile supercar with a an innovative retro-futuristic look.
The limited series production of the new supercar in collaboration with the historic Gillet Automobiles brand.
It took a few months, approximately 6-7 months, to design the new concept car.
The design was not commissioned. My personal goal has been the pursuit of extreme charm in both the automotive and nautical sectors in order to create a completely new car in the automotive panorama.
For now, I'm focusing on my collaboration with Gillet Automobiles, but I'm open to future collaborations with other brands in the sports and luxury car sector. If I were offered a license on the design rights, I would carefully consider the proposal.
My great passion for cars and automotive design, as well as my desire to improve my life and the lives of others, are the reasons that drove me to create this innovative project in the automotive design sector.
Yes the designers Maxime Barthelemy, Patrick Bataille, Jose’ Figueres and Vincent Barberau helped me with the design of the car by following my instructions.
People who love comfort and timeless elegance, great car enthusiasts and collectors, owners of luxury boats, business people.
Its unique car style and its great versatility of use.
The name BellaRiva is linked to the Riva family's hotel in Lugano, which was demolished in 2021 to make way for a new real estate complex.
We started from manual drawings which were then digitized on the computer.
The car's unique details lie mainly in the rear deck and the front headlights.
I collaborated with engineer Mr. Tony Gillet and the team of designers he made available to me.
This is an "old school" car that limits the use of electronics to those functions that are truly necessary for maximum driving pleasure.
I conducted a personal design research over a period of almost ten years, mainly using classic search engines like Google.
The biggest challenge was to harmoniously integrate the nautical elements into the car's shape and style.
I wanted to have a certified professional evaluation of my work on the Gillet BellaRiva design and gain greater visibility for my project.
For example, I learned that a designer must be able to develop a car concept while always keeping in mind the technical limits imposed by the base (the chassis) on which he is working. For the BellaRiva project, the Gillet Automobiles chassis, with its long history in racing, was the
ideal choice.
ideal choice.
My desire is to continue
my career as a car designer and further innovate my concept of the supercar.
my career as a car designer and further innovate my concept of the supercar.