Antonino Barone's Alfa Romeo Junior Concept: Sabbatical-Born Design
Industrial designer Antonino Barone created the Alfa Romeo Junior concept during a sabbatical, free from commercial constraints. The concept reimagines the original Junior (1969, by Ercole Spada and Zagato) with sharp surfaces, a matte champagne finish, purple-tinted glass, and oversized wheels with organic apertures. Barone, who has a decade of experience working for Chinese brands, used AI tools to explore forms. The design balances precise, sharp treatments with softer wheel arches, and the rear diffusers prioritize sculpture over aerodynamics. Barone argues that cars need emotion to survive, positioning the concept as a third way between abandoning heritage and retreating into pastiche.
Key facts
- Antonino Barone is an Italian car designer with a decade of experience working primarily for Chinese brands.
- The original Alfa Romeo Junior was designed by Ercole Spada and produced with Zagato starting in 1969.
- Barone created the concept during a sabbatical, free from packaging constraints and commercial pressures.
- The concept uses AI tools to explore surfaces without obligation to justify them.
- The design features precise, sharp surface treatments balanced with softer, sensual wheel arches.
- The matte champagne finish lets surface geometry do the work without shine.
- Purple-tinted glass covers the full greenhouse, contrasting with the cool bronze exterior.
- Wheels have large circular apertures that read differently at every angle, referencing original Zagato Junior wheels.
Entities
Artists
- Antonino Barone
- Ercole Spada
Institutions
- Zagato
- Alfa Romeo
- urdesign
Locations
- Italy