Ares Executive Chairman Waleed Al Ghafari and Lalique Chairman and CEO Silvio Denz have Channelled the charm of La Dolce Vita into the Ares Modena Wami Lalique Spyder, a beautiful car that pays homage to some of the finest roadsters of the 1950s and 60s.

  • Designed and developed in-house at Ares Modena’s Centro Stile, the handcrafted carbon fibre body references some of the greatest roadsters of the 1950s and 60s.
  • The interior and exterior are adorned with 13 handcrafted crystal elements from Lalique, celebrating the glassmaker’s automotive heritage, as well as English oak and fine leather.
  • Underpinned by modern engineering, the Lalique Spyder offers a powerful but reliable and refined drive.
  • A total of 12 cars will be produced, featuring four different colours, including Amalfi Red and Mediterranean Light Blue.

“As a young child, I was captivated by the cars driven by the film stars in the 1950s and 1960s, during that carefree and wonderful era known to all as La Dolce Vita,” said Ares Executive Chairman Waleed Al Ghafari.

“It was this admiration that led us to design and develop a car like no other – a retro-styled roadster that not only pays homage to some of the most beautiful cars ever created but one that incorporates remarkable artistry and craftsmanship from Lalique.”

Lalique’s Chairman and CEO, Silvio Denz, added, “Thanks to the perfect marriage between Lalique’s bespoke crystal design and Ares Design’s high level of excellence in car design and technology, the masterpiece that results from this collaboration is the ultimate luxury accessory.

This very special collaboration perpetuates the work of René Lalique, whose iconic car mascots were some of his best-known pieces created in the roaring twenties.”

Design

From the front fender to the wire wheels and through to the exhaust, every design element of the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder is inspired by the legendary convertibles of the 1950s and 60s. The unmistakable front grille references the Maserati A6GCS Frua, while the profile, roofline, and side vents channel the beautiful simplicity of cars like the Ferrari 250 GT California.

The extensive use of chrome is in keeping with the retro design, with chromed exhausts, bumper over-riders and classic-style wire wheels. Under the Amalfi Red or Mediterranean Light Blue paintwork, the handcrafted carbon fibre bodywork ensures the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder is both durable and lightweight, enhancing the car’s performance.

Inspired by Waleed Al Ghafari’s vision, the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder is designed and developed in-house at Ares Modena’s Centro Stile in collaboration with one of the world’s greatest crystal makers. Both Ares and Lalique share the same values of luxury and tradition, combining modern technology with traditional manufacturing methods to produce unique creations that transcend time and fashion.

The Wami, with its sleek shape and interior embellished with Lalique crystals, is the perfect project to bring together the identity of the two brands.

Interior

Inside, the full force of Lalique’s craftsmanship comes to life with bespoke crystal meeting English oak and Italian hide. The 13 handcrafted jewels, which are incorporated into the cockpit, seats, gear clutch, tyres and front badge, feature some iconic Lalique motifs, such as Masque de Femme and Coutard.

Each of these motifs has been adapted for use in the interiors of the car. The Lalique Hirondelles motif is also embossed on the leather headsets and steering wheel.

Beyond the bespoke crystalwork, the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder’s interior is spacious and simple in its design, with few elements other than beautifully crafted dials and switches to distract from the pure pleasure of open-top driving.

English oak, fine Italian leather and carbon fibre in the cockpit, creating contrast with the Lalique crystals to amplify their appearance. Carbon fibre is also used for the dashboard, which is then carefully saddled and upholstered by hand. The materials used on the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder were selected for their durability and refinement but also as a nod to those used in convertible cars produced in the golden age of coachbuilding.

Craftsmanship
Combining vintage inspiration with contemporary style and technology, the craftsmanship that goes into creating the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder is unparalleled. Beyond the handcrafted carbon fibre bodywork that gives the car its unique retro appearance, it is the first car to be fully designed and decorated with Lalique interiors and crystals.

With experience in making glorious glass mascots for legendary names like Delage, Hispano-Suiza, Voisin, Bentley and Rolls-Royce, Lalique has a heritage in motoring dating back to the 1920s. René Lalique, who founded Lalique in 1888, created glass mascots to sit proudly atop the cars’ radiator caps.

Today, that legacy continues with the Lalique crystals that adorn the interior and exterior of the Wami Spyder, handcrafted at the Lalique factory in Wingen-sur-Moder in Alsace, which has been in operation since 1922.

To produce such exceptional quality crystal elements, the process involves several stages, from making the moulds to the hot glass process – a process involving temperatures of up to 1400°C – to sculpting and polishing them to get the perfect fit and finish inside the cabin.

Designed, developed and built by hand in Italy’s Motor Valley, the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder celebrates the birthplace of the cars it pays homage to, keeping the art of coachbuilding alive more than 70 years on.

Performance
Sporting a potent, 3.0-litre naturally aspirated straight six, the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder’s performance is underpinned by modern, reliable and refined engineering. From the city streets to country roads, the car’s dynamic appeal and retro styling rekindle the unparalleled freedom and feeling of the greatest roadsters of the 1950s and 60s.

DIMENSIONS

  • Length: 4447 mm
  • Width: 1841 mm
  • Height: 1250 mm
  • Front Track: 1533 mm
  • Rear Track: 1583 mm
  • Wheelbase: 2500 mm

CHASSIS

  • Aluminium chassis from the BMW Z4 (E85)

BODY

  • Entirely new carbon fibre bodywork designed and developed at ARES Modena’s Centro Stile
  • Chromed exhausts and bumper over-riders

ENGINE

  • Engine type: Naturally aspirated straight six
  • Displacement: 2979cc
  • Power: 231hp, 170 kw at 5900 rpm
  • Torque: 300 Nm @3500 rpm

TRANSMISSION

  • Gearbox: 6-speed automatic

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES

  • Ares Modena classic-style wire wheels, 18″ 8J
  • Tyres: front and rear 225/40/18
  • Brakes: Ventilated discs

INTERIOR

  • Handcrafted carbon fibre dashboard saddled and upholstered by hand. The Lalique Hirondelles motif is embossed on the leather headsets and steering wheel.
  • English oak, aluminium, fine Italian leather and carbon fibre panels
  • Thirteen handcrafted crystal elements featuring famous Lalique motifs, such as Masque de Femme and Coutard.

INFOTAINMENT

  • Hi-Fi system with Navigation
  • Bluetooth, Apple Car Play & Android Auto connectivity

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