Central Valley Corvettes of Fresno - March 2019

The looks weren’t the only exotic part, either. Underneath the all-steel body (in contrast to
the C4’s fiberglass construction) was the Lotus-designed, DOHC LT-5 V-8 mated to a fivespeed
ZF transaxle, the same gearbox used in the DeTomaso Pantera. Popular Mechanics
claims the engine’s output matched the ZR-1’s at 375, however other outlets reported the
use of twin-turbos to send as much as 650 horses to the 315-section rear tires.
Bertone’s original design called for a complex retractable hardtop, but it settled on a simple
removable targa roof to get the job done. Then there’s the interior—oh-so-’90s purple leather
with light-green accents envelop the cabin and all-digital, early-C4 gauges complete the
psychedelic alien motif. The concept served as an homage to famous 1930s and ’40s Italian
racer Tazio Nuvolari (who’s nickname was Nivola) and its bright paint job was a throwback
to his signature yellow sweater. And while this car was a look back at automotive history
through a famous name, it was also a fairly accurate glimpse into the future of the Corvette.
The next-generation C8 is rumored to not only share the mid-engine layout, but also house
a new turbocharged DOHC V-8 and a retractable hardtop, akin to what was envisioned for
Bertone’s Nivola 30 years prior. Whether these rumors actually come to fruition won’t be
known for months, but it’s certainly worth taking the time now to appreciate how advanced
and just-plain-cool the 1990 Nivola concept was, and still is today.
Article from Hagerty.com by Brett Lirones // February 01, 2019