Francesco Riva and Gillet Automobiles · CLIENT: Gillet Automobiles
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.
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.
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