2025 IED Project Supernova

• Project Supernova concept pairs a titanium chassis with a total weight of only 900 kg.

• “Supernova mode” unleashes up to 800 hp while disabling all non-essential functions.

• Developed at IED Torino with Dallara, the design takes inspiration from manta ray forms and organic structures.

A Hypercar Born from Design Education and Motorsport Heritage

The Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Turin has once again used its Transportation Design thesis program to push the boundaries of what a future sports car might look like. Working closely with Italian motorsport engineering specialist Dallara, students created six advanced concepts for 2025. Among them, Project Supernova represents the most extreme interpretation of a hypercar yet imagined under the program.

This car was not drawn up as a marketing exercise. It is the culmination of an academic-industry collaboration where students were tasked with expressing Dallara’s founding values—lightness, efficiency, safety, and unfiltered driving pleasure—through radical, but credible automotive design.

The Shape of a Manta Ray

Supernova’s form takes inspiration from nature, particularly the manta ray. Its fluid outline and wide stance echo the glide and spread of marine life, creating a car that looks sculpted by natural forces as much as aerodynamics. The design language is organic, with surfaces that flow continuously rather than break into ornamental detail.

That natural influence is paired with an aggressive efficiency. Every element of the exterior is functional, feeding into the car’s role as a street-legal hypercar focused on purity of experience.

Titanium Chassis and Lightweight Construction

At the structural level, Supernova pushes weight reduction to an extreme. The car uses a titanium chassis, a choice rarely seen outside experimental or limited-production programs. The result is a kerb weight of only 900 kilograms.

In the context of hypercars—many of which weigh over 1,400 kg even in stripped-down form—this figure is extraordinary. It aligns with Dallara’s philosophy that the most direct path to performance is reducing mass before adding complexity. By dropping hundreds of kilograms through structural innovation, Supernova gives itself a foundation for raw agility and efficiency

Supernova Mode: 800 Horsepower on Demand

The car’s defining feature is its “Supernova mode.” When activated, this setting unlocks the full potential of the powertrain—delivering up to 800 horsepower—while simultaneously disabling all non-essential functions.

Key Features

• Design inspiration: Manta ray forms and organic natural surfaces
• Chassis: Titanium, minimizing structural weight
• Kerb weight: 900 kg
• Power output: Up to 800 hp in “Supernova mode”
• Driving focus: Experienced drivers, road-legal but highly demanding
• Design approach: Functional efficiency with organic aesthetic cues

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