Sbarro Osmos - 1989
Geneva Motor Show, 1989: Franco Sbarro presents his wildest project: a hubless wheel, the orbital wheel. On the stand, the stars are three motorcycles equipped with this famous empty wheel. And a car whose twelve chromed exhaust pipes are almost more eye-catching than the four orbital wheels.
Orbital wheels
The Osmos is a very low, very
wide coupé (2.10 m). The car was commissioned by Philippe
Mottas, with whom Franco Sbarro founded Sbarro Mottas
Engineering to exploit the orbital wheel patents. The Osmos
uses wheels with large pneumatic tires, 295 mm wide at the
front and 375 mm at the rear. Inside the rear wheels is a
spoiler in addition to the huge one just above.
A chrome skeleton
The engine chosen by Sbarro is a Jaguar 12-cylinder V-twin. This engine develops around 350 horsepower. In reality, the engine is barely visible, hidden by the spectacular exhaust pipes. You'd almost forget the wheels when you see all those chrome tubes.
Typical Sbarro styling
The polyester and fiberglass
bodywork is typical of Sbarro styling, especially the rear,
which hugs the wheels and is reminiscent of the Challenge. The
front end, on the other hand, is less successful. As for the
interior, all in red, it's rather uncluttered. A body-colored
helmet sits at the base of each elytra-shaped door. Note the
Osmos logo, whose O's recall the car's wheels.
At the top
Franco Sbarro was at the top
of his game at this time. He succeeded in designing an "empty"
wheel and giving it a setting in a car as spectacular as the
Osmos.
- Jaguar 12-cylinder V engine
- Displacement: 5345 cm3
- 350 horsepower
- Length 4.50 m, width 2.10 m
- Four orbital wheels
In brief
1- The Osmos illustrates the use of the orbital wheel.
2- Spectacular exhaust pipes
3- Jaguar V12 engine