Geneva
Show 1988: the models exhibited by the major manufacturers are
not very exciting. You have to look elsewhere for passion.
Among the small. Among craftsmen. And as usual, Franco Sbarro
is at the forefront of proving that the automobile is not dead
under the blows of marketing and computer-aided design. The
Robur is proof of this.
Logical follow-up to the
Super Twelve and Super Eight (photo by Dingo for Option Auto
magazine)
Project specifications
The brief was relatively
simple. Cyril De Rouvre, a wealthy French industrialist
specializing in aviation, commissioned Franco Sbarro to design
a small, compact city car, capable of cruising at low speeds
in traffic jams, but with enough resources to stand up to the
best sports cars of the day. In short, a Mini with the power
of a Porsche! An heir to the Sbarro Super
Twelve and Super
Eight.
Compact and compact, the
Robur impresses despite its small size (photo by Dingo for
Option Auto magazine).
200 horsepower city car!
The powertrain chosen by Sbarro is that of an
Audi 200 turbo: a 5-cylinder engine, positioned transversely
across the rear center, developing 200 horsepower. As the car
is primarily intended for urban traffic, the gearbox is a
4-speed automatic. Suspension is McPherson with large-base
lower wishbones. Braking is provided by four discs, assisted
by an air brake, just like on Mercedes racing cars of the
1950s! In my opinion, the use of an air brake in city traffic
is not very effective: the Robur can therefore also be used
for out-of-town escapades at speeds that are against the law.
The interior resembles a
white leather cocoon.
Typical Sbarro style
The interior is luxuriously
appointed: white leather, red carpets, top-of-the-range Alpine
hi-fi system... The seats seem to be an integral part of the
car, in keeping with Sbarro's rounded styling. The exterior
gives an impression of power, accentuated by the car's short
length (3.30 m) and great relative width. The front and rear
lights, concealed by a horizontal grille, are a dear Sbarro
theme.
Perfect for the city:
3.20 metres long and 200 horsepower!
Parking assistance
A Sbarro wouldn't really be a
Sbarro if it weren't for a little madness. Look closely at the
photos and you'll notice two wheels at the rear of the Robur.
These descend, like landing gear. So, to park in a pinch, all
you have to do is move the nose of the car forward into the
parking space, and the transverse wheels take care of stowing
the rear of the car. You don't have to be an expert to park in
town. This ingenious system has been around for a long time
(an inventor in the 1920s proposed an equivalent system, but
nobody wanted it), but Sbarro is the only one to offer it
today!
The clever parking aid
system. (photo by Dingo for Option Auto magazine)
In Latin
The ultimate in
personalization, the car bears the name of its sponsor. In
Latin, Robur means... Oak. The car was subsequently entrusted
to Franco Sbarro for display. You have to admit, the Robur is
a pretty nice city car.
In brief
1- Muscular city car
2- Unique sationing aid
3- Typical Sbarro compact styling