Charbonneaux Ellipsis - 1997

In 1985, Philippe Charbonneaux and Franco Sbarro had collaborated to design a Renault 25 three-box. Twelve years later, they presented their new joint project: the Ellipsis. The Ellipsis was the 7th prototype designed by Philippe Charbonneaux, based on a long-standing idea: an ovoid shape and diamond-shaped wheels.

The Ellipsis at the Musée de l'Automobile in Reims (wikipedia photo)
This 3-seater prototype, powered by a Porsche 6-cylinder engine, reached a theoretical top speed of 300 km/h thanks to its meticulous aerodynamics: the Cx is just 0.17 (by comparison, a modern car rarely drops below 0.30).

The Sbarro Ellipsis, along with three older Ellipsis models, is on display at the Musée de l'Automobile in Reims.
Smooth as a pebble, the Ellipsis has a record Cx of 0.17, enabling it to reach a theoretical top speed of 300 km/h (wikipedia photo).

Extract from Journal du Nord vaudois, February 27, 1997

"This very special vehicle was conceived and created in the form of a full-scale model in 1994, by the French designer Philippe Charbonneaux, now in his eighties, who was present at the inauguration of the Espera educational center in Pontarlier in September 1995, which featured, among other projects, the very same model. This car, now embodied by Espace Sbarro, has a double advantage, in line with the original concept: highly aerodynamic (like Philippe Charbonneaux's 1946 Wimille with central drive and central-rear engine, with an astonishing Cx of 0.21!), the Ellipsis is egg-shaped with diamond-shaped wheels. This totally new configuration is designed to deliver exceptional levels of passive safety. The Ellipsis features a three-seat cabin with central steering. In the event of a collision, the vehicle's slender, shark-like silhouette makes it possible to dodge the obstacle, since the absence of edges and corners on the car means that the object encountered has virtually no hold on it. The Ellipsis is thus instantly diverted from its trajectory, limiting to an unimaginable degree the harmful consequences that would result from a "traditional" collision. Powered by a 3.6-liter Porsche Carrera engine and equipped with a Tiptronic gearbox, the Ellipsis features a large trunk (due to the vehicle's length, which is due to its ovoid shape). Weighing in at around 1100 kg, the vehicle's manoeuvrability enables it to turn on the road at a steering angle of 160 degrees."
In brief
1- Rhomboidal and ovoid vehicle shape
2- Supposed to offer better protection in the event of frontal impact
3- Philippe Charbonneaux's idea, realized by Espace Sbarro