Mantide

Piaggio, the Italian brand that has always stood out for its innovation efforts and attention to ecology, proposed a challenge to the graduating Transportation Design students at IED Turin. The request was to identify and develop concepts, consistent with the values ​​of the brand Piaggio, analyzing the needs of the younger segment that likes to move individually in a urban and extra-urban environment and investigating the issues related to ecology and new technologies. Piaggio asked the students to imagine the possible evolution of its range, considering its history, with the intention to provide a ever more sophisticated conveyance that had to be simple to use and consistent with the utmost respect for the environment.

The project were presented by 10 graduates of the Post-diploma course in Transportation Design – BYT (Bike, Yacht and train) Design and, out of these, 3 were selected by the client basing its choice on the 'grip' of the final proposal compared to the brief submitted initially to the students.

Each bike designer worked on a proposal for a two-or three-wheel concept, from freehand drawing, to setting up render and sketch the definition of the alias in the mathematical model in 1:1 scale and to a 3D modeling for final assembly of the video project. Hence the development of innovative and different ideas including Mantide by Giacomo Dalla Fina, a super ecological three-wheeler that can be folded when parked.

The idea started from the 23-year-old student awareness of the many problems of mobility in urban centers today -smaller and smaller spaces, traffic, pollution (not only environmentally speaking but also acoustically), lack of security on the streets and aging users. In step with the client requirements this concept is suitable for young people, but it should be said that the actual target doesn’t have a predetermined age, it is suitable for all because it offers several benefits for all age groups.

Designed to be assembled with the newest ecological materials, Mantide is a concentrate of innovation.  One of the materials chosen by Dalla Fina is an “environmentally active ceramics”, a type of self-cleaning and anti-bacterial material that invokes the photosynthesis process and transforms toxins and pollutants emitted into harmless components.

The concept is equipped with an electric engine that can provide a power up to 125cc, and offers the possibility to lower the power down to 50cc to be ridden by 14-year-old folks too. Mantide is comfortable even when comes to find a parking spot, in fact, it is designed to close on the core pin which also acts as a charging indicator (green – 100% to 25%, amber – 25% to 1% and red – dead or charging). Thanks to this super useful characteristic, in the space occupied usually by a common city car may be parked even 6 Mantide.

Not to leave anything to chance, the customization of this concept can be brought to a high level. The buyer can choose his preferred materials for his Mantide expressing his style, chooses the weight and, of course, defines the price.

Once again you can see how the encounter between Companies ready to create new patterns for the future and talented students can always give back workable and innovative ideas.

Giorgia Sasia