Latest news with #Giacomo
Motor 1
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
This Quad-Turbo V-12 Hypercar Aims To Take on Pagani
The R&D center of Giamaro Automobili smells like drying paint. In the small Emilia-Romagna town of Cavezzo, Italy, a half-hour from Modena, workers are busily preparing this former medical-supplies factory for the launch of the Katla, the first hypercar from a brand-new challenger to the Italian establishment. They're a week out, yet kindly opened the doors for Motor1 to see what they're up to. What they're up to is remarkable. A brand-new hypercar, with one of the craziest engines we've ever seen: A quad-turbocharged 7.0-liter V-12 capable of 2,128 horsepower and 1,481 pound-feet of torque. In a car with a seven-speed manual gearbox and only two driven wheels. Giamaro Automobili Katla Photo by: Giamaro Automobili On paper, it seems like it shouldn't be real. But in one room of Giamaro's facility, workers are prepping a yellow production-representative prototype that'll star in the reveal event, and in another, engineers fire up a naked Katla and drive it around the parking lot. Giamaro is the product of the Commendatore family. Father Giacomo runs a successful mattress business and is a prominent car collector. He was also one of the original backers of Pagani, helping make the Zonda a reality. His son Pierfranceso is an enthusiast, too, and he's running the day-to-day operations of the company. "We tried to give our car, our product, a specific identity, and create a deep connection between driver and machine, something that doesn't exist yet," Giacomo says through an interpreter. "We insisted a lot on this aspect because emotion is the key of it all," adds Pierfranceso. Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1 Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1 Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1 Heading up engineering is a supercar legend, Loris Bicocchi, who started his career at Lamborghini in the 1970s, joined the revived Italian-owned Bugatti in the 1990s, and went on to work as a hired gun for Pagani, Koenigsegg, Dallara, and once again, Bugatti. Bicocchi's credits include the Countach, Diablo, EB110, Zonda, CCX, Veyron, and Chiron. At the R&D center during my visit, he's in the trenches with other engineers, prepping the mule car to test the optional seven-speed dual-clutch. Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1 'We tried to give our car, our product, a specific identity, and create a deep connection between driver and machine, something that doesn't exist yet.' Giamaro is headquartered right in Italy's famous Motor Valley, home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, and Ducati. There's a wealth of talent to draw on, like Bicocchi, and suppliers to turn the Commendatores' dreams into reality. It's planning on building its first vehicles at the Cavezzo R&D center, but it also purchased a plot of land in Castlefranco Emilia—which sits about halfway between Modena and Bologna—for a larger, more permanent factory. The Katla is based around a carbon-fiber monocoque which, somewhat unusually, doesn't use a separate rear subframe for the suspension. Sizewise, it's longer, lower, and wider than a C8 Corvette Z06, and Giamaro claims a weight of just 3,200 pounds. The suspension is beautiful, CNC-milled aluminum double wishbones all around and inboard coil springs with adaptive dampers. Giamaro also employs a heave spring, which further helps control vertical body motion. It's actually an electronically adjustable heave spring, which we've never seen before in a road car. Giamaro Katla Prototype Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1 Giamaro Katla Prototype Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1 Giamaro has some serious partners lined up. One of the most important is Bridgestone, which the company is working with to develop a bespoke set of Potenza Sport tires measuring 265/35ZR20 front and 345/30ZR21 rear. Still, it's the engine that's the highlight here. Giamaro developed it in tandem with engineering firm Italtecnica, which it owns a stake in. The Turin shop is best known for making engines for a variety of restomod cars, like the Kimero EVO37 and Nardone Automotives' reinterpretation of the Porsche 928. It uses gear-driven camshafts and a hot-vee arrangement, with four turbos arranged within the 120-degree valley of the vee. This hot-vee setup helps with throttle response, as does the fact that each turbo works on just three cylinders of the V-12. Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1 The Katla will have three keys, each corresponding to a different power level. The white key is a sort of valet key, limiting power to between 394 and 789 horsepower; the black key is for daily use, limiting power to just 1,647 horsepower; the red key unlocks the full potential. Color and trim personalization is big in supercars/hypercars today, but Giamaro wants to offer an even deeper level of customization. The customer will work with Bicocchi and his team to define exactly how their Katla drives. Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1 "Every single detail of the car is completely personalizable and adjustable," Giacomo says. "So if you want a car that feels like a Ferrari, then slightly changes and gets to the feeling of a Porsche and then of a Bugatti, we can make it happen because every single component allows us to adjust suspensions, the dampers, the balance, the steering. And with the [heave spring], it enables us to have pretty much infinite regulations of the setup." We don't know pricing, but Giamaro has deposits for the first year of production, plans to build 30 cars per year, and more products in the pipeline. Naturally, there's an open-top version of the Katla, and more intriguingly, the Albor, a high-riding, rear-drive two-door coupe. And the product plan extends into the 2030s. 46 Source: Giamaro Automobili The Latest From Italy Horacio Pagani Makes the Impossible, Possible Driving the Pagani Utopia Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Business Mayor
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
Rachel Roddy's recipe for courgette, onion and chickpea flour bake, or scarpaccia
L ike millions of people all over the world, ideas are often planted in my head by a couple called Alessandro Vitale and Iasmina P, whose fast-paced videos document recipes they have developed based on the vegetables they grow, with the objective of using absolutely everything. Edited for social media, their videos are designed not just to attract, but to trap attention in a TikTok spell, then communicate a rush of information in a matter of seconds. However, within the well-calculated rush of decisive movements and fishbowl close-ups, Alessandro (otherwise known as Spicy Moustache) is a hugely likable, calm and good teacher. For months now, his enthusiastic and entertaining approach to a vegetable or process has sent me into the kitchen to grate something and rub it with salt, to turn into a fritter or cake. 'Such a vivid thing for us today,' is what Jane Grigson said about the ideas of Giacomo Castelvetro, the 16th-century proponent of vegetables and author of The Fruit, Herbs and Vegetables of Italy (1614), and I think the same can be said about Alessandro. In fact, Giacomo and Alessandro have a huge amount in common. Born almost four centuries apart, as well as 100 miles apart in Modena and Verona, they both developed a love of vegetables at a young age; moved to England; and became keen gardeners determined to share practical, simple and elegant ways of preparing vegetables. I have long been a fan of Giacomo, even more so now that I have put him in a complementary relationship with Alessandro; the two provide me with multi-dimensional inspiration. I am just sorry they can't co-present a TV show. Their double act inspiration this week is scarpaccia , which means old shoe, apparently – a clear image for the thickness of the final dish. It was Alessandro's quick-paced video that taught me about this baked courgette dish, of which there are endless variations, but two broad forms. First, a sweet version, often called torta dolce di verdura , a sweet cake of vegetables made from equal quantities of flour and courgettes, along with basil, sugar and yeast. Thenthere is the savoury scarpaccia, typical of the province of Lucca (and in particular the town of Camaiore), for which thinly sliced courgettes and their flowers are baked for about an hour in a batter of egg, flour and cheese. I have taken inspiration from all the above, plus Castelvetro's fritters, for this version that tastes like a cross between chickpea flour pancakes (I am thinking here of Italian farinata or Indian besan ka chilla ) and vegetable and chickpea flour fritters, such as pakoras. Looking again to Giacomo and Alessandro for inspiration, a grated cabbage, beetroot and apple salad with feta would be good here, as would a green salad dressed according to Castelvetro's sacred law of salads: plenty of salt, generous amounts of oil and a little vinegar. Courgette, onion and chickpea flour bake ( la scarpaccia camaiorese) 1kg courgettes, with flowers, if possible 1 bunch spring onions 2 heaped tbsp chickpea (gram) flour 1 heaped tbsp grated parmesan Salt and freshly ground black pepper Extra-virgin olive oil You need a nonstick, roughly 36cm x 20cm baking tray, with a lip. Using a mandoline, the cheese slicer of a box grater or a sharp knife, slice the courgettes and onions (both white and green parts) into thin rounds. If you have courgette flowers, roughly chop them. Put the sliced vegetables (but not the flowers) in a colander or sieve sitting on a plate and sprinkle over two teaspoons of salt. Use your hands to scrunch the salt into the vegetables, then leave them to sit for two hours. The vegetables will release liquid as they sit, but it pays to press down, so as much liquid as possible is released on to the plate (reserve the liquid for now). Put the sliced vegetables and flowers in a bowl and add the chickpea flour, parmesan, some salt and a few grinds of pepper, and toss everything together. It may be that there is still enough moisture in the vegetables that the flour coats them with a sticky, batter-like texture; if not, add a little of the reserved liquid and toss again. Tip the mixture into the tray and level with your hand – it should be about 1cm deep. Zigzag the top with olive oil and bake at 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6 for 20 minutes.
Zawya
15-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai appoints Giacomo Puntel as General Manager
Dubai, UAE: Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai is pleased to announce the appointment of Giacomo Puntel as its new General Manager. With more than three decades of international hospitality experience, Giacomo brings exceptional leadership, operational expertise, and strategic vision to the role. Giacomo has held senior management positions with globally recognized hospitality brands such as IHG Hotels & Resorts, Rixos Hotels & Resorts, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, and Grosvenor House Dubai. He is renowned for his hands-on leadership style, operational excellence, and a consistent focus on enhancing guest satisfaction and experience. Most recently, Giacomo served as General Manager at Voco Bonnington Dubai, where he successfully led a team of over 200 employees. Under his leadership, the property achieved strong performance improvements and elevated guest satisfaction scores. His earlier roles include Resort Manager and Director of Food & Beverage at various prestigious properties across the UAE. He also brings extensive experience in hotel pre-openings, concept development, and profitability management. 'It is a privilege to join Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai, a property with a strong reputation in the city's vibrant hospitality scene,' said Giacomo Puntel. 'I look forward to working closely with the team to build on its legacy of excellence, drive innovation across all touchpoints, and create memorable guest experiences that reflect the warmth and spirit of true hospitality.' Giacomo holds a Master's degree in Hotel Management from Università Bocconi di Milano and has completed executive programs at Cornell University, focusing on strategic decision-making, innovation, and competitive advantage. His contributions to the industry have earned him several awards, including 'Hospitality Heavyweight of the Year' and 'Leading Food & Beverage Director' at regional hospitality award ceremonies. With his appointment, Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai is confident in its continued commitment to delivering outstanding guest service and operational excellence under Giacomo's leadership.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Everest hires former Aon executive as Italian unit head
Reinsurer Everest has named Giacomo Mariani as the head of its insurance business in Italy. Mariani, who has Italian market expertise, will report to Everest southern Europe head José Ramón Morales in the new role. He has held several senior leadership and broker management positions at global insurance entities. He latterly worked as Aon's deputy head of strategic teams, heading broking for prominent Italian corporate and public entity clients. Additionally, Mariani was a board member for Global Safe Insurance Broker and head of large brokers and direct clients at Zurich, responsible for managing the company's global broker relationships. Morales said: 'Giacomo's proven leadership, strong relationships and deep understanding of the Italian market will be instrumental to enhancing our insurance operations in Italy. Italy's rapidly evolving market presents significant demand for innovative insurance solutions. With Giacomo at the helm, we are well-positioned to seize this opportunity and deliver the high-quality service the market deserves.' Mariani's appointment at Everest follows the company's entry into the Italian insurance space in November 2024. Everest Insurance International head of Europe Véronique Brionne said: 'The Italy insurance business is the latest milestone in Everest's ongoing European expansion.' In the fourth quarter of 2024, Everest Group posted a net loss of $593m, compared with a net income of $804m in the same period of the previous year. For the full year of 2024, it reported net income of $1.4bn, down from $2.5bn in 2023. In January this year, the company named Jim Williamson as its new president and CEO. "Everest hires former Aon executive as Italian unit head " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
