imperia

Imperia GP is Hybrid, Retro and Belgian All At Once

If you're anything like us, you're a little torn when it comes to your automotive acquisitions. On the one hand, you want to do your bit to help the environment and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. On the other, a Toyota Prius doesn't exactly embody the style and excitement you'd like your car to. Presenting the Imperia GP.

Active throughout the first half of the 20th century, Imperia has been resurrected the same way Bugatti and Mini were. But while those brands brought their classic caché back with a modern twist, the Imperia GP steps even further into the modern era with its hybrid powertrain. The Belgian retro hybrid packs a 207-horsepowr 1.6-liter turbo four and a 134hp electric motor. Driven only by the electric motor, it can hit 62 from a standstill in a solid six seconds, or just four with the gasoline engine kicking in.

The product of some three years of development, the first pre-production prototype was recently unveiled at the Belgian Auto Show and is set to hit the market shortly with a 90,000-euro price tag, or 120,000 euros for the first edition.

Gallery: Imperia GP

Tags: hybrid, imperia, imperia gp

Chronoswiss Imperia and Imperator Watches

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Here we have the Imperator and the Imperia from Chronoswiss, two new watches that continue the Chronoswiss tradition of old-fashioned styling. The watches have similar case designs to another Chronoswiss, the Digiteur, with an elegantly curved style. The numerals on the dial are done in the "Belle Epoque" typeface and the watches are available in either stainless steel or 18K gold with a silver or rose gold dial. Each watch has a sapphire crystal and a display back.

The Imperia on the left , measures 30mm x 48mm x 9mm and the movement is the automatic ETA caliber 2000-1 with 20 jewels; three-spoke Glycidur balance; a Nivarox-1 flat balance-spring; Incabloc shock absorption; a 40-hour power reserve; polished pallets, palletwheel and screws; bridges with Cotes de Geneva polish and circular-graining; and a skeletonized rotor.

The Imperator, on the right, measures s 36.7mm x 56mm x 10mm. The movement is the automatic ETA caliber 2892 with 21 jewels, three-spoke Glucydur balance, a Nivarox-flat balance-spring, Incabloc shock absorption, a 42-hour power reserve, polished pallets, palletwheel and screws; bridges with Cotes de Geneva polish and circular-graining and a skeletonized rotor.

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Tags: chronoswiss, imperator, imperia, timepiece, watch, wristwatch