Renault Gabbiano

Vehicle Overview

The Renault Gabbiano made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 1983 and marked the inception of a collaborative venture of Italdesign with Régie Renault, culminating in the production of the Renault 21 in 1986. The Gabbiano emerged as a conceptual study for a sports coupé, uniquely designed to accommodate four full seats within its internal compartment. The nomenclature, Gabbiano, draws inspiration from its distinctive door mechanism. In contrast to traditional four-seater coupés with elongated doors requiring ample space for opening, the Gabbiano introduces a revolutionary “seagull door.” This innovative design allows for a simultaneous entrance for both front and rear seats, eliminating the sequential ingress typically associated with conventional coupés. A noteworthy feature of the Gabbiano is the introduction of expansive glass windows enveloping the entire compartment. This design departure set a precedent, influencing subsequent prototypes and showcasing a modern aesthetic that prioritized visibility and a sense of openness within the cabin. The sleek and streamlined appearance of the Renault Gabbiano, coupled with its groundbreaking door concept, marked a paradigm shift in the realm of sports coupé design, setting the stage for the collaborative achievements with Renault and contributing to the evolution of automotive aesthetics in the years that followed.