A Bonafide Combination
The Bell & Ross AeroGT draws its inspiration from grand tourers, and its directly inspired by the AeroGT concept car which comes with a skeletonise dial feature with metal hour-markers, while the large hand at the centre of the dial shows the seconds. The whole is completed by a tachymeter scale. The best thing is that the AeroGT is used in particular to calculate the speed of a car.
his time, Bell & Ross is firmly focusing on the motoring world, another one of its designer’s favourite fields. The brand has designed the AeroGT, an avant-garde concept car and GT grand sport with bodywork as streamlined as a fighter jet. This unique car, created by the watchmaker’s design studio, was not created by chance.
“The AeroGT concept car is an extension of our field of expertise, which demonstrates the creative ability and strength of our brand. I thought that it would be interesting to combine the iconic Bell & Ross features with a car directly inspired by aeronautics”, explains Bruno Belamich. “This concept car is in actual fact an amalgamation of an aircraft and a GT. This spectacular vehicle adopts the major principles of Bell & Ross watches: form in response to function, a passion for mechanics and, of course, a strong aeronautic overtone”.
Alongside the presentation of this unique prototype, two exceptional watches with a strongly car-inspired character are being released.
T
Half Aero
The AeroGT is a super car inspired by aviation. With this creation, Bell & Ross is keeping in touch with its aeronautic roots. Extremely low (1.10 m) and aerodynamic, the 4.7 meter- long car seems to split the air like an arrow. Its pointed forms with sharp angles and cutting overhangs are reminiscent of some stealth aeroplanes. All it needs to take off is a pair of wings. When seen from above, the drop-shaped glass roof recalls the glass cover of a jet cockpit. Meanwhile the razor-thin wing mirrors are inspired by the small wings called canards placed on the nose of a fighter. The two unusually sized exhaust pipes evoke turbojet engine exhausts, while the turbine-style rims imitate the vanes of supersonic aircraft engines. But the most impressive detail is the rear longitudinal aileron, which is reminiscent of an aircraft’s vertical stabiliser. The role of this element is to stabilise the racing car when performing quick turns. Ultimately, the Bell & Ross AeroGT concept car combines motoring and aviation to the greatest possible degree.
Half GT
The Bell & Ross AeroGT draws its inspiration from grand tourers (Gran Turismo in Italian). This category of racing car, first produced in the land of Pasolini in the ‘50s, encompasses the most illustrious sports cars in automotive history, and particularly the celebrated Ferrari 250 GTO, of which only 36 were produced in the ‘60s. At the time, these versatile sports vehicles were designed to be at home both at great speeds and on the track. Indeed, some “gentlemen drivers” would travel directly by road to the competitions in which they were competing. The Bell & Ross AeroGT celebrates these legends on wheels in a highly contemporary manner.
Technical
Like an aeroplane, the AeroGT uses cutting-edge technologies and benefits from first-class performance. Its strict two- seater mid-engine layout looks very contemporary. The Bell & Ross super car would boast 610bhp – more than ample power in all situations. Press the accelerator pedal and its full horsepower is let loose. The car reaches 100km/h in less than 3 seconds. The two turbos grant the car maximum torque at both low and high engine speeds for stunning acceleration. Overtaking becomes a pure formality. As for its maximum speed, the AeroGT is intended to reach a peak speed of 315 km/h. For this reason, the Bell & Ross concept car notably features a pitot tube, installed at the top of its right wing. This type of probe, which can be found in aeronautics, measures very high speeds. Meanwhile the heat-resistant ceramic brakes have the delicate task of stopping this road-borne missile. Finally, the designers opted for a rear-wheel drive layout to maintain the driving pleasure and reactivity of the car.
The
Dynamic Duo
BR 03-94 AEROGT
A direct expression of the AeroGT concept car, this very contemporary-looking chronograph watch is the archetypal driver’s watch. Its mechanism is devoted to measuring short time intervals. The skeletonised dial features metal hour- markers. The two chronograph counters on a grey-tinted crystal display the hours and half hours. Meanwhile the large hand at the centre of the dial shows the seconds. The whole is completed by a tachymeter scale. This watch function is used in particular to calculate the speed of a car. To ensure continued good visibility, even when driving at night in a downpour, the hour-markers and hands are coated with photo luminescent material. Also to improve legibility, the hands of the chronograph are red-cultured. The aluminium start push-button is also painted red to encourage action. A date function can be found at 3 o’clock.
BR 03-92 AEROGT
In the wake of the AeroGT, this three-handed version is also powered by a skeletonised mechanism. It presents a central hour, minute and seconds display. The seconds’ hand is cultured red, as is the small fixed triangle indicating 12 o’clock. The latter recalls the dashboard counters of GT sports cars.
