MAN TGX da Vinci
Efficiency meets brilliance: to mark 500 years since the death of Leonardo da Vinci, this MAN TGX 18.500 is hitting the roads adorned in “Medici Style” décor.
Medici Style Srl, from the Italian province of Reggio Emilia, is actually known for providing exclusive leather interiors for the automotive industry. In the case of the MAN TGX 18.500, however, they were commissioned with a “supertruck” rather than a supercar. The long-established company, which has been fitting the seats, steering wheels and interiors of top sports cars with the finest leather since 1973, bedecked the vehicle with Leonardo da Vinci’s distinctive designs. The result was an extremely special MAN TGX, dedicated to the genius of the brilliant artist and inventor to mark the 500th anniversary of his death on 2 May 2019.
Brilliant both inside and out
The MAN TGX is way ahead when it comes to extraordinary paintwork. On the outside, both sides of the beige truck showcase da Vinci’s avant-garde projects – from the “flying machine” to the “hot air balloon”. The motifs can also be seen on the front, along with examples of the notes he wrote, which are placed in the space between the grille and the windscreen. And finally, the rear wall of the cab is decorated with a portrait of Leonardo da Vinci himself, so there is no doubt to whom this elegant, special MAN TGX edition is dedicated. Basic Media applied the special exterior design to the complete cab using a digitally printed 3M film.
And anyone astounded by the outside of the truck will remain so when they step inside the cab, as the interior design goes a step even further. Here, Medici Style has created a real “Leonardo-style” work of art, by combining da Vinci’s unmistakeable designs with the luxurious interior of a supercar.
The seats, steering wheel and instrument panel, the panelling on both doors, as well as the mattress for the bed have been adorned with items typically associated with the great artist and inventor. Two types of leather were combined for the upholstery: a dark, chocolate-brown leather with a smooth Nappa effect, and a second type of leather featuring digital printing. The latter was based on a beige Nappa leather and the images described above. The “Leonardo” embroidered elements (in original writing from right to left) on the seats and platforms add a finishing touch to the refined look. And reigning above all of this is the perhaps most iconic and well-known of Leonardo da Vinci’s works: situated on the central leather platform, the Vitruvian Man is the highlight of the interior work of art.
Simply brilliant
Irrespective of the ingenious design, the MAN TGX 18.500 4×2 Individual is, of course, a brilliant truck itself, and impresses with its efficiency and reliability, as well as lower fuel consumption over long distances. Furthermore, with the Individual-style equipment, the driver is guaranteed to enjoy the utmost comfort on-board. It’s a vehicle you would want in your fleet. So it comes as no surprise that the stylish showtruck was snapped up whilst it was on show for MAN Truck & Bus Italy at Transpotec Logitec 2019 in Verona. It was bought by Italian company Ecologica Sud Servizi SRL and has been driving in style through the scenic landscape of Calabria ever since.
MAN Italy also used the successful design for a small “da Vinci truck” which is being used as a demo vehicle. So it is quite possible that you may also meet a “Leonardo-style” MAN TGE 4×4 whilst travelling through Italy.