It was drawn to attract attention, imagined to be leader on a highway, born to be a star of Cote d’azur, but sold to stay in secure storage of billionaire. Fast on autobahns, it was barely used on curvy mountain roads and no one way led it to racing track. As every Rossa’s Grand Tourismo car of major class, Bladeside was too expensive to risk. Too sublime to haste.
About the car
Car prototype developed by Rossa’s domestic design studio in Nuorio was shown at first time on Armania Motor Show in 1993. Ambitious style was created under direction of Gianni Palaschi. Originally company named car with “12-5-5” index following factory tradition, that means “number of cylinders — motor volume in liters — torque in hundreds of Nm”, but international automotive media gave it the nickname “Bladeside” at once because of distinctive “polyblade” fenders going from front to rear wheelarches via door.
New “12-5-5” wasn’t the fastest or most powerful GT cars on market but definitely it could be considered as one of the most luxorious & expensive vehicles of Old Continent. Leather of seats, karelian birch of dashboard & even polished & gilded silver of gauges, all of this was standard equipment for a model.
As short as in 1994 top Rossa’s model went to production under it’s famous and lucky nickname. In 1995 company’s marketing director Fernando Nuciano decided to support overseas & nothern car sales & started the racing program in ICRA Series ( ICRA — InterContinental Racing Association) attracting interest of oil billionairs.
2 red “silhouettes” were prepared for 96 season. Having V12 engine block as the only common part, steel tubular frame & plastic shell-body this two Rossas had number of podiums in debut year. Inspite of victorious 1997 season, Rossa ceased ICRA-program after end of a racing year, because of sales inneficiency & completely switched back to their traditional Monoposto World Cup.
Production of Rossa 12-5-5 Bladeside was finished in march 2002. Total amount of built cars is 1242
Blueprint
Technical Data
| Engine | ||
| RE.12-5-5 | RE.12-5-5 | |
| Position | middle | |
| Orientation | transverse | |
| Cylinders | V12 | |
| Valves | 48 | |
| Engine volume | cm3 | 4860 |
| Power | PS | 412@6000 |
| Torque | Nm | 500@3900 |
| Gear Ratios | ||
| 1st gear | 3,23 | |
| 2nd gear | 2,26 | |
| 3rd gear | 1,55 | |
| 4th gear | 1,13 | |
| 5th gear | 0,85 | |
| Reverse | 2,66 | |
| Final Ratio | 3,02 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Maximum Lenght | mm | 3989 |
| Maximum Width | mm | 1914 |
| Maximum Height | mm | 1083 |
| Wheelbase | mm | 2500 |
| Chassis | ||
| Brakes | Disk brakes | |
| Front suspension | 2 wishbones | |
| Rear suspension | 2 wishbones | |
| Aerodynamics | Cx | 0,38 |
| Exploitation data | ||
| Dry weight | kg | 1442 |
| Tank | l | 82 |
| Fuel Consumption | l/100km | 10, 15, 24 |
| Dynamics | ||
| Maximim speed | km/h | 301 |
| Acceleration 0-100km/h | sec | 5,9 |
| Acceleration 1/4 mile | sec | 15,3 |
| Acceleration 1km | sec | 24,9 |
