The Gabbiano was a concept coupé designed by Italdesign for Renault, built as a research prototype and four-seat study. Its name, Italian for seagull, referred to its gull-wing doors, which opened wide enough to allow simultaneous entry to the front and rear seats rather than the staged access typical of long-door four-seat coupés. The design was based on the Renault 11, using its floorpan and unchanged wheelbase.
The body featured a compact, wedge-shaped profile with integrated pop-up headlights, a steeply raked windscreen curved around at the sides, and glazing that wrapped continuously around the roof pillars for wide visibility. The rear overhang was notably short, and the one-piece front hood extended down to the wheel arches. As on Italdesign's earlier Medusa concept of 1980, the side glass had only a small sliding section rather than fully retractable windows, since dropping full glass would have placed excessive strain on the gull-wing doors.
The leather-trimmed interior included an instrument panel with electronic displays, steering-wheel-mounted satellite controls, and a check-control panel showing vehicle faults along with interior and exterior temperature. Rear seat backs folded individually to expand the modest boot space.
Power came from a Renault 11-sourced 1397cc four-cylinder engine producing 72 hp at 5750 rpm and 106 Nm at 3500 rpm. The car measured 390 cm long, 164 cm wide and 128.5 cm high, on a 248 cm wheelbase. The Gabbiano began Italdesign's collaboration with Renault, which later produced the Renault 21 three years afterward.
