HOW tomorrow's supercars will look could be shaped in Glasgow.

One of the world's leading car design firms has signed a deal with a city innovation company to develop 3-D technology.

Torino-based stylists Italdesign, who have shaped Ferraris and worked with Aston Martin, are to join forces with Urban Learning Space to help create virtual versions of their work.

The centre is part of a consortium of six European partners which will create visual technology for the Italian company in a £2.26million contract.

Urban Learning Space's role in the three-year deal is to test and evaluate the finished technology.

Technical director Don McIntyre said: "This technology will revolutionise the way cars are designed and, given their reputation, Italdesign clearly want to be one of the first to take advantage of it.

"It gives car designers the opportunity to lift their work off the drawing board and project it into life size animated models through the use of a 3-D headset.

"This technology is so advanced your eyes really are fooled into thinking you are looking at a real car.

"This gives car designers the chance to see in a real life situation what the finished product will look like in a way that's never been possible before.

"This link-up with one of the world's top design houses is a great endorsement for the standard of innovation in the city."

The Urban Learning Space is a £1m initiative at the Lighthouse in the city centre to equip people with the type of new technology skills.

Its latest deal is with one of the world's biggest design and engineering firms, responsible for shaping supercars such as the Bugatti Veyron and Maserati Spyder, as well as developing engineering for the new Mini.

It has also worked for firms in other fields, such as Nikon cameras and Samsung.

The move could even see Glasgow being the base for the future of things in outer space.

Italdesign has a close relationship with the Italian Space Agency.

SE Glasgow's director of skills and learning Stephanie Young said: "The Urban Learning Space is fast developing an international reputation as critical partner in innovative multinational technology.

"Deals like this help reinforce Glasgow's changing image as a city economy built on knowledge, innovation and creative thought."