Italdesign Giugario and Proton plan to unveil their co-developed hybrid five-passenger city car at the Geneva Motor Show, but for now they have provided us with preview images and details on its unique powertrain. Malaysian automaker, Proton, also enlisted the help of Lotus to help develop a very unique series hybrid powertain to power its first foray into the hybrid realm.
Italdesign Giugiaro and Proton have only released one image of the five-door hatchback variant so far, but they also plan to debut a three-door variant alongside the five-door at the Geneva Motor Show. Although no confirmation has been given, there is even a possibility for other models to be based on the platform – although they may come at a later date.
“Our aim was to offer the interior space of a medium-sized car while keeping the overall exterior dimensions of a small car, ” Italdesign Giugiaro chairman Giorgetto Giugario said. “This is the outcome of several years of study: the solution allows interior spaciousness on par with that of a segment D saloon despite maintaining the exterior dimensions of a segment A car.”
In order to accommodate the batteries, the platform features a raised floor in the rear to house the batteries. Italdesign Giugario says that they equipped the seats with functionality that allows for independent adjustment, including sliding forward and backward to adjust legroom and/or cargo space.
For the concept’s motivation, Proton turned to Lotus to develop a series hybrid powertrain, utilizing a three-cylinder, 1.2-liter Lotus Range Extender engine to help re-charge the batteries. The series hybrid will be driven by an electric motor, and recharged by the generator – much like the upcoming Chevy Volt. Lotus also mated the system to a single speed CVT transmission.
Fuel economy or power numbers have not yet been released.
