Following numerous teaser images, Italdesign-Guigiaro has officially unveiled its Quaranta concept car, which is built to celebrate the company’s forty years of business. It will be shown to the world at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4. Dubbed as an “extreme” product, the Quaranta features all-wheel drive, a mid-mounted hybrid powerplant utilizing solar energy, as well as the oddball passenger capacity of three adults and a child.
Marketed under the tagline “nature has never been so powerful,” the concept car was inspired by the 1968 Bizzarrini Manta, the first concept car with a central engine and drivetrain. Access to the interior is via two doors, with one incorporated into the other, which open upwards, in classic super-car fashion. It sounds thoroughly complicated, as it should in such vehicles.
The roof- and front bodywork-mounted solar panels provide up to 250W of power, which is used for the HVAC system as well as recharging the battery.
Interior accessories include a steering wheel with all the car’s control mounted in the space of the spokes, including gear selection.
The concept sits on 20-inch wheels and tires. A carbon monocoque frame serves as the skeleton for aluminum and steel panels.
The electronic four wheel drive system consists of an electric motor powering the front wheels, while a hybrid engine drives the rear wheels. Toyota supplied a variation of its Hybrid Synergy Drive technology for the concept’s powerplant, based on the 3.3 liter V6 engine found in the company’s Lexus RX400h Hybrid SUV. Drive is via the same electronic continuously variable transmission.
The Quaranta’s ride height is adjustable to one of two positions, with the higher setting offering a maximum ground clearance of 9.1 inches.
Weight distribution is centralized, as all the mechanical components except the radiator are contained within the 103-inch wheelbase.
The Italdesign Giuguiaro-designed and engineered front suspension draws inspiration from F1 cars, featuring a central mono-shock.
Italdesign specifies the Quaranto’s top speed is electronically limited to 155mph.
02/25, 11:16 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
If you want to laugh your butts off, click this (speakers on):
http://www.heavy.com/video/37833
02/25, 11:39 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
My favorite Giugiaro design is the original Lotus Esprit, the ‘Flying Wedge’. It’s good to see such an original and influential designer now go into his 4th decade of creativity.
02/25, 11:41 AM
posted by:
MY Si
^That was really random Ricardo. Especially liked Clintorious!!! But anyways i cant wait to see the whole concept. this looks like its gonna be really promising.
02/25, 2:25 PM
posted by:
mg198242
I think he’s in the 5th decade of creativity, global_lightning!!! He started in early 60s.
02/25, 2:50 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Yep, five decades:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgetto_Giugiaro
This man is responsible for some of the best automotive eye-candy ever!
02/25, 3:55 PM
posted by:
Heart64
I want to see it achieve light speed!
02/25, 5:10 PM
posted by:
audi-lover
http://www.heavy.com/video/37833 is so funny!:)
02/26, 2:03 AM
posted by:
AustrianJoe
Yeah, he even designed my 1999 Seat Toledo… Wow
02/28, 11:54 AM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
This thing looks like crap, maybe he should go back to designing good looking cars.
02/28, 11:57 AM
posted by:
golf4me
I had a Hot Wheels car in the early 70’s that looked just like this thing! Too Funny. Sadly, the Hot Wheels looked more finished…
02/28, 12:26 PM
posted by:
richt62167
the back end is sweet!
02/28, 12:39 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
‘Quaranta’ is Italian for ‘Forty’. Given their recent designs for Ford, could this be a GT40-based concept?
02/28, 2:24 PM
posted by:
corvette
great name.
02/28, 3:16 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
“Forty” refers to the number of suckers that will buy this car, NEXT!
02/28, 3:51 PM
posted by:
Brendino
He’s had some duds, too. I mean, the Yugo?
02/28, 9:08 PM
posted by:
bigp
wow is the only thing i can say about that **** it looks an hot mess
02/28, 10:00 PM
posted by:
autonut
Thx RicardoHead. I almost dropped a whopper in my pants laughing.
02/29, 9:24 AM
posted by:
Vroom
Looks like they dusted off an old prototype from the 70’s. There’s nothing new or interesting here. And the louvers? Common.
02/29, 12:12 PM
posted by:
Ward Cleaver
Looks like some of the vehicles Syd Mead used to do in the 80’s. I like it, but just not one of Giugiaro’s best works.
02/29, 1:01 PM
posted by:
master_chen
I don’t like it. It’s a piece of **** and I think Giugiaro has lost his ways.
02/29, 1:17 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
Agreed, you know a car sucks when the teaser images suck and then once you finally see the whole car, it sucks even more.
02/29, 1:42 PM
posted by:
richt62167
well it’s about freakin time
02/29, 2:44 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
I can’t argue that we might not see this car in a new Sci-Fi movie or something, but I think this is more a packaging exercise. As the move toward more compact, electrically based, drive trains are on the horizon, and some here now. Designers are already trying to hammer out ideas of how to make the next generation of Hybrids and electric cars look good.
Obviously this car goes pretty far and wide, but is quite effective. I would take this over a Prius (I would take a Suzuki Swift over a Prius), if this Quaranta was for sale. It looks as futuristic as it’s promise.
Car styling has always been a matter of personal taste. Like All Art not everyone will go for the same work for the same reasons. But I think this is a very successful design, even if it isn’t a universal appealing one.
02/29, 2:44 PM
posted by:
doghis
so what are you suppose to be???
02/29, 4:14 PM
posted by:
corvette
reminds me of the scighera.
03/01, 10:54 AM
posted by:
autonut
I don’t see a car in those images: 4 wheels, some shape, but does it has soul?
03/03, 7:51 AM
posted by:
SoLoveLA
Wow Giugiaro has totally lost it! THis is terrible. The proportions and details are inept.
03/03, 8:06 AM
posted by:
SoLoveLA
I think this was designed by the son, He obviously doesn’t have his fathers talent
03/03, 10:08 AM
posted by:
snoboardguy21
Let’s leave the square wheel wells to the trucks please. This thing is gross.