Here’s a first look at the Quaranta solar-assisted hybrid supercar concept that Italdesign Giugiaro will be taking to the Geneva Motor Show. In an article for Wired, Chuck Squatriglia writes, “Cover it back up, please.”
Personally, I kind of like it. I see it as futuristic and suspect that, like most edgy automobile designs, it will take some getting used to if, in fact, it ever makes it into production. More important, I think, are the performance specs: a mid-engined all-wheel-drive hybrid that accelerates from zero to 62 mph (100 kph) in 4.05 seconds and tops out at 155 mph. As Squatriglia is quick to acknowledge, “That’s Tesla Roadster and Porsche 911 GT3 kind of acceleration…”
“The Quaranta borrows its hybrid powertrain from the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Lexus RX400h: a 3.3-liter V-6 and the Hybrid Synergy Drive system with a combined output of 268 horsepower and 213 pound-feet of torque. Italdesign claims the car will return a city/highway average of 33 mpg, and a pair of fuel tanks that together hold about sixteen gallons of gasoline provide a 620-mile range. ‘E-Four’ is, in fact, a fancy name for Toyota’s part-time all-wheel drive system (called ‘4WD-i’ in the Highlander Hybrid), which uses a separate, 68-horsepower electric motor at the rear wheels that kicks in during acceleration or when slippage is detected.”
Suddenly hybrids are looking a lot more attractive, yes?