Giugiaro unveils VW-based hybrid supercar concept
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Italdesign Giugiaro chief Giorgetto Giugiaro says the Brivido hybrid coupe concept has a number of design features that could find their way into future production vehicles.
The four-seat supercar concept, which was unveiled at the Geneva auto show, has been designed to prioritize accessibility and interior space, Giugiaro said.
"The concept is a roomy coupe that is comfortable for people sitting in the back," Giugiaro said at an event on the eve of the show's first press day. "It has lots of glass so you can always see the street."
The Brivido is the first model to bear the Giugiaro badge since Volkswagen took over the family-owned design and engineering business in 2010.
The Brivido has two large gull-wing doors which are almost 1700 mm (67 inches) long. The doors give access to both the front and rear seats. These allow easy entry to the vehicle, which is just 1300 mm (51 inches) high.
Giugiaro, 73, whose recent designs include space-efficient models such as the Tex and Go! for Volkswagen, says the concept car offers genuine comfort for back-seat passengers.
"This is a quest for a genuine four seater, to offer comfort and visibility, especially for the rear passengers, which is usually sacrificed in this type of vehicle," he said.
Features that could be used in future cars include a driver safety system that replaces the wing mirrors. The system displays images from side and rear cameras onto monitors on either side of the steering wheel. This allows the driver to control the vehicle without having to take their attention off the road.
Another feature allows an iPad to be plugged into the car's dash to control vehicle functions through various interactive displays, an innovation developed in collaboration with VW's California-based Electronics Research Laboratory.
The concept is based a Volkswagen Group platform and is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine and an electric motor. It is capable of reaching 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.8 seconds and has a maximum speed of 275 km/h (171 mph).
Paul McVeigh contributed to this article
You can reach Luca Ciferri at lciferri@crain.com.
