GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Pininfarina H600 concept revealed

An unlikely alliance between an Italian design house and a Hong Kong-based electric vehicle firm has given birth to a beguiling new hybrid sedan concept at the Geneva motor show.

The Pininfarina H600, a joint collaboration between Pininfarina and the Hybrid Kinetic Group, features a hybrid powertrain that employs a turbine as a range extender. The concept is most familiar with Jaguar’s C-X75 prototype shown in 2010, and in this application purportedly endows the H600 with a heady 600kW-plus – enough for it to reach 100km/h in 2.9 seconds.

The drivetrain is also miserly on fuel, according to the companies, with a projected driving range of more than 1000km. Look out, Tesla Model S.

According to designers, the H600’s Maserati Levante-esque grille channels air to the turbine, while also defining “the aesthetic identity of the brand”.

Importantly, the H600 will also appeal to luxury buyers, thanks to a mix of leather and wood trim through the interior, rear-mounted infotainment screens and generous spatial proportions. In fact, Pininfarina claims the cabin has the “layout of a lounge”.

The H600 is just the beginning of the new $A90 million-plus deal between HKG and Pininfarina, which is owned by Indian giant Mahindra. Both firms have agreed to a 46 month partnership.

While the H600 is strictly a concept at this stage, it sets the stage for a production version.

Elsewhere at Geneva, Pininfarina showcased its new EF7 track car, developed with the help of ex Formula 1 and Indy 500 driver Emerson Fittipaldi.