Quaranta concept pays tribute to Giugiaro

Giorgetto Giugiaro -- a giant among car stylists, and a bloke whose CV includes icons such as the original VW Golf, Alfa Romeo Alfasud, BMW M1 and Lotus Esprit ... among many other styling milestones

So it was perhaps fitting that this year's Geneva motor show was graced by a dramatic design study conceived to celebrate 40 years of Italdesign (the company founded by Giugiaro).

Fittingly, given the history of the company, the Quaranta is distinguished by 1970s/'80s-inspired wedge-like proportions, even though what lurks underneath the skin is a new-age Toyota hybrid powertrain.

There are clearly some synergies between the Quaranta and the 1968 Bizzarrini Manta, which was Giugiaro's first design under the Italdesign banner (appropriately, the two cars shared the stand at the Geneva show).

Spruiked under the somewhat corny catchphrase "nature has never been so powerful", the Quaranta features a mid-engined layout and seating for three adults and a child.

The drivetrain is essentially the same as that used by the Lexus RX400h and mates a 200kW 3.3-litre petrol V6 with a front-mounted electric motor. Interestingly, the batteries for the latter are charged by roof/bodywork-mounted solar panels.

The three-plus-one seating has the driver seated in the centre (as per the McLaren F1), with two passengers set back on either flank and a baby seat slotted in behind the driver.

The concept sits on 20-inch wheels and tyres and its ride height is adjustable to one of two positions, with the higher setting offering an SUV-like ground clearance of 230mm.

A carbon monocoque frame serves as the skeleton for the Quaranta's aluminium and steel panels and weight distribution is centralised, as all the mechanical components except the radiator are contained within the 2616mm wheelbase.

Italdesign claims the Quaranto's top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h, and its maker also boasts of a four-second 0-100km/h split and miserly fuel consumption of 7.0L/100km.

It also offers a luggage compartment that can allegedly swallow two golf bags, while its 60-litre fuel tank should provide a touring range of over 850km.

Offbeat design elements inside the cabin include a steering wheel with all the car's controls mounted in the space of the spokes, including gear selection.

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