The hybrid takes a supercar disguise for promoting a new way ofdesigning the environment friendly car of the future.“We have entered a new era. We have created a hybrid that has nothing to dowith the typical electric power vehicle which so often flaunts ratherunappealing characteristics”, Fabrizio Giugiaro asserts.“When creating the volumes of this eco supercar, the idea at the back of mymind was to recapture the stylish features of the central-engine models, whichI had already used with the BMW Nazca, the Alfa Romeo Scighera and theVolkswagen V 12, to demonstrate that if a racing shell can combine a “clean”and innovative propulsion system, the headroom for creating and designingenvironmentally-friendly sedan and compact cars of the future would be huge.”
Mindful of this, Alessandro Volta, the Italian physicist and discoverer of thevoltaic pile, was called to bear witness to an exciting stage of automotivetechnological research, a momentum placing demands on the depth ofresources required from automobile manufacturers to meet head-on pressingenvironmental issues such as gas emissions and the unrelenting consumptionof oil-derivative products.
Italdesign-Giugiaro could not have chosen a more appropriate partner thanToyota for venturing into this theme of thought. As confirmed by GiorgettoGiugiaro: “We have been working with Toyota for more than 25 years. We areproud to have worked towards putting in place a hybrid prototype because theadvanced expertise and commitment of the Nagoya Carmaker to mixed wheeldrivemoves beyond day-to-day boundaries.”
Innovative layout for sporting performance
Toyota furnished to Italdesign-Giugiaro a derivative of its ultimate hybridsystem, the one adopted on the Lexus RX 400. On the Volta, the 3.3 liter V6petrol engine is fitted behind the rear axle and not connected directly to thewheels. Indeed, motion is ensured by two electrically powered engines, oneper axle thereby securing all-wheel drive and enhanced safety.As such, this epoch-making mechanical layout paves the way to eliminatingthe traditional transmission and gearbox longitudinal encumbrance. Indeed, operating electronics enable the power transmitted by the electricmotors to the wheels to be modulated, thereby rendering superfluous thegear/clutch unit.
Housed under the lightweight, carbon-fiber chassis, designed and engineeredby the Italdesign Giugiaro technical department, are the batteries, weighing 70kg.Result: significantly leaner weight, balanced and encompassed between theaxles, 300 kW/408 HP output, top speed limited at 250 km/h with accelerationfrom 0 to 100 km coming in 4.03 seconds.
Sparkling fuel-efficiency performance.
“But the more prestigious performance captured by this compact supercar, 4.3meters long and less than 2 meters wide – emphasizes Fabrizio - is mostcertainly its capability to cover 700 km at highway average speed with a 52-liter tank. In addition, having freed the central tunnel from the propeller shaftand from the exhaust pipe, we gained a flat floor that enables us to seat 3passengers.Without doubt, 70 kg of batteries represent a significant increase in weight.However, it should be recalled that an all-wheel drive for a mid/upper rangemodel caps 100/120 kgs. As such, resorting to the hybrid has paved the waytowards creating a compact, light and “socially responsible” sports car with allwheeldrive."
Supercar livery for a physique of excellence
The Volta sets the innovative content of the hybrid drivetrain in classicsupercar livery: compact volumes, downward flattened trim, tapered bonnet,minimum rear overhang and truncated tail.The dragon-fly winged doors are upward hinged in the front riser. Ampleaeration in the grill design, slanting lamps fitted in the fender motive on anupper plane to the “aquiline” route followed by the bonnet’s center point.
In the body side, a sturdy belt band yet again stretches upward to the rearwheel shaft enabling two “claw-marks” to be grazed as air intakes, whilst fittedin the Grecian motive traced on the horizontal-base traverse allowing glimpsesof the carbon fiber chassis, are two thermal engine exhaust pipes.The body side and the upper tail merge and flow upward towards where theroof and rear window meet: from there is triggered a rather singular truncatedtail profile, surmounted by the spoiler’s embossed motive protecting the opticunit.The tail’s lower band allocates the engine’s cooling air outlets.
Interior ergonomics
“As a rule –Fabrizio Giugiaro confirms– a sports car with a central engineexpands lengthwise: engine, drivetrain and suspension push throughsignificant weight and occupy significant space to the detriment of passengerlegroom. With Alessandro Volta, we have confirmed the same performancesattaining better weight distribution and more comfortable seating. Indeed,thanks to the flat floor, I set my mind to building a decidedly innovativeinterior geared towards the 3-seat offering and a flexible steering wheel andpedal board clamping.”
As a result of adopting the By Wire technology, the pedal board and steeringwheel can slide along strips, whether to the right, center or left.This did not translate into having to adopt a bench seat, but paved the waytowards creating extremely ergonomic and sophisticated sliding seats, therebyensuring personalized driving comfort. A sturdily built driver, for example, canmove the seat away from the door or a three-seating arrangement can beobtained for two adults with one child sitting in the middle. Even with threepassengers, the interior offers more sitting and legroom than in normal sportscoupe models.
In order to obtain maximum driving seat adaptability, Fabrizio Giugiaro alsoturned a keen eye to dashboard design. Dashboard information has beenstripped down to the essential: speedometer, speed indicators and fuel levelconfirmed; temperature indicators eliminated; navigator and stereo Toyotainterfaces installed.
Also for the Volta, Italdesign-Giugiaro went beyond the shell, utilizing itstesting and engineering department to design the carbon fiber chassis, thepush-rods and the mechanisms regulating pedal/steering column blocktraslability, whilst its prototyping construction workshops to crystallize thestyling model and operational prototype.
Other than the petrol propulsor, also drawn from the collaboration with Toyotaare the electric engines, the batteries and all operational managementelectronics plus the expertise gained in an avant-garde specialty.
“With the Volta – Fabrizio Giugiaro concludes – we have reconciled topperformance with low gas emissions and noiseless operation. And when onedrives through a historic town center, a supercar of this genre does not “fret”at low speed: at 20/30 km/h, the driver can switch to the absolutely silent electric engine. Sheer pleasure from the historic town center to the racetrack.”
Source: Toyota Press Release
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