2004 Toyota Alessandro Volta - Front Side
The Toyota Alessandro Volta is a concept car developed in the collaboration of the Japanese manufacturer Toyota and the Italian design company Italdesign Giugiaro. The concept vehicle named after Alessandro Volta, the Italian physicist who invented the battery, was officially unveiled at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show and it is a study of a hybrid-powered sports car.
The car was built on a carbon fiber chassis and features a four wheel drive hybrid powertrain of the Lexus RX 400h which combines a 3.3-litre V6 gasoline engine with two electric engines. The gasoline engine is fitted behind the rear axle and there are additional two electrically powered engines, one on each axle. The combination develops a maximum output of 300 kW (408 bhp), which enables the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 4.03 seconds and reach the top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The car seats three people abreast and features drive-by-wire controls.
Italdesign-Giugiaro and Toyota have collaborated to produce a stunning new concept for the Geneva Motor Show. It features the new Lexus RX400h’s hybrid powertrain, combined with a carbon fibre chassis and sports car body engineered and produced by the famous Italian style and development company.
2004 Toyota Alessandro Volta - Prototype
With a top speed of 155 mph, 0-62 mph acceleration in a scorching 4.03 seconds, and a range of some 430 miles, the Toyota Alessandro Volta concept car proves it is possible to offer high performance in a car whose green credentials are unimpeachable. The car is named after Alessandro Volta, the Italian scientist who discovered the battery.
The striking Hybrid Synergy DriveO powertrain combines a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine with 2 powerful electric motors which provide the Alessandro Volta with a total output of 408 bhp (300 kW).
The hybrid powetrain is mounted in a midship position, as the front wheels are powered by the second electric motor, generating 4-wheel traction without the need for a transmission shaft. Consequently, the vehicle’s flat floor permitted Italdesign to house three passengers in a 167.7-inch long coupe.
2004 Toyota Alessandro Volta - Top View
The Toyota Alessandro Volta is a styling exercise aimed at exploring new applications of the Hybrid synergy DriveO technology. Toyota is proud to have collaborated with the prestigious Italdesign-Giugiaro on a concept that further demonstates the potential and flexibility of the Hybrid Synergy DriveO technology.
As a result of adopting the By Wire technology, the pedal board and steering wheel 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 way towards creating extremely ergonomic and sophisticated sliding seats, thereby ensuring personalized driving comfort. A sturdily built driver, for example, can move the seat away from the door or a three-seating arrangement can be obtained for two adults with one child sitting in the middle. Even with three passengers, the interior offers more sitting and legroom than in normal sports coupe models.
In order to obtain maximum driving seat adaptability, Fabrizio Giugiaro also turned a keen eye to dashboard design. Dashboard information has been stripped down to the essential: speedometer, speed indicators and fuel level confirmed; temperature indicators eliminated; navigator and stereo Toyota interfaces installed.
2004 Toyota Alessandro Volta - Rear Top
Also for the Volta, Italdesign-Giugiaro went beyond the shell, utilizing its testing and engineering department to design the carbon fiber chassis, the push-rods and the mechanisms regulating pedal/steering column block traslability, whilst its prototyping construction workshops to crystallize the styling model and operational prototype.
Pictures, Images, Photos, Pics, taken from Toyota Press Release.
Hi, I hope this car will in future go into production, this will be a car that will enable the “Toyota Die Hard” fan to be able to brag on the roads as well.