It may not be a Lexus supercar prototype, but the Italdesign Quaranta concept is powered by a Lexus engine, namely the….RX 400h?
Massage the right button, and the rear decklid opens to reveal a powertrain cribbed from what we know as the Lexus RX 400h. Italdesign and Toyota have an ongoing relationship; their first project, the Toyota Volta concept of 2004, laid the groundwork for this far more outrageous interpretation of the green exotic. Although the Toyota sport/utility provides its 3.3-liter DOHC V-6 engine, electric-motor assist hardware, continuously variable transmission, all-wheel-drive system, and a bucketload of electronics (including the IP-mounted display that shows when the power is flowing to and from the motors and battery pack), the rest of the Quaranta was designed, engineered, and built by hand from the ground up at Italdesign’s Moncalieri, Italy, facilities.
That’s a quote from a great Motor Trend article about driving this eco-supercar from Italdesign, which they debuted at this year’s Geneva Auto Show. It’s a great read, and strangely enough, it’s the RXh engine that makes the difference. It usually isn’t possible to drive a concept down public roads, nevermind taking it up to 200kph on a racetrack.
I particularly liked the solar panel hood and trunk pattern, and just take a look at this from a bird’s eye view:
(Thanks Shukul!)
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