OMG OMG...Toyota reveals the hybrid supercar at the Geneva show!!!!
03-02-04, 02:04 PM
#17
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The car has been at the Geneva auto show for some time now.
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=04700872
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=04700872
03-02-04, 02:11 PM
#18
Originally posted by Richie
Even if its a stick
?
Even if its a stick
?
That's the first thing that popped into my head. Just playing Ethan. As for the car, the rear overhead view looks hot. The front is pretty good but the side view does not grab me. Still, the news is good and shows Toyota moving in the right direction.
03-02-04, 03:50 PM
#19
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From Autocar:
"Toyota’s 155mph hybrid
Italdesign-Giugiaro will unveil a radical mid-engined Toyota hybrid in Geneva this week. The supergreen 38mpg, 155mph supercar is powered by the same mechanical package as Toyota’s new Lexus RX400h.
The Alessandro Volta was developed with full co-operation from Toyota, which has worked with Giorgetto Giugiaro for more than 30 years, mostly in secret.
‘Toyota hybrids lead the world,’ said Fabrizio Giugiaro, son of Giorgetto and now head of Italdesign-Giugiaro’s studios. ‘We wanted to do something extreme with Toyota – we’ve had a relationship with them for a long time – and discovered the hybrid has enormous advantages.
‘With any mid-engined car, you want to keep most of the weight between the wheels and not in the overhangs. Adding four-wheel drive only complicates the packaging even further. On the Toyota there are no mechanical elements outside the wheelbase apart from the front radiator and with an electric engine in the front, there is no need for a tailshaft, so the floor is completely flat.’
Named after the Italian scientist who discovered the battery, the compact Alessandro Volta measures just 4350mm long, but a wide 1930mm. By building the car with a one-piece carbonfibre tub and body, it’s estimated to weigh just 1250kg.
The engineers mounted the 3.3-litre V6 transversely, in conjunction with two electric motors, one for each set of axles, to give a total of 402bhp, enough to accelerate the hybrid to 62mph in a claimed 4.1sec.
The transverse location means the four exhaust pipes can be located in the body sides. The slit-like vents in the upper body are for engine breathing (top) and cooling (lower)."
"Toyota’s 155mph hybrid
Italdesign-Giugiaro will unveil a radical mid-engined Toyota hybrid in Geneva this week. The supergreen 38mpg, 155mph supercar is powered by the same mechanical package as Toyota’s new Lexus RX400h.
The Alessandro Volta was developed with full co-operation from Toyota, which has worked with Giorgetto Giugiaro for more than 30 years, mostly in secret.
‘Toyota hybrids lead the world,’ said Fabrizio Giugiaro, son of Giorgetto and now head of Italdesign-Giugiaro’s studios. ‘We wanted to do something extreme with Toyota – we’ve had a relationship with them for a long time – and discovered the hybrid has enormous advantages.
‘With any mid-engined car, you want to keep most of the weight between the wheels and not in the overhangs. Adding four-wheel drive only complicates the packaging even further. On the Toyota there are no mechanical elements outside the wheelbase apart from the front radiator and with an electric engine in the front, there is no need for a tailshaft, so the floor is completely flat.’
Named after the Italian scientist who discovered the battery, the compact Alessandro Volta measures just 4350mm long, but a wide 1930mm. By building the car with a one-piece carbonfibre tub and body, it’s estimated to weigh just 1250kg.
The engineers mounted the 3.3-litre V6 transversely, in conjunction with two electric motors, one for each set of axles, to give a total of 402bhp, enough to accelerate the hybrid to 62mph in a claimed 4.1sec.
The transverse location means the four exhaust pipes can be located in the body sides. The slit-like vents in the upper body are for engine breathing (top) and cooling (lower)."
03-02-04, 04:02 PM
#21
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Can't wait to see this go to production. However, I hope this won't be anything close to the production version, I don't like the side profile - the back is too high, and I don't care for that gaping mouth of a grill.
Last edited by Gojirra99; 03-02-04 at 04:03 PM.
03-02-04, 04:41 PM
#25
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From the side view the back seems a little too high but overall I'm loving this car. The AWD with electric powered fronts saves on weight, and the torque split can probably be adjusted by computer with no mechanics. Pretty much does the trick for me!
James
James
03-02-04, 09:28 PM
#27
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Quite possible a glimpse of the Supra or Lexus supercar Road And Track drew a picture of a few months ago. it looks similar. Except they report V-10. Clearly not the case.
Honda withdrew their hybrid NSX plans (new one V-6 350hp). I think Toyota has the engineers and money to make a hybrid supercar happen.
And IMO, 400hp ain't really crap nowadays in the supercar world.
Honda withdrew their hybrid NSX plans (new one V-6 350hp). I think Toyota has the engineers and money to make a hybrid supercar happen.
And IMO, 400hp ain't really crap nowadays in the supercar world.
