For its 42nd appearance at the Geneva International Motor Show, Italdesign
Giugiaro makes the world premiere of a functional, hybrid, four-seat prototype
developed on a mechanics of the Volkswagen Group. Capable of reaching 60 mph
in 5.5 seconds, with a maximum speed of 170 mph (275 km/h) without compromising on-board
comfort or space, and inspired by technological innovation, the name of the
car-Brivido ("Thrill")-sums up its soul.
"For the last few big appearances at the Geneva Motor Show," explains Giorgetto
Giugiaro, "I focused my research on cars that offered great roominess with
compact dimensions, and proposing concrete solutions to concrete problems.
"2012 will be an important year for us and for the Group, and with this car we
want to continue to allow people to dream and to imagine the future. This is an
exercise to show a vehicle that delivers awesome sports car performance in an
eco-friendly manner, to show great technological content, and above all to have
superb comfort. Today true luxury is all about travelling in comfort. Following
the research into city cars, this year I wanted to test myself with a GT which
is 4.98 meters long and capable of reaching speeds of up to 275 km/h. I would
not say the Brivido is a dream car-after all, this is not an object which is
destined to remain an unachievable dream. My intention has always been to design
something which is close to industrial reality and can easily be released into
the market."
Brivido was designed, engineered and manufactured in the Italdesign Giugiaro
plant at Moncalieri (Turin).
Exterior Design
Aluminum, carbon fiber, and glass are the materials that define the Brivido's
exterior. The lines of the body, painted in Xirallic pearl lustre red, are
sinuous and aerodynamic and accentuate the sporty, elegant character of this
latest Gran Turismo from Giugiaro.
The windscreen, roof, rear window, and large door windows form a glass dome that
lets natural light pour into the passenger compartment. There the occupants are
surrounded by an exclusive level of finish and high-technology, whilst they
enjoy the surrounding scenery and urban landscapes as they travel.
"This is a quest for a genuine four seater," continues Giugiaro, "to offer
comfort and visibility, especially for the rear passengers, which is usually
sacrificed in this type of vehicle. As always, I've tried to offer solutions
which can be achieved practically. The inclusion of a pair of wide doors that
rise like gull wings is the only "exotic" concession which makes the Brivido
a show car. The rest of the solutions are perfectly applicable for vehicles
destined for the market. The rear passengers, specifically, can access their
seats without having to duck down or lower the front backrests. Instead they can
enter the vehicle easily and naturally."
The side view is dominated by the specially designed single door which uses
glass as a genuine structural element. This allows all occupants to access the
passenger compartment at the same time.
The waistline hugs the curve of the wheel arch and is interrupted by the door's
side window, which in turn continues below the waistline to significantly
increase the transparent surface. As on the Structura prototype, this feature
offers the driver increased visibility when maneuvering as s/he can easily see
the pavement to the side of the car. At the same time this allows the rear
occupants to enjoy great outside visibility. To facilitate window-down
interactions such as toll payments, a small portion of the glass can be lowered
electronically while the rest remains fixed.
Record-Breaking Light Cluster
Visibility is also a watchword on the outside of the passenger compartment as
the Brivido showcases real innovation in exterior lighting. Thanks to LED
technology, the headlight clusters are not only functional, but also represent a
never-before-seen stylistic feature. Extending 2600 mm from the front bonnet,
each cluster hugs the sinuous lines of the body and finishes midway along the
side panel, at the height of the side door. These clusters thus also act as both
sidelights and direction indicators.
"For several years now, thanks to new technologies like LEDs," continues
Giorgetto Giugiaro, "even quintessentially functional elements like light
clusters have become something more: a distinctive element and a design
signature. With these innovative light clusters we are confident that the
Brivido will be instantly recognizable even in the total darkness of night."
The side of the Brivido hides a final technological treasure: the side mirrors
have been replaced by an innovative system comprising of two cameras which
literally emerge from the body. When the control is activated, the wings
concealing the two micro-cameras, positioned at the height of the side air
intakes, open up 90 degrees and activate the cameras. The camera images are then
displayed on monitors built into the steering wheel column.
From the front we are greeted with an aggressive, ultra-technological front end.
The vehicle is equipped with a single carbon fiber panel that occupies the width
of the vehicle. This allows ample air flow to cool the engine and also acts as
rear spoiler. On top of this there are the DRL system, the driving lights, and
the fog lights.
The tail end, also in carbon fiber, flaunts two diagonal friezes that diverge
from the centre and continue along the body, housing the rear light clusters,
the brake lights, the indicators, and the rear fog lights. As well as the rear
windscreen, which offers access to the titanium fiber covered luggage
compartment, there is a small spoiler that is activated electronically at high
speeds to ensure optimum road grip. Finally, the large side exhausts frame the
race-inspired flow deviator.
The generous surface of the bonnet, emblazoned with the inlaid "V" in satin
aluminum that contrasts with the red paint finish, conceals a 3000 cc engine
which offers 360 hp. "The satin aluminum frieze," points out Giorgetto Giugiaro,
"is not just a simple aesthetic quirk. We have included it in order to remedy
the problem of hard spots and to achieve a lower profile. The red bonnet hides
the engine and rises in the event of impact with a pedestrian to soften the
impact. Beneath the "V" structure, we have housed actuators directly onto the
engine basement, making it an active safety system. Here, once again, what seems
like a designer's quirk, is actually a concrete solution to a problem".
The Human Machine Interface
The Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Lab (ERL) in California collaborated
with IDG to develop and build the interactive electronics and displays for the
Brivido. This includes a unique docking system in the dashboard allows an iPad
to be completely hidden away or, with a gesture of the hand, partially exposed
to work in a "Minimal" interaction mode. The ERL also helped to create the
climate and comfort controls in which the driver and passengers can access
"Basic" and "Extended" features on a capacitive touchscreen. Enhancing the
transition between these modes, physical buttons emerge from the control surface
when needed, and hide away when not needed.
Interiors: R&D of Classic Materials and Technological Innovation
Technology, roominess, ergonomic design, comfort, and luxury are the watchwords
that characterize the interior trim of the Brivido. The cabin offers a genuine
open space where a unique environment encases the front and rear seats and the
luggage compartment in a continuous solution, thanks in part to the use of
extremely durable and lightweight Titan-Tex titanium fibre.
The dashboard is structured symmetrically for both driver and passenger. Key
information is displayed on the two LCD monitors housed inside two binnacles,
one located behind the steering wheel and the other above the iPad dock. This
allows the passenger to access the same information as the driver (journey,
speed, rpm, etc.) or manage the options for on-board entertainment.
Italdesign Giugiaro has patented its specific steering column design. At the top
of the steering column are two monitors onto which images from the side and rear
cameras are displayed. In this way, the driver has complete control of the
vehicle without ever having to take his/her attention off the road.
The main controls are housed on two touch-sensitive panels on the spokes of the
steering wheel. The left-hand panel is used to operate the infotainment system,
the lights and the graphic interface on the dashboard, while the right-hand
panel is used to manage the climate control system settings.
With just a simple touch, the driver can select the driving mode of the Brivido:
"Comfort" or "Sport". The dashboard on the passenger side houses the iPad
integration system.
On the tablet, the Brivido application allows the passenger to control media,
navigation, and access online content from his or her lap. The passenger can
then stow away the entire tablet in the dashboard via an automatic mechanism or
partially dock it to use as an interface area. S/he can then control the media
and navigation content in the passenger binnacle display.
In line with the current fashion trends, the Brivido exudes an understated
elegance. For the interior furnishings, the Color&Trim department at Italdesign
Giugiaro invested in research and development on methodologies and materials,
opting for a sewing method never used before in the automotive sector: raw cut
seams. The hides, specially produced for this prototype, are dyed in two
contrasting colours - light on the "upside" and dark on the "backside." When it
comes to seaming, the hides are bonded and raw cut to enhance the thickness,
which is otherwise usually folded under and therefore hidden. In this way, the
light-dark chromatic contrast creates a graphic line that outlines and
emphasizes shapes.
The front seats are asymmetrical with a cushion overhanging the door sill on the
outer sides. This enables the occupants to get in and out of the car with ease.
Occupants sit on this "protruding wing" and slide comfortably inside.
About
Italdesign Giugiaro
Italdesign Giugiaro has been a part of the Volkswagen Group since 2010.
Since 1968, some 200 car models have been created that have spawned 50 million
standard production units produced by leading international car manufacturers.