VAD.HO Concept
Geneva 2007
BMW hydrogen power
Once again, Geneva offers the opportunity to develop research on
form and contents that break away from the industrial approach
that Italdesign Giugiaro adopt daily in order to supply their
worldwide clients with designs that best suit their markets.
The challenging “diversion” this year represents a niche theme
meant to be heatedly discussed: a super-sporty extreme two-seater
fuelled by hydrogen to meet the increasingly pressing need to
promote and develop alternative and environment friendly
propulsion systems and to explore the potential challenge offered to
design by a more flexible “displacement” of the chassis lay-out in
new engine, mechanical, and electronic equipments.
The decision to remove the steering wheel took Italdesign Giugiaro
to the creation of a highly innovative driving system: two joysticks
are fixed on the armrests of the pilot’s seating and pedals unit,
where all elements can be adjusted and customized to the driver’s
needs. The armrest/joystick/ electrical pedals and seating unit is
not connected to the chassis. This and its by-wire impulses system
allow to adapt the different versions with right, centre and left
driving with no onerous works once the vehicle should go into
production. This system presents design - construction and
performance - characteristics that prompted Italdesign Giugiaro to
patent it.
VAD.HO is meant to be an open “work in progress": it has been
positively welcome by BMW that accepted to provide for it their
series 7 12 cylinders hydrogen powered engine.
One curiosity: the acronym “VAD.HO” is a play on words that uses
the name of the Vadò industrial area in Moncalieri where Italdesign
Giugiaro headquarters have been located since 1974, and also
refers to the hydrogen propulsion system adopted for the vehicle
(vado - or “I go" in Italian - on H).
The cockpit
This model immediately puts all its ambitions on the line: a
longitudinal cockpit in polycarbonate emerges on the left-hand side
while the right side houses the engine and hydrogen propulsion
devices in the centre. The two Argonauts are seated in tandem in
the fuselage, settled into a comfortable and super-equipped
ergonomic cockpit.
The joysticks are fixed in the armrests that are integral with the
pilot seat (the left armrest can be raised to facilitate getting in and
out of the vehicle).
Designers and technicians believe that this solution facilitates
naturally comfortable – and therefore stable and precise – steering
manoeuvres and activation of all the joystick commands, including
driving and secondary devices such as entertainment and other
options.
In order to facilitate manoeuvres in curves without having to twist
or rotate your wrists, the joysticks were conceived with two grips
that help the necessary movements. The joystick moves back and
forth along the armrest to ensure driver comfort, as well as the
sliding pedal block that, hinged on the lower part, adjusts to the
seat, which is in turn fixed to the chassis.
The control group is designed as an IT console with liquid crystal
displays designed for aeronautic applications (EFIS - Electronic
Flight Information Systems). The digital driving instrumentation is
positioned centrally under the rear-view continual video monitors
and the navigator; side video cameras project films externally. The
surface occupied by the instrumentation is in any case limited, in
order to allow the pilot maximum external visibility.
Access to IT data from the console is also available to the rear
passenger by means of a dedicated joystick, similar to the driver's,
and two monitors built into the back of the driver's seat. The faces
of both pilot and passenger are filmed by video cameras and may
appear on reciprocal monitors to enhance team interaction.
Thanks to video cameras installed in the frontal optical group, the
driver can use the monitors either for parking radar and for an
infrared effect for night-time driving, or interactive driving between
the car and road infrastructures, when they become available.
Passengers get into the vehicle through two integrated
doors/domes that are hinged lengthwise onto the structure and lift
gull-wing style. The living space for the pilot and passenger are
definitely comfortable because they were calculated at an "OSCAR
percentile” larger than 95% and therefore more spacious than
those of a luxury sedan. The rear passenger is able to stretch out
his legs and change his position by adjusting the footrest platforms
on the sides of the front seat. The armchairs are also equipped with
four-point belts that can be regulated all around.
Passenger safety in case of collision or overturning is guaranteed by
structural side reinforcements, the steel roll bar on which the two
semi-domes rest, and the activation of the air bags in the oval strip
under the structure at the cockpit base. The cell is equipped with
“umbrella” airbags that surround both the pilot and the passenger.
The upholstery materials chosen for the interior are in metallic and
phosphorescent opaque grey tones: both for the silver leather
armchairs and the synthetic pieces in aeronautic styling. Bolder
effects were used in areas around the control console.
The package
The sporty-racy ambitions of this project have imposed a wedgeshaped
volume, backed up by very subtle lines and modulations
that are never forced or exasperating, but rather in perfect
harmony with those parameters of balance and elegance that
distinguish the Giugiaro trademark.
The introduction of stylistic features was intentionally avoided on
this project, which is undoubtedly oriented towards contents. In
fact, the VAD.HO body is characterised by a feasible
decomposition with regards to production logics and meets
international homologation regulations(including pedestrian
accidents).
Even the overall dimensions are “reasonable”. The figures are close
to those of the Ferrari Maranello, a compact two-seater with similar
performances: 4550 mm long, 1980 mm wide, and 1150 mm high,
like Enzo model.
Naturally, the aerodynamic penetration requirements are enhanced
by the reduction in the main section because the
windscreen/cockpit impacts on only half of the vehicle.
The nose presents a screwed-on bumper block with ample air
intakes. The lower zone of the bonnet features an adjustable
spoiler in between the “pagoda”-shaped ridges formed by the
fenders that smooth off into the sides.
The optical devices are housed in a drop-shaped recess that begins
with the bumpers and narrows towards the sides: this cavity
houses the dual-function projector, the position and direction LEDs,
a video camera at the top, and the passenger compartment air
intake.
The asymmetric transparent dome gives this car a strong
personality; the windscreen wiper is hidden under the small crowl.
From the side, the profile of the fender crest is sinuous and dips
towards the centre, while a bird’s eye view confirms the designer’s
will to make the front more aggressive and modulated and the tail
softer and sharper.
The originality of the cockpit's asymmetric solution is even more
visible in VAD.HO central body. The fairing of the engine air
system, the filter, and the electronics can be seen on lowered
section that houses the engine. Since the cut of the passenger door
is repeated symmetrically on the engine side, the engine block can
be simply accessed by raising the large panel/trapezoidal door
hinged onto the centre line with a gull-wing movement. The recess
of the side indicator also serves as housing for the video camera.
The blunt one-piece rear end recalls the Corvette, but is
characterised by the line of the bonnet with its asymmetric profile
because it must converge with the dipping line of the cockpit and
the side/engine line.
The trunk capacity for a super-sporty two-seater is truly
remarkable: 550 dm3.
The rear end view is “carved” to emphasize all the aggressiveness
of this vehicle’s nature. The “G” Giugiaro logo was adopted to
house the rear stop LEDs with striking media impact.
VAD.HO is following up the content research started by Italdesign
Giugiaro with 2004 Toyota Alessandro Volta with hybrid propulsion
and the 2005 Mitsubishi Nessie that runs on hydrogen; while the
formal aspects evoke the design of the 1988 Aztec, which even
then offered driver and passenger a chance to slide into a definitely
attractive “aeronautic” atmosphere with a formula that today is
much more easily feasible thanks to IT innovations and by wire
technologies that have been tested and nowadays are considered to
be reliable.
This evocation of the world of aeronautics is shown again in the
colours choice for the body - opaque silver-grey -, in the service
decals on the engine equipment and the fuel tank, and the use of
large 20" solid tyres.
Technical Specifications
Length 4550 mm
Width 1980 mm
Height 1150 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm
Front track 1700 mm
Rear track 1660 mm
Front overhang 947 mm
Rear overhang 797 mm
Weight 1150 Kg
Engine BMW 12 cylinders – fuel:
hydrogen
Gearbox BMW Smg drivelogic, 7 speed
Drivetrain rear
Suspensions Suspension front and rear:
independent
Double wishbone - Coaxial
springs and hydraulic shock
absorber - anti roll bar - anti dive
and anti squat devices
Brakes Brembo
Front Ventilated disc ø 380x34mm
caliper: 8 pistons .
Rear Ventilated disc ø 355x32 mm
Caliper: 4 pistons
Tires Vredestein
Front 275/35x20
Rear 315/35x20
Rims OZ
Front 10” x 20”
Rear 11” x 20”
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Originally Posted by Ferrer
