Following its acquisition by Lamborghini Holding S.p.A back in 2010, it became almost certain that Italdesign Giugiaro would present mostly Volkswagen Group concepts. For the Geneva Motor Show 2014, Italdesign Guigaro have the Italdesign Guigaro Clipper on display. It is a sporty MPV, based upon a Volkswagen platform and using an innovative drivetrain.
The Clipper has a variety of design viewpoints. It is a sporty, versatile MPV which also has eco-friendly credentials thanks to the all-electric drive and power source. It uses Volkswagen’s MQB modular platform which currently underpins the latest generation Volkswagen Golf as well as the new Audi TT unveiled earlier today. It can accommodate up to 6 people, seated in three rows of two seats.
The electric engine means that there was no need to incorporate a front grille for radiator cooling. Two air intakes were positioned vertically between the light clusters and the wheel arches, another two were included horizontally just under the headlights to channel the airflow under the floor where the battery packs are housed. Two similar vents are positioned at the back of the car for extraction of the air flow.
It features a fully electric powertrain comprising of two 110 kW engines. One housed up front and one at the back. Italdesign Guigaro boast of a staggering 540 km range. It has four-wheel drive with fully independent wheels. The company have revealed that they wanted to present something current for the Geneva Motor Show 2014 rather than something futuristic with no real prospect of production. The one concession Italdesign Guigaro made with the Clipper is that the doors open upwards in a butterfly fashion at the front and gulling-style at the rear.
Inside, Italdesign Guigaro fitted a spacious, comfortable interior. The mobile modules of the interior can be modified, with the controls and dashboards developed in line with the “touch feeling” concept so that the compartment adapts to the needs of driver and passengers. The Italdesign Guigaro Clipper was designed, engineered and built at the Italdesign Giugiaro plant in Moncalieri (Turin).
The Clipper is notable for the absence of the B-pillar creating a wider opening for passengers. The central instrument cluster does not rest on the dashboard as is usually the case, but is floating and attached to the upper part of the instrument panel.
Driver information is displayed on two screens, one positioned in the classic spot, recessed in the dashboard; the other, meanwhile, is housed in the upper part of the instrument cluster and projects the information onto the perspex cover of the first monitor, titled at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The information from the two screens is complementary and the overall effect created for the driver is similar to a 3-D holographic projection.
Three screens are integrated into the instrument panel in front of the passenger. The first, farthest left, shows the images from the camera which replaces the rear-view mirror, the other two, meanwhile, provide the usual information relating to navigation and infotainment. The 11 inch touchscreen on the central tunnel groups together all the climate control and infotainment controls. The only buttons present are the start/stop buttons and the door opening buttons aside from the handbrake and the gear selector.
The tunnel can be fully adjusted electronically by means of two buttons located on the front seats. The touchscreen folds down for discreet storage under the cushion; the tunnel structure has a stroke of 50 cm and can be slid fully back to facilitate movement between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat.
Four iPad Minis are integrated in the headrests for passengers seated in rows two and three. The seats of the two back rows can be folded flat to create one large load platform offering a total volume of around 900 litres. The steering wheel also features buttons replaced by two mini touch pads that replicate the main control functions and allow the indicators to be activated.
The upholstery is a geometric diamond pattern in Castel Rock grey, digitally printed on a white Alcantara leather. This exclusive version of Alcantara is used for the instrument panel, steering wheel, central tunnel, oddments compartment and the back shell of the seats. Lanificio Cerruti has also developed an exclusive cashmere fabric for Italdesign Giugiaro. With a special film applied to the back of the fabric, it is said to be impermeable and breathable.
A further Duvati version of the Italdesign Guigaro Clipper will be presented at the Geneva Motor Show 2014. This version of the Clipper features doors of a different design and a slightly different C-pillar compared to the original version. The livery sports the official Ducati colours and graphics in a tribute to the imminent world championship season. There is also a Ducati Panigale 1199 S which complements the style and performance of all models to leave the Borgo Panigale plant.
