Renowned design house Pininfarina unveiled the futuristic Enigma GT at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show, a design study that explores the future of “everyday driving pleasure”. The virtual concept is still a work in progress and features a large canopy for access to a 2+2 interior. More importantly, it is powered by a combination of a hydrogen-burning V6 and an electric motor, offering AWD capabilities.
Felix Kilbertus, Chief Creative Officer of Pininfarina, described the concept as a “contemporary GT, a 2+2 with desirable, exotic looks, exuding purity of design, elegance, and Italian flair”. The Enigma GT will be further evolved for Pininfarina’s 95th anniversary in 2025, making us believe that it could spawn a real-life prototype sometime in the future.
More: Pininfarina Designs Luxury RV That Expands Into A Mini Mansion
The exterior is characterized by a low-slung silhouette, a single-piece wraparound greenhouse, slim LED bars on both ends, large-diameter wheels, and a sculpted bodywork reminiscent of earlier Pininfarina concepts.
With a length of 4,580 mm (180.3 inches), the Engima GT is 140 mm (5.5 inches) shorter than a Tesla Model 3 while having an incrementally longer wheelbase of 2,880 mm (113.4 inches). According to the designers, the mid-rear engine layout proved to be beneficial for both the aerodynamics and the interior packaging. As a result, the concept has a drag coefficient of 0,24 cd, aided by active aerodynamics on the grille shutters, front wheel deflectors, underbody, and tail.
The large canopy lifts together with the dashboard, revealing the high-tech cabin with a 2+2 seating layout. The centerpiece is a transparent OLED screen on the dashboard which is combined with an augmented reality windshield harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence. The multi-functional steering wheel has a weird shape that is said to mimic the handshake of an “intelligent and friendly machine”. The seats are upholstered in sustainable materials, while elements of the hydrogen powertrain are visible to the occupants. Finally, an autonomous driving mode enhances comfort and safety in longer journeys.
A Hybrid That Combines Hydrogen With Electric Power
The unconventional hybrid powertrain combines a hydrogen combustion engine with an electric motor and a small battery pack. The hydrogen-burning engine is a turbocharged 2.5-liter V6 with 436 hp (325 kW / 442 PS) driving the rear axle, while an electric motor with up to 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) powers the front wheels and giving the Enigma GT AWD capability.
With the 9 Kg hydrogen tank full and the 10 kWh battery fully charged, the Pininfarina Enigma GT is said to offer a driving range of 550 km (342 miles) in the combined cycle. At the same time, the concept is projected to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 4 seconds, before topping out at an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).
Pininfarina says that the presentation “deliberately withholds the complete revelation” of the concept’s styling, as the full unveiling is reserved for the future. Besides the virtual-only Enigma GT, visitors to the 2024 Geneva Motor Show will also be able to experience “state-of-the-art design tools” from the Pininfarina Design Center, offering a glimpse of vehicle development.
