The lines of the hybrid concept were penned by former Volkswagen designer Murat Guenak and its key features include a pair of gullwing doors, semi-open wheels, a long hood and a steeply sloped windshield. Despite the futuristic look of the car, complete with 22" rims, designers have added a pair of circular headlights, reminiscent of the sports cars from the 1950s and ’60s.
The vehicle is based on an aluminum spaceframe and it features a plastic body stretching 13.8ft (4.2m) in length. This lightweight construction ensures the car’s kerb weight comes in at a low 1,760lb (800kg), allowing engineers to add a much smaller powertrain than you would normally find in a hybrid cars. This powertrain consists of a small 94hp (70kW) electric motor and lithium-ion battery that can drive the car up to 62mi (100km) on a single charge. When the batteries are about to become depleted, a small petrol engine rated at just 24hp (18kW) kicks in and tops them up. This is a similar to set-up to GM’s E-Flex system, which will debut in the production Chevrolet Volt. Mindset’s car also has a roof-mounted solar panel for extra juice.
Developers hope to have the car in production next year, and are planning to sell up to 10,000 units annually at a price of about €50,000 ($63,800).
Via: Quattroruote