- At Geneva 2018 the eco sustainable future according to Pininfarina
- Debut of the HK GT, electric powered gran turismo for Asian markets
- The H2 Speed becomes reality: small series Pininfarina-branded production for the first ever race car powered by hydrogen
Turin, 6 March 2018 – The future of the car according to Pininfarina takes a bow at the Geneva
Motor Show from 8 to 18 March. Two novelties and a single common denominator: environmental
sustainability. World debut for the HK GT, elegant and eco-sustainable Gran Turismo developed for
Hybrid Kinetic Group, and the running version of the H2 Speed, which started life in 2016 as a
concept car and is today a model earmarked for production in a small Pininfarina-branded series.
Pininfarina’s special focus on sustainable mobility and state-of-the-art technology has been shown
on more than one occasion to be part of the Company’s evolution. Pininfarina confirms not only
that it innovates today and anticipates the future, but also provides solutions for a better tomorrow.
With the HK GT Pininfarina aims to set new standards in the segment of luxury gran turismo without
forgoing environmental sustainability: like the H600 luxury saloon presented at Geneva 2017 and
the 5 and 7 seater SUVs presented at Shanghai 2017, the GT presents the leading edge technology
developed by HK for the drive system, with battery, electric motors, central control unit and range
extender. An elegant, refined and comfortable thoroughbred that skillfully combines pure design
and environmentally friendly technology. And with a strong personality, characterised by the gull
wing door opening that makes it uniquely distinguishable in the panorama of GT’s launched on the
Asian market.
Pininfarina is developing for Hybrid Kinetic Group a modular platform able to feed a complete
range of electric vehicles. “We are very proud to add new members to the family of cars born out
of our collaboration with Hybrid Kinetic Group, confirming the passion and joint effort towards
environmental protection and the development of clean energy vehicles”, explains CEO Silvio
Pietro Angori. “Hybrid Kinetic Group is for Pininfarina a crucial and solid partner. We started our
cooperation last year and we are building together a new range of electric vehicles continuing to
refine the identity and the formal language of their brand. What is more, we are preparing together
the path that will lead them to the commercial debut with the presentation of the first Hybrid
Kinetic production car destined to the international market. So, the HK GT is just another step
forward for a long-term and fruitful relationship”.
With the new H2 Speed, on the other hand, the theme of environmental sustainability reaches the
racing circuit. The running version of the concept presented by Pininfarina in 2016 debuts in
Geneva. At the time the concept attracted such acclaim for its styling and innovative content that
it won the Concept Car of the Year 2016 and Best Concept awards at the Geneva Motor Show
2016. Now, however, the H2 Speed is no longer just a concept, but the first ever limited-edition
production of a race car (based on an LMP – Le Mans Prototype – chassis FIA) powered by
hydrogen, ready to be driven by the gentleman driver who secures one of the 12 units scheduled
to be produced. The small Pininfarina-branded series will be produced at the Cambiano Atelier,
the facility dedicated by Pininfarina to the conception and manufacturing of Fuoriserie and very
small volumes. H2 Speed will be powered by the revolutionary hydrogen technology already
significantly tried and tested on the track by GreenGT, a Franco-Swiss company that since 2008 has
been designing, developing and manufacturing clean, sustainable propulsion systems. For the H2-
Speed, GreenGT has developed ‘Full Hydrogen Power’ technology, a powerful “electric-hydrogen”
fuel cell. The result is a zero emissions car capable of reaching a maximum power output of 653
horsepower releasing only water vapour into the atmosphere. The future owners of the H2 Speed
will have the opportunity to enjoy their cars with its unique handling and powertrain characteristics
in selected track days around the world.
“After the presentation of the concept at Geneva 2016”, explains Chairman Paolo Pininfarina, “we
received such a positive response to the H2 Speed that we just had to make it a reality. Going back
to our roots as an Atelier able to produce exclusive one-off models and very small series, we are
planning to produce the 12 units of the H2 Speed in our workshop in Torino. And I am very proud
that they will be manufactured under the Pininfarina brand”.
With the HK GT and the H2 Speed, Pininfarina therefore confirms its excellence in design and
research applied to sustainable mobility, highlights of a company strongly committed to
engineering services and the production of special cars and limited series of exclusive models.
On Pininfarina’s stand at the Geneva Motor Show, sustainability also involves two-wheelers in the
form of the E-voluzione Carbon Fiber, electric bicycle designed by Pininfarina and built by Diavelo,
a member of the Accell Group.Staying on the theme of research, a Pininfarina masterpiece of the past, the Sigma Grand Prix of 1969, will be exhibited at the Geneva Motor Show on the Revue Automobile stand. The magazine, whose first issue came out 112 years ago, has undergone major restyling with the addition of new sections and new formats. To celebrate the relaunch, it is exhibiting the Sigma Grand Prix, a project in which the Swiss magazine had collaborated. The Sigma reinterpreted and renewed the concept of Formula 1 by introducing important safety content aimed at drastically reducing the risk component inherent in this sport. As a result of the work of an international team of experts, the prototype incorporated solutions that were at that time futuristic and have become run-of-the-mill today, such as the safety tanks and the on-board fire-fighting system.
