GFG Style and Envision unveil concept car at Geneva Motor Show

Geneva, 6 March 2018:Today, at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, GFG Style and Envision unveil a new concept electric vehicle that brings together beautiful design with beautiful energy, to signpost the future of mobility.

The GFG Sibylla is a smart electric sedan developed in collaboration with Envision, a leader in smart energy management. The vehicle uses Envision’sEnOS™ energy IoT platform to integrate with its surrounding energy infrastructure, allowing the car to become intelligently integrated into the wider energy ecosystem. The design is functional and ergonomic, echoing the seamless integration of EnOS™.

2018 marks Giorgetto Giugiaro’s 80thbirthday; this car is a celebration of a lifetime dedicated to iconic automotive design. Giugiaro has made a tradition of presenting his prototype models at the Geneva Auto Show. In recognition, his classic Chevrolet Corvair Testudo Bertone, first unveiled in Geneva in 1963, is displayed alongside the Sibylla today.

A four-door luxury sedan, the car incorporates innovative solutions in terms of accessibility, functionality, and aesthetics. It revisits classic themes; it is elegant, with generous dimensions (over 5 metres long and 1.48 metres high). The choice of electric propulsion enhanced the interior space and allowed Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro to revolutionise accessibility and exploit this space by introducing rational, functional, ergonomic solutions both inside and outside of the vehicle.

“The integration of EV charging into the electricity grid is one of the biggest challenges for the automotive industry today. Sustainable mobility can only become a reality once sufficient clean energy is integrated into the energy system to charge millions of EVs, and for that to happen the world’s transport and energy systems need to merge into one ecosystem. We joined forces with GFG Style to address this challenge,” said LeiZhang, Founder and CEO of Envision.

An electric car with a 75 KWh battery can store as much electricity as an average European household consumes in a week. Integrating the car into the energy system means the car can be both an energy source and help contribute to stabilising the energy grid, a critical link between energy supply and demand. With EnOS™, the car not only connects to a network of renewable energy assets, but also communicate and shares energy with other vehicles, homes and buildings, enabling clean, secure and affordable electricity in a flexible and smart future energy system.

The Sibylla will be unveiled at Geneva Motor Show at 14:30 CET, on the GFG Style stand, located at Booth 1044 Hall 1.

Details of the cars architecture and interior are included below.

The name

The name Sibylla was chosen in reference to the figure from Latin mythology endowed with the ability to provide answers and predict the future. This connects to the ability of the EnOS™ platform to make the car smart within the wider energy ecosystem, able to provide data from the external world and support the future of e-mobility. It is also a fitting tribute to Giorgetto’s mother, named Sibylla.

The architecture

Out innovations in the car’s design allow seamless entry and exit of the cockpit, making it surprisingly accessible, luminous and panoramic.

The drive enters by sliding the windscreen towards the front by 750 mm on three tracks: two on the bonnet and one on the roof. The central longitudinal structure also has hinges for the second-row passenger windows, which open in a gullwing fashion. The doors open at the same time as the windscreen and rear window; once seated, the cockpit closes automatically. Both the wrap-around windscreen and rear window can be adjusted at will, even when travelling at moderate speed. These solutions eliminate the side structure, allowing driver and passengers to enter like in a spider.

The large transparent roof dome is wraparound. Without the A-pillar it starts from the bonnet and reaches the B-pillar. The upper part of the side rises towards the confluence of the roof dome with the rear window. In the middle of the side, a bold, dynamically and optically “dry” dihedral breaks the surface; it connects to the big, protruding wheel arches, adding sportiness. 

The generous 22-inch wheels are fitted with the innovative Pirelli Cyber Tyres, which, thanks to an internal sensor, provide essential information on tyre condition, road conditions and vehicle performance to both the driver and the car control unit. Innovative “stellar” wheels ensure a constant surface balance.

The low part between the wheel arches (in the sill zone) is recessed and facilitates exit from the seat centre and lightens the side. An edge that rests on the rear spoiler starts from the rear door, while the same door generates the line that envelops the rear window and the boot lid cut-line.

At the front, a precious grille enhances the trim aligned with the bonnet, showing the GFG logo. The horizontal headlights, seamless with the bonnet edge, are slim and feature a recognisable and distinctive illuminated pattern. Two spoilers and two air intakes are carved out of either side of the grille. An additional spoiler is to be found in the middle under the grille and joins up with the side spoilers.

At the far end of the front, at the confluence with the side, there is a slot with a front stop light. This device, which has never been fitted by any manufacturer or contemplated by lawmakers, is a preventive stop signal that would give pedestrians visual assurance when crossing the road that the approaching car is braking.

The bonnet with the two-windscreen slide-ways is well characterised and confirms the car’s aggressive appearance, while supporting the sliding movement of the windscreen. Two cameras on each side act as a rear-view mirror and for controlling parking manoeuvres.

The rear view proposes lighting that follows the side panel section. The central logo masks the electric charging plug. The generous bumper proposes two spoilers in harmony with the patterns at the front.

At the rear, the trunk fits into the kamm tail designed for aerodynamic efficiency. It opens by leaving the rear window fixed as with classic sedans but with a particularly generous luggage compartment access.

The interior

The Sibylla has airy, panoramic spaces emphasised by a dashboard that develops crescent fashion over the entire windscreen cross member, four identical seats, two equal and independent central cabinets and an innovative space behind the rear seats.

In detail, the dashboard is equipped with displays and monitors that communicate data, with the most advanced information, empowered by Envision’sEnOS™ platform. Consistent with its name, the Sibylla offers a whole series of data to the drive from within the car and its outside environment, from the weather, to driving conditions, to the nearest charging point– through a LED display positioned at the front of the car under the bonnet.

The Sybilla offers an aircraft-style yoke steering wheel. Touch pads are positioned on the wheel at thumb level to allow the best control with minimal distraction from driving.

The completely flat floor accommodates four identical seats with the same settings and services.

The surrounding space has been handled according to the best ergonomic criteria. In the middle, the two spacious, identical centre cabinets run on slides anchored to the seats to improve accessibility. A monitor is hinged to the front of the cabinets for access to the devices on the dashboard. The plate rotates and can be fully reclined to allow the user to move to the other side in case of need.

Due to the dome-type roof, the channel for the traditional window opening has disappeared and a very large recess in the door panel has been created. Above the armrest, a flap also allows access to a document compartment that replaces the one normally provided under the dashboard, which is rather inconvenient.

The generous dimensions of the cockpit have also made it possible to obtain space for suitcases, bags and garments behind the rear seats: this service is usually provided by the overhead compartment but with less privacy. The base of the luggage compartment is equipped with a sliding shelf, which moves 25cm outwards when the bonnet is raised to facilitate storage manoeuvres.

The interiors are finished with prestigious Poltrona Frau leather. The inside of the backrests of the four seats come with an innovative sensor device, engineered by the Japanese company Delta Kogyo Co, which detects sudden changes in passengers' physical condition (blood pressure variations, heart rate, etc.).

The Sibylla is equipped with a large luminous display inside the grille able to “communicate” with the outside world, providing information on the charge status of the batteries, giving movement alerts, signalling certain manoeuvres of the car as for example when braking or turning.

GFG Style and Envision unveil concept car that signposts the future of mobility

Moncalieri / Shanghai, 27 February 2018: GFG Style and Envision are pleased to present a new concept electric vehicle at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

The concept car brings together beautiful design with beautiful energy, defining a car that integrates with its surrounding energy infrastructure.

“In celebration of my father’s 80th birthday, we have designed a car that combines the comfort of an SUV with the elegance of a luxury sedan and dynamics of a sports car. It is a beautiful shape, inspired by the seamless efficiency that Envision’s EnOS™ energy IoT platform enables,” said Fabrizio Giugiaro, CEO of GFG STYLE.

“Integration of EV charging into the electricity system is one of the biggest challenges for the automotive industry today. Sustainable mobility can only become a reality once sufficient clean energy is integrated into the energy system to charge millions of EVs, and for that to happen the world’s transport and energy systems need to merge into one ecosystem. We joined forces with GFG styles to address this challenge,” said Zhang Lei, Founder and CEO of Envision.

A four door, luxury sedan, empowered by Envision’s EnOS™ energy IoT platform, the car is a ground-breaking concept, introducing innovative solutions in accessibility and mastery of driving with clean energy and a connection with the broader energy ecosystem.

Empowered by EnOS™, the world’s largest energy IoT platform, the car can also become an intelligent green power plant. A car (e.g. with a 75 KWh battery) stores as much electricity as an average European household consumes in a week, and can be both a flexible demand and an energy source. With EnOS™, the car not only connects to a network of 100GW of renewable assets, but also communicates and shares energy with other vehicles, homes and buildings, enabling a flexible and smart future energy system. This makes electricity clean, secure, and affordable for millions of EV users.

Zhang added: “With EnOS™, for the first time, a driver can influence the colour of their electricity and contribute to a world of Beautiful Energy®.”

The car’s name, Sibylla, was chosen in reference to the figure from Latin mythology endowed with the ability to provide answers and predict the future. This connects to the ability of the EnOS™ platform to make the car smart within the wider energy ecosystem, able to provide data from the external world and support the future of e-mobility. It is also a fitting tribute to Giorgetto’s mother, named Maria Sibilla.

Beautiful Design

Sibylla is a sporty four-seater all-wheel drive. Its design references the very low and provocative hedonistic cars Giorgetto designed in the Sixties and Seventies; a juxtaposition with the future-proofing technology which the concept car runs on.

Over five metres long, and 1.48 meters high, the car is a generous size. There is a continuous outline, which descends harmoniously from the transparent upper part towards the tail, while the side is made more light and dynamic thanks to a dihedral cut running just below the base of the window. This optically connects to the wheel arches, while the sill area of the brancardo is enlivened by a strong arched recess, also connected to the wheel arches.

The way the car opens is ground-breaking, with the world’s first sliding windscreen front section: the expansive windshield dome moves forward, sliding at the center and opening into a huge space for the driver and front passenger.

The dashboard has a full-width smart interface, displaying data on the car’s performance and the wider environment which it drives through.

Beautiful Energy®

Envision has long pursued the concept of a holistic ecosystem, where energy, transport and infrastructure work in harmony, to enable the world’s transition to a sustainable future in which energy becomes clean, secure, and affordable. This is Envision’s vision of “Beautiful Energy®”.

Developed and owned by Envision, EnOS™ is the largest energy IoT platform in the world, currently managing 100GW of energy assets globally; equivalent to the entire power generation capacity of the United Kingdom.

Being EnOS™ Empowered, the car is intended to become intelligently integrated into the wider energy ecosystem. It becomes part of the energy solution, not only as an intelligent, interactive electricity demand movable in time and space to help integrate renewable energy generation, but also sharing energy with the driver’s home and the community when needed.

This concept car is truly a breakthrough in embedding the car into a larger energy system, across our homes, communities and smart cities. The car signposts the potential, and growing need, for traditional car designers and manufactures to fully engage in the wider energy ecosystem – one which is electric, connected, clean and beautiful.