2011 Icona Fuselage - AllCarIndex

The company

Founded in early 2010, Icona Shanghai brings together some of the best European design, engineering, modeling and prototyping experience in the automotive sector for the benefit of its customers in China and Asia.

Through its integrated partnership with sector leaders Tecnocad Progetti and Cecomp located in Torino (Italy), Icona Shanghai benefits from more than 30 years’ experience and offers a complete range of services for vehicle development, including styling, engineering, manufacturing of design models and prototypes.

At the Shanghai 2011 Auto Show Icona introduces 2 new vehicles, both based on electric power train:

- Fuselage, a concept show car

- E3WM, a Personal Mobility Vehicle

Fuselage

For the Shanghai 2011 Auto Show Icona unveils the Fuselage, a concept study where elegance and glamour come together with advanced technology.

Designed by Samuel Chuffart, Design Director of Icona Shanghai, along with his design team, Fuselage was engineered by Tecnocad Progetti and manufactured by Cecomp, the 2 founding company partners of Icona Shanghai.

The vehicle is a concrete example of the skills, know-how and capabilities that Icona Shanghai and its Italian mother companies can offer to its customers.

The style

“Passion and aerodynamics” drove the development of the ICONA Fuselage.

Fuselage is a roomy 4-seater electric vehicle with a sensuous and exciting design.  Fuselage proves how a 4-seater sedan can evolve into an elegant and sporty profile.

The attention to aerodynamics is eye-catching: the low profile, the reduced front section and several specific devices allow an optimized efficiency, with a Cd of 0.26 as measured in the wind tunnel.

A single large gull-wing door and the absence of a B pillar ensure convenient passenger access and offer a partial clearance of the roof.

With a wheelbase of 2870 mm, the Fuselage’s four passengers enjoy generous leg room. Horizontal space gain does not affect the vehicle’s drag efficiency, and the car’s slightly stretched profile is reminiscent of a plane fuselage.

The inspiration derived from airplanes does not end there. In the interior, the floating dashboard and center console are inspired by fighter jets’ slick yet sophisticated design.  The design of the seats and door panels express the same balance as the exterior design, mixing stretched flowing shapes with dramatic dynamic graphics.  The driver display provides driving direction in the center with other driving information (concerning mainly speed and autonomy) on either side. Rear view cameras combined with the radio and GPS antennas on each side of the car provide an image which is displayed in the center of the dashboard.

The Technology

Offering a ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) full electric concept, Fuselage is powered by four sub-axle motors. An AKU (Actuation Traction Unit) executes both motors driving and intelligent high voltage battery management.

In full electric mode, with a total output of 100 kW, Fuselage can reach a top speed of 200 Km/ h, from 0 to 100 Km/ h in 4.5 seconds and a range of 220 Km. The 360 Kg battery pack is located in the central tunnel: it provides 15 kW/ h and has a 380 V nominal voltage. In addition the regenerating brake power recuperation and two solar panels provide enough energy for interior electric components. The EMU (Energy Management Unit) regulates and dispatches the appropriate amount of energy at the right place according to the different needs of the vehicle.

A serial hybrid powertrain is available as an option. A small displacement engine running at stable low speed charges the batteries and provides an efficient way to extend the autonomy of the vehicle.

Fuselage Specifications

 SOURCE: Icona Shanghai