pininfarina's enigma GT, a hydrogen-powered concept car with AR

Pininfarina unveils enigma GT at geneva motor show 2024

During the Geneva International Motor Show 2024, which runs from February 26th to March 3rd, Pininfarina introduces its new hydrogen-powered concept car, Enigma GT. The vehicle has a singular augmented-reality windscreen, canopy, and windows that lift up and serve as the car’s doors. It can accommodate up to four people and has a mid-rear engine layout, and its hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine is coupled with an electric motor at the front axle. While it is a fully virtual design study, Pininfarina’s Enigma GT is planning to further develop the concept for its 95th anniversary in 2025.

images courtesy of Pininfarina

Hydrogen-powered concept car with AR windscreen

The large AR windscreen, canopy, and windows of Pininfarina’s hydrogen-powered Enigma GT let the natural light in and give the users a 180-degree panoramic view. The low-level concept car, which was introduced at the Geneva International Motor Show 2024, has front wings that are cut and designed to be aerodynamic so that the air moves along with minimal resistance as it speeds through the highway. Glancing at the front area, the traditional headlights are replaced by a modern light bar in the middle. Unlike many cars, the hydrogen-powered Enigma GT has its engine in the middle at the back, which allows for a sleek front design and more space for people inside.

at the Geneva International Motor Show 2024, Pininfarina introduces its hydrogen-powered concept car, Enigma GT

Pininfarina says that the concept car can adjust its shape to different conditions, meaning that when it drives fast, the Enigma GT changes its shape to be streamlined and reduce air resistance. The design team has yet to expound on this scheme but adds that it may help maintain good control of the car even at high speeds. The Enigma GT also has a very low drag coefficient, which, combined with its small front area, means it can weather maneuvering through the air smoothly. Other parts of the concept car aid the low drag coefficient, which includes the active grill shutters that cool down the car components, front wheel deflectors, an aerodynamic tail, and the base bleeding system, which increases the pressure downstream of the vehicle to reduce resistance.

the vehicle has a singular augmented-reality windscreen, canopy, and windows that lift up and serve as the car’s doors

invisible transparent OLED screen as digital centerpiece

The design inspiration of the AR windscreen, canopy, and windows that lift up is drawn from Pininfarina’s past concept cars, such as the Abarth 2000 Coupe Pininfarina, the Modulo, the Ferrari 512S Berlinetta Speciale, the Maserati Birdcage 75th, and the Teorema. A new addition to the hydrogen-powered concept car is the almost invisible, transparent OLED screen that acts as a digital centerpiece and the AR windscreen. For the latter, Pininfarina employs AI to assist drivers in real-time. The AR windscreen then flashes Points of Interest, identifies and alerts drivers about blind spots, and integrates Advanced Driver Assistance Systems for their safety. All of this information appears directly in the driver’s field of vision.

the concept car can accommodate up to four people and has a mid-rear engine layout

Pininfarina plans to create a multi-functional steering wheel with touch displays for its hydrogen-powered Enigma GT. These touch screens around the steering wheel allow the driver to customize their driving options, such as the car modes, what music or entertainment it plays, and how it communicates to them. It is on one of these touch screens that the driver can also toggle the autonomous driving mode for long distances. In this setting, the driver doesn’t need to put their hands on the steering wheel and just lets the hydrogen-powered concept car do the navigational work. As of publishing the story, the concept car is expected to have a maximum speed of 250 km/h, an acceleration rate from 0 to 100 in around four seconds, and a battery with a 10 kWh capacity.

the vehicle’s hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine is coupled with an electric motor at the front axle