Extending its association with Hybrid Kinetic Group, Pininfarina has come up with the fourth model (the first three being the H600 sedan, and K550 and K750 SUVs). Rushlane had the privilege of getting up close with the stunning HK GT sportscar concept at a private unveiling in the Italian design house’s Turin HQ a week ahead of its world premiere at 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
The 2018 HK GT would serve as a brand shaper for the new premium automotive brand which is expected to launch the first of its production vehicles towards the end of this year. The sportscars design has in its core the quintessential Italian Gran Turismo architecture with a long nose, sporty silhouette, and a simple yet elegant rear.
The low-slung front fascia is a sportier interpretation of HK’s design identity. The wide illuminated grille is embellished with chrome finished slats, and also encompasses the stylish LED headlamps. The C-shaped foglights and pronounced contours on the hood make for an unmissable road presence.
In profile, the HK GT’s strong beltline, gently tapering roof, and expressive sheet metal design direct the visual bulk towards the rear wheel. The overall result is an extremely dynamic-looking GT which is ready to spring forward from the word go.
Access to the 2+2 cabin is via the gigantic gull-wing doors. The futuristic interior is designed to blend the GT’s race-ready and road-ready characteristics seamlessly. The dashboard and front seats are finished in a combination of creamy white and grey theme while the interesting rear bench (with floating seatbacks) is appointed with vintage grey quilted leather upholstery (carrying HK logo).
In race mode, the cockpit is illuminated in red and the digital instrument console displays only relevant data to help the driver focus on the track. In cruise mode, the cabin has a relaxed ambiance and an infotainment display materializes from the passenger side of the dashboard.
As for things under the sculpted skin, the 2018 HK GT is powered by 4 permanent magnet electric motors which have an outrageous combined output of 800 KW. The motors are supported by HK’s 38 KWh super batteries. Customers can choose from a range of 3 range extenders – a micro-turbine which runs on a variety of fuels, a hydrogen fuel-cell, or a highly efficient IC engine.
Mated to a 2-speed transmission, the GT is capable of a top speed of 350 kmph and 0-100 kmph time of just 2.7 seconds! The pure electric range is claimed to be 160 km. With the range extender, the car can travel over 1,000 km before it needs a recharge.
