This is the Toyota Volta concept car.
Italdesign-Giugiaro’s Toyota Volta makes its North American debut having first being unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2004. The collaboration between Italdesign-Giugiaro and Toyota produced a new concept that featured a derivative of its ultimate hybrid system, the one adopted on the Lexus RX 400. On the Volta, the 3.3-liter V-6 gasoline engine is fitted behind the rear axle and not connected directly to the wheels. Motion is ensured by two electrically powered engines, one per axle thereby securing all-wheel drive and enhanced safety.
As such, this epoch-making mechanical layout paves the way to eliminating the traditional transmission and gearbox. Operating electronics enable the power transmitted by the electric motors to the wheels to be modulated, thereby rendering superfluous the clutch. The vehicle’s flat floor allows for three passengers in a 14.1-foot-long (4.3 meters) coupe which is slightly narrower than 6.5 feet (two meters).
Housed under the lightweight, carbon-fiber chassis, designed and engineered by the Italdesign- Giugiaro technical department, are the batteries, weighing 154.3 lbs. (70 kg). The result is a significantly leaner weight, balanced and encompassed between the axles, 300 kW/408 hp output, top speed limited at 155 mph (250 km/h). The Volta concept car proves it is possible to offer high performance in a car whose green credentials are unimpeachable.
