The Icona Design Nucleus EV Is A Lounge On Wheels

• It has no steering wheel or controls, but a myriad of entertainment features for its occupants.
• The entire upper bodywork is a semi-transparent shell.
• Flexible seating arrangement for upto 6 passengers.
• A hydrogen fuel cell range extender combines with the batteries to give it a range of 1200km.

Icona Design has announced that it will showcase its Nucleus driverless vehicle in India at Auto Expo 2020. It is a driverless electric vehicle which draws power from batteries and a hydrogen fuel cell. Built for Level 5 autonomy, the Nucleus has no vehicle controls. And if a mobile lounge is where you prefer to have your champagne in, the Icona Nucleus has a mini bar with champagne flutes.

The company is a design and engineering firm headquartered in Turin. Established in 2010, Icona Design also has offices in Los Angeles and Shanghai. The Nucleus isn’t Icon’s first concept. It was preceded by the Neo, Vulcano, and Fuselage show cars. A one-off Vulcano with a Titanium bodywork was also one of Icona’s projects.

Nucleus is built for the distant future where cars are shared temporary accommodations which ferry people from one place to another all day long. It features a crossover-esque design which seems to be a closed opaque shell. But the upper half of the cabin has large asymmetrical windows for occupants to enjoy the scenery while maintaining their own privacy.

Level 5 autonomy means that the Nucleus can drive itself in all conditions and at all times without requiring the driver to take control of the vehicle. While concepts such as the Kia Futuron retains the pedals and steering wheel, the Nucleus does away with them entirely.

It draws power from two sources: a battery pack and a hydrogen fuel cell. The ‘6-coil’ battery and 5.3kg hydrogen tank give it a combined range of 1200km (claimed). A 110kW electric motor propels each of the four wheels and gives the car a total output of 600PS. Icona claims a 0-100kmph of 3.5 seconds for this 2-ton vehicle.

Icona’s venture into electric mobility allows it to focus closely on the design of its cars. Samuel Chuffart, Vice President, said that the transition to electric powertrains has transformed automotive design, a change that reflects in Icona’s adventurous representations. Emphasizing the company’s multicultural aspect, Chuffart says that Icona’s 90 designers are a diverse group of people from 21 different countries. The company is based in Turin but has centres in Los Angeles and Shanghai.

The company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Teresio Gigi Gaudio, elaborated on the brand’s India entry: “India is a promising market with high potential for design. We expect India to become a major player in Electric Vehicles with the involvement of traditional and new manufacturers.”

We hope Icona’s entry in India will influence automotive design in the country. Italian automotive design is The Nucleus will be at the carmaker’s pavilion at Auto Expo 2020 to demonstrate the company’s vision. Don’t hold your breath for a production model, though.