Pininfarina paves the way to the future through a futuristic and daring Virtual Concept Car, Teorema, completely developed by using VR technologies. An all-new interpretation of fully electric, autonomous mobility in the name of user experience and technology, studied to create a sense of community and foster interactions amongst passengers and the outdoor environment. As the expression of Pininfarina’s vision for a shared, hyper connected mobility of the future, TEOREMA was designed from the inside out. The design teams in Cambiano and Shanghai created the interior experience before developing the exterior, starting from an electric skateboard chassis which allows the car to have a comfortable large space on its inside.
“Pininfarina has always looked to the future using concept cars as an innovation tool to chart the direction and introduce new visions in terms of usability and technology in the automotive industry – comments Chief Creative Officer Kevin Rice. – TEOREMA, in particular, wants to give people back the pleasure of living the car, driving and travelling, without the frustrations of increased congestion and other compromises, all while integrating AI, 5G and the latest technology to drive passengers towards new incredible experiences along the journey.”
Over the course of the project, the Pininfarina Virtual Lab, which is integral part of the design process, employed Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and also new Mixed Reality technology to explore different shapes, experiences and scenarios quickly. 1400 mm in height and 5400 mm in length, TEOREMA is conceived both to allow passengers to share experiences along the journey and to provide moments of privacy when desired. Like entering a living room, getting inside the TEOREMA takes place by simply walking inside of it as the rear opens and the roof extends upwards and forwards, leaving ground to a foot-triggering floor that guides passengers to their seats.
Pininfarina TEOREMA also embeds an innovative aerodynamic concept validated though CFD assessments, in light of Pininfarina’s unique experience enabled by its proprietary Wind Tunnel. When seen from above, TEOREMA is split into three separate parts. Between the central living space and the outside surface of each side of the car, open air channels allow air to stream through the whole vehicle. Duct sections smoothly decrease their area and this shape generates an acceleration of air flow passing through them. The high-speed jets that exit at the rear end of the car reduce the wake dimension improving the aerodynamic performance, helping reduce drag and improving the car’s efficiency.
Leveraging Pininfarina’s expertise in interior design and the search for wellbeing, TEOREMA provides an interior space that can be used in different ways and offers a completely new ease of movement inside the car. The occupants are positioned in a pentagon which creates the narrow cabin at the front and a wide body further back. A central, modular space similar to a home environment enables passengers to engage in different actions, moments and experiences including for example a private backspace where passengers can seclude to rest or sleep. The side of the car can be used as backrest when passengers want to, as there is no side entry, thus also making the car stiffer and lighter.
