14.04.2018 MORE PININFARINA CONCEPTS FOR HYBRID KINETIC SET FOR AUTO CHINA DEBUT

PININFARINA HYBRID KINETIC GROUP H500 SEDAN 2018
PININFARINA HYBRID KINETIC GROUP H500 SEDAN 2018

While a sedan, the H500 has a very short boot which is more in the “fastback” mould and although a conservative design it has striking ridges along the tops of the front wings that chase backwards to integrate into the lower window surrounds.

 
PININFARINA HYBRID KINETIC GROUP K350 COMPACT SUV 2018
PININFARINA HYBRID KINETIC GROUP K350 COMPACT SUV 2018

At Auto China Pininfarina will unveil the K350 SUV. According to Pininfarina it “stands as the most compact SUV in the range thus showing perfect proportions, well-placed volumes on the wheels and a robust and athletic ‘body’.”

Pininfarina is preparing to unveil at this month’s Auto China show the fifth and sixth in a line of electric concept cars it's creating for Hong Kong’s Hybrid Kinetic Group.

The two new models will be a sedan, dubbed the “H500”, and a compact SUV, the “K350”. Hybrid Kinetic Group hopes to start building a range of electric cars using its own developed innovative technology and the company has some sector experience to call upon as it currently assembles electric buses based on converted MAN chassis.

The H500 and K350 follow hot on the heels of the “GT”, an extravagantly styled grand tourer concept which was revealed for the first time at last month’s Geneva Motor Show and is now set to make its China debut at this month's motor show.

Whether any of these concept cars will ever reach the production stage in the future isn’t known yet but at the very least it’s always very interesting to observe the take on contemporary vehicle forms and shapes by a design company as historically renown as Pininfarina and such a broad project will also provide the company with useful cashflow.

According to a press release from Pininfarina the H500 is “an electric sedan that combines elegance and sportiness, pure shapes and sophisticated details, designed for dynamic lifestyle seekers.”

The teaser image portrays a sedan that has production ready looks, it’s certainly a more realistic proposition that the less realistic “show car” styling of last month’s GT in Geneva.

While a sedan, the H500 has a very short boot which is more in the “fastback” mould and although a relatively conservative design it has striking ribs along the tops of the front wings that chase backwards to integrate into the lower window surrounds.

Meanwhile, the front grille follows the specific design language seen on the previous concepts and appears to make use of blue light as a design detail which was first seen in Geneva last month on the debuting GT. Clearly by the size and shape if the H500 ever reaches production its firmly aimed at Tesla’s Model S.

Pininfarina adds that the H500 “presents the leading-edge technology developed by HK for the drive system, with battery, electric motors, central control unit and range extender.”

The second concept car will be an SUV, dubbed the K350. According to Pininfarina it “stands as the most compact SUV in the range thus showing perfect proportions, well-placed volumes on the wheels and a robust and athletic ‘body’.”

This design also appears relatively conventional and most prominentally features a now popular floating roof design to give a more sporty appearance while the long and narrow rear light cluster theme of the HK range continues onto this new concept. Slim wheel arch trims, widely used as a detailing finisher on SUV models today, also appear in the teaser image released by Pininfarina.

The H500 and K350 follow on from the H600 luxury sedan which was presented at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, the 5-seater SUV K550 SUV and the K750 7-seater SUV presented at the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show, and most recently the HK GT last month in Geneva.

Photos: Pininfarina designed concept cars for Hybrid Kinetic Group (2017-18)

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