01 Dec 08 15:47
Fiat Phylla
Fiat has got its Phylla fuel cell concept car up and running, and is giving test-drives to local government officials in Turin this week.
The Phylla's hydrogen-fuelled motor is supplemented by energy captured by its roof-mounted solar panels; it can run for up to 11 miles in electric-only mode and do over 80mph.
The whole car is fully recyclable, and it has been developed to be cheap to make and cheap to run. Its asymmetric split-frame structure allows for a number of different bodystyles to be fitted to the same chassis, and the structure could also support different powertrains, whether low-consumption conventional engines or alternative-fuel.
Less than 3m long, the Phylla has a 2+2-seater layout and its rear seats fold flat to form a luggage space of up to 584 litres. It may be still at prototype stage, but we reckon it's a fair hint at the so-called 'new Topolino', Fiat's upcoming Smart-rivalling tiny city car scheduled for production in 2010.
