Italdesign Giugiaro GEA: Win a Test Drive in the Autonomous Luxury Concept
Italdesign offers a rare test drive opportunity with its GEA concept, a 764bhp electric autonomous saloon focused on luxury and passenger experience.
Italdesign is offering enthusiasts a chance to experience the GEA concept first-hand, with a competition to win a test drive in the all-electric, fully autonomous luxury saloon. The GEA, first revealed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, is a showcase for Italdesign’s vision of future mobility, combining high performance with a focus on rear passenger comfort and advanced technology.
A luxury saloon with autonomous focus
The GEA stands out for its size and presence: at 5.37 metres long, it is even longer than an Audi A8, and rides on 26-inch, 60-spoke alloy wheels milled from solid aluminium. The body uses lightweight materials including aluminium, carbon fibre and magnesium to keep weight just over 2,000kg. Powered by four electric motors, two at each axle, the GEA develops a combined 570kW (764bhp), with a claimed top speed of 250km/h (155mph).
Externally, the design is minimal but distinctive, with slim LED and Audi laserlight clusters that change colour depending on the driving mode: white for manual driving, blue for autonomous operation. Access is via rear-hinged doors and the absence of a B-pillar, while a virtual red carpet projected by LEDs welcomes passengers. The concept is finished in a deep Obsidian Blue, achieved with a complex three-layer paint process.
Interior: three modes for productivity and comfort
The GEA’s interior is designed around the idea that time in transit can be productive or restorative. The rear cabin is the focus, with three selectable modes controlled via an integrated smartphone app:
- Business mode: transforms the car into a mobile office, with two 19-inch transparent LED screens dropping from the roof, and a front passenger seat that swivels or folds to create a worktop.
- Wellness mode: developed with Technogym, this setting allows passengers to perform light exercises using hidden handles and boards, with instructional videos displayed on the screens.
- Dream mode: creates a relaxing environment with blue ambient lighting, darkened windows and a rear seat that reclines to form a bed, evoking a first-class airline cabin.
Premium materials are used throughout, including woven parchment leather and neutral-coloured textiles. The driver’s area features a 12-inch screen for vehicle information, with major controls managed from the steering wheel or the central sphere between the front seats.
Test drive competition: a rare chance to experience GEA
Italdesign’s competition marks a rare opportunity for members of the public to sample a concept car that was never intended for series production. The GEA’s technology and interior concepts previewed ideas that have since influenced luxury EVs and autonomous prototypes across the industry. The test drive will give winners a direct experience of the GEA’s unique cabin modes and autonomous capabilities, as well as its striking design.
For more on the GEA’s unveiling and public appearances, seeItaldesign Giugiaro GEA Concept Unveiled at Geneva 2015.
