Proton has unveiled some additional information on the new concept series hybrid car they will be unveiling at the Geneva show.

Some of the text leads me to believe that this Proton concept and the Italdesign Giugiaro concept teaser on their website are one and the same.

UPDATE: Italdesign Giugiaro’s press release has confirmed that their concept car and Proton’s Giugiaro-designed car are one and the same. I’m updating this list with new info on the road via my smartphone. Check the list below for the new info. Italdesign says we can follow the development of the whole project step by step from the 12th February 2010 (probably some European timezone) on Italdesign’s website.

For now, there is no official name for the car announced yet – it is simply referred to by Proton as “Proton Concept Car” for now. Proton advisor and ex-PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be in Geneva to launch the concept car.

Here are the released details:

  • The car is a creative collaboration with Italdesign Giugiaro.
  • The concept car will have 5 doors and will seat 4.
  • It is 3,550 mm in length, which is approximately a good half a meter longer than the Toyota iQ but shorter than the Proton Savvy.
  • The four seats will be independently adjustable and slideable.
  • The car will use a series hybrid drive. A combustion engine will be mounted at the front and will be used only to recharge lithium ion batteries.
  • The lithium ion batteries will drive the motor that moves the car.
  • It uses a special chassis with a raise floor that allows installation of the regular combustion engine at the front and batteries in the rear
  • According to Italdesign chairman Giorgetto Giugiaro, the car was designed to offer interior spaciousness of a D-segment car with the exterior dimensions of an A-segment car.
  • The hip point is designed to be at just the right natural and ergonomic height – you do not get down into the car like a short sedan or “climb” up into the car like an SUV.

I still don’t have official photos of the car provided to me by an official source yet – only some foreign publications have it, such as Autocar UK. Do you like the concept car’s styling? Cast your vote in the poll below.