Vredestein and Giugiaro celebrate a decade of successful partnership, one of the main reasons for Vredestein to display the Giugiaro VAD.HO at the Geneva Motor Show this year. The VAD.HO is a concept car that matches the values and thoughts of the Vredestein brand perfectly.
The challenging “diversion” premiered in Geneva 2007 still represents a niche theme meant to be heatedly discussed: a super-sporty extreme two-seater fuelled by hydrogen to meet the increasingly pressing need to promote and develop alternative and environment friendly propulsion systems and to explore the potential challenge offered to design by a more flexible “displacement” of the chassis lay-out in new engine, mechanical, and electronic equipments.
The decision to remove the steering wheel took Italdesign Giugiaro to the creation of a highly innovative driving system: two joysticks are fixed on the armrests of the pilot’s seating and pedals unit, where all elements can be adjusted and customized to the driver’s needs. The armrest/joystick/ electrical pedals and seating unit is not connected to the chassis. This and its by-wire impulses system allow to adapt the different versions with right, centre and left driving with no onerous works once the vehicle should go into production. This system presents design – construction and performance – characteristics that prompted Italdesign Giugiaro to patent it.
Vredestein attaches great importance to a clean and healthy environment. Therefore, Vredestein only develops tyres that are completely free from oils containing PCA’s, which pollute the environment. A good example of Vredestein’s care for the natural and human environment is the new Ultrac Cento summer tyre, which will officially be introduced in April 2009. Taking the hugely popular Vredestein Ultrac as their basis, Vredestein engineers placed particular emphasis on comfort, noise, safety and handling when developing the Ultrac Cento. The tyre tread was again created by Giugiaro, adding aesthetics to the Ultrac Cento’s allure. The –SW mark on the side of the tyre means that it meets the strict European noise and wet grip requirements due to be implemented in 2012.