Frazer-Nash Namir Concept by Giugiaro

Concept Cars 6 Mar 2009

Developed by Italdesign/Giugiaro in partnership with Frazer-Nash, Namir is an extreme sportscar with an aggressive design and a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis. The hybrid powertrain adopts a rotary engine and four electric motors and allows for a 0-100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds.

Namir is a concept car born of the collaboration between Italdesign Giugiaro and Frazer-Nash, a company specialized in the design,
construction, and marketing of hybrid systems deeply rooted in the historical automotive manufacturing company founded in England by Archie Frazer-Nash in 1923.

Presented during the 79th edition of the International Motor Show in Geneva, Namir follows two other hybrid concept cars created by Turin based Italdesign, the Alessandro
Volta project (2004) and the commemorative dream car
Quaranta (2008), celebrated the 40th anniversary of the company.

The Arabian name Namir, meaning “tiger”, sums up the main features of the concept car: elegance and power, aggressiveness and litheness of lines.

The exterior design has an aggressive character with a balanced proportion of volumes and a strong contrast between the sharp accents of the rear end and the sinuous front lines that
emphasise the supercar’s performance.

These include a top speed of over 300 km/h (187 mph) and an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and from 0 to 200km/h in 10.4 seconds, making Namir the fastest hybrid car in
the world.

The car structure consists of a monocoque chassis in carbon-fibre with honeycomb panels, with a total weight of just 110 kg.

The hybrid system developed together with Frazer-Nash combines an 814 cc endothermic rotary engine with four
electric motors, guaranteeing autonomy of 39 km with one litre of fuel CO2 emissions of less than 60 grams per km travelled.

"Namir is not merely an exercise in style in and of itself, but rather a fully developed project followed in each and every phase by the Torino-based
firm: chassis, body, and mechanical layout were designed and constructed by the Engineering Division, the exterior and interior style was entrusted to
the Italdesign Giugiaro Style Centre, while the electrical and electronic
elements were developed in collaboration with Frazer-Nash. "

The prototype was also built entirely in the Italdesign Giugiaro plant. Technical partners of the project include Brembo, Sabelt and Vredestein.

From the Ofiìficial Press Release:

Exterior Design

The
stark yet streamlined styling lends gives an aggressive look, accentuated by bold, angular lines and the contrasting colours of the sunny orange body and the black of the glass and the grills that cover the air intakes, recalling a tiger.

A diamond theme dictates the signature styling of this concept car from all points of view, drawing its inspiration from the historic logo of the
legendary English factory that marks the hood, which is accompanied by the classic red ‘G’ centred in the radiator grill that distinguishes all Giugiaro prototypes.

The front view evokes the racing ambitions of this vehicle, thanks to an aggressive profile accentuated by the sloping V-shaped relief of the central section, by the ample aeration in the design of the air grills, from the converging headlamps set into the fenders that swell above the aquiline hood, moulded in a carbon fibre single-piece, while other parts are in aluminium.

One of the main design elements is the ample windscreen.

The ‘V’-shape of the glass surfaces wedges nearly halfway into the bonnet, virtually extending the geometric motif onto the roof and along the sides.

It hides, in its basis, solar panels that generate
power necessary for the functioning of the cockpit conditioning system.

The
aesthetic continuity can be especially appreciated when the car is closed: the glass swoops from the bonnet over and beyond the driver and
passenger’s heads to down alongside the doors, which open scissors-fashion,
towards the rear wheels and meeting the air intakes of the same colour.

The waistline starts at the front wheel arch and gradually rises towards the
rear fender, cutting the transparent surface diagonally in an appealing
contrast of volumes and colours.

The rear hood is characterised by highly angular lines that taper from the root towards the rear, where the air cooling vents form the central ‘M’ in
naMir.

In between is a over 400-litre boot capable of accommodating four
suitcases and a golf bag. The rear end is topped off by a small stabilizer that grants the vehicle downforce, while the lower aileron reminds us that it is, after all, an F1 spin-off.

The lighting clusters are extremely modern: the low-beam lights and the
full-beam are Bi-xenon type. The direction indicators, the tail and rear stop lights are of the full led type, inserted in a single box but differentiated
according to color.

Namir mounts 20”-OZ rims, Brembo brakes and Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta
tyres, 245/40 front and 275/40 rear.

Interior Design

The construction of the interior was based on a minimalist theme.

The surfaces dedicated to the controls and on-board information were concentrated into
three touch screen monitors, which are installed behind the hexagonal steering wheel, where the infotainment commands are located.

The central monitor hosts the speedometer, tachometer, and trip data; the one to the
right is dedicated to entertainment with information from the GPS, the hi-
fi, air conditioning, and relative controls; the left screen is dedicated to technical information like the battery charge, fuel level, interior and
exterior temperature, and warning messages.

The cruise
control, exterior lights, windscreen wipers, and electric mirrors can all be
activated by a touch of your fingertip.

The upholsery adopts leather and tweed, as a homage to British tradition, with a view to contrasting the
brushed steel used for the structural supports and plexiglass.

The electronic transmission allowed to eliminate central tunnel, substituted
by a tubular structure where the gear selector (with N, P, D and R
positions), the start and stop engine button and the air conditioning
vents.

Between the two backs of the seats the tubular structure
curves up to the roof and is embellished with leather and tweed storage
bags.

The seats were designed in collaboration with Sabelt, drawing inspiration
from those used in race cars but updating them to harmonize with the
general layout of the interior; the Style Centre’s extensive experience in
industrial design has resulted in seats that are ergonomic, technological,
and very comfortable, but with an understated sophisticated design.


The Namir at the Geneva Motor Show (Source: Autoblog.com)

Technical Features

The structural architecture of the Frazer-Nash Namir by Giugiaro consists of a monocoque chassis in carbon-fibre with honeycomb panels that encloses the rear suspension: this structure is guaranteed to be lightweight – with a total frame weight of just 110 kg – without compromising strength and rigidity to ensure an adequate level of driver and passenger safety.

Namir boasts a 4-wheel powered series hybrid system with digital differential complimented by an auxiliary power unit comprising an 814cc rear endothermal transverse rotary engine that runs on petrol coupled with a generator that charges the lithium polymer power cells, and by 2 twin electric motors installed on the front and rear suspensions, thereby developing an overall power of 270 kW, equal to 370 hp.

In this way, the series hybrid system guarantees unprecedented fuel consumption and emissions, about 39 km with one litre and less than 60
g/km of CO2. The fuel tank integrated into the chassis at the height of the
right door sill under the passenger’s seat has a 50 litre capacity, meaning a
total autonomy of almost 2.000 km.

The four-wheel powered drivetrain is fully electric with digital differential. Software manages the power load to the drive as needed, according to
driving and terrain conditions, making use of all the electronic control
systems used in mass-produced vehicles: ABS, drive control, and stability
control.

The drive system and motor and battery lay out was developed by Italdesign Giugiaro in collaboration with Frazer-Nash, allowing the calibration of the concept car on a 2630 mm wheelbase, which is ideal for a car with a central engine.

The classic double wishbone suspensions are directly over the wheels for the front end and the rear.

Namir at Monza: a virtual lap

The Frazer-Nash Namir by Giugiaro made its virtual debut at the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza, with very positive results: the record lap was 1’51”.

Having digitally reconstructed the entire Monza race track, the actual task of the Virtual Reality Centre was to elaborate all the factual data of the Frazer-Nash Namir by Giugiaro supplied by the Style Centre and the Engineering Division to faithfully represent not only engine performance (speed, acceleration…) but also handling on the road. To bring this film to life, more than 4,000 images were elaborated at 30
photograms per second.

The Virtual Reality Center

The Italdesign Giugiaro Virtual Reality Centre was the first of its kind with a big screen in Italy, created in 1999 to implement working methodology with
a view to significantly reducing times and costs of the Style Centre of the
Torinese firm. Among the hardware is a 21-
square metre retroprojection videowall.