Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The I.DE.A E-Legante concept car
The I.DE.A E-Legante is an electric grand tourer concept car developed by the Italian design and engineering firm I.DE.A Institute, unveiled in 2016. Conceived as a vision of sustainable high-performance mobility, the E-Legante was designed to merge the traditional values of Italian automotive design—elegance, speed, and craftsmanship—with the demands of modern electric propulsion and efficiency. The exterior of the E-Legante is defined by its sleek, aerodynamic form. Standing only 125 cm tall, the car features a flowing silhouette, minimalistic detailing, and an emphasis on visual purity. Its aerodynamic efficiency is underlined by a drag coefficient of just 0.24, achieved through careful sculpting of the body and attention to airflow management. The long hood, sharply raked windshield, and wide stance give the E-Legante a purposeful yet refined presence, characteristic of a grand tourer. Beneath its streamlined body, the E-Legante employs a tri-motor electric powertrain configuration—one motor at the front and two at the rear. This setup provides a combined output of 400 kW (approximately 540 horsepower) and an extraordinary torque figure of 2,500 Nm. The result is a claimed 0–100 km/h acceleration time of just 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 385 km/h, placing it firmly in supercar territory. The vehicle’s battery system is designed to deliver a range of over 600 kilometers under the NEDC cycle or approximately 335 kilometers at a constant cruising speed of 130 km/h. Inside, the E-Legante offers a high-tech, driver-focused environment with advanced digital instrumentation and a layout that emphasizes ergonomics and comfort. Materials are carefully selected to reflect both modernity and luxury, in keeping with the grand touring tradition. The cabin design complements the car’s exterior with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. While the E-Legante has not moved beyond the concept stage, it illustrates I.DE.A Institute’s ability to engage with the challenges of electrification without sacrificing performance or design sophistication. The project stands as a demonstration of how electric vehicles can embody both environmental responsibility and the emotional appeal of high-end automotive design.
I.DE.A Institute – short for Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering – was founded in Turin, Italy in 1978 by Italian entrepreneur Franco Mantegazza together with famed architect Renzo Piano (designer of the Pompidou Centre). Renzo Piano’s structural engineer partner Peter Rice served as Vice President.
