Italdesign Quintessenza Was Easily the Coolest Car, or Truck, Shown at CES
Among the cars and concepts that were on display at CES 2025 in Las Vegas last week was a stunner from Italy that might be the ultimate expression of a crossover. We’re talking about the Italdesign Quintessenza, which made its second appearance on U.S. soil following a debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California last summer.
Slightly shorter than a Tesla Cybertruck and lower than a Model Y, the Quintessenza is the go-anywhere toy you never knew you wanted until now. It starts as an exotic sports coupe with signature scissor doors and gigantic 24-inch wheels, only the latter are wrapped in all-terrain tires and attached to an adjustable suspension that can increase ground clearance up to 11 inches (280 mm).
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But wait, it gets even better. The large, partially glazed hard top that covers the rear trunk is completely removable in one piece and can be replaced by a soft top if desired. Alternatively, it creates an open cargo bed in pickup fashion.
No need to haul cargo? The rear end also has a large, electrically powered tailgate hinged to the base of the bumper, giving easy access to the bed and the two rear seats, which can be rotated 180 degree to provide a rear-facing panoramic view for a premium “stargazing” experience.
As for the front-seat quarters, the abundance of space and massive greenhouse would make claustrophobic people really happy. The only controls are those on the floating centre console and the hazard light button on the extremely minimalist dashboard.
Meanwhile, the instrument cluster is a small, smartphone-like display sitting atop the steering column, unobstructed by the yoke-style steering wheel. A second display covers an ultra-wide area at the base of the windshield, showing more information and content.
At CES, Italdesign announced a partnership with Slovenian company Elaphe to integrate its advanced propulsion architecture into the Quintessenza concept. Next-generation in-wheel motors—there are four of them—combine to generate up to 2,145 horsepower and allow 0-100 km/h acceleration in less than 2.5 seconds. Interestingly, Vibroacoustic technology controls motor vibrations and transfers them to the vehicle’s structure to produce authentic motor sounds and vibrations, generating sound inside and outside the cabin without conventional speakers.
The company did not mention weight. However, we know that a 150kWh battery feeds the motors. It is said to deliver an estimated 750 km of range, a figure that’s likely based on the WLTP test cycle used in Europe.
No one should expect a concept like the Quintessenza to get the green light—Italdesign would first have to find an OEM partner to build it—but considering the company is owned by Lamborghini and Audi, we’d love to see a successor to the off-road-ready Huracán Sterrato. Maybe after Lamborghini launches its first electric car, based on the Lanzador concept, by the end of the decade. Who knows?