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The Hyundai stand at the Geneva motor
show is set to be even busier than normal. In addition the
newly-launched ix35 crossover, the company is revealing a host of new
models and a stunning concept car.
i-flow – Hyundai’s family
future
Making its global debut at the Geneva
Show, the Hyundai i-flow concept car carries forward the company’s
evocative new form language, ‘fluidic design’. The flowing, elegant
lines not only create a futuristic shape, but also contribute to
exceptional aerodynamics and help to reduce the car’s CO2
output to just 85g/km.
Hyundai’s first diesel hybrid
powertrain is also a key factor in delivering such an
environmentally-conscious performance, as is the application of
next-generation materials and technologies developed in cooperation with
leading chemical company BASF.
With an overall length of 4,780mm, a
2,800mm wheelbase, 1,850mm width and 1,420mm height give the i-flow a
stance which is more akin to a coupe than a traditional D-segment
saloon.
Despite the sporty stance, the i-flow
redefines the perception of space. Fundamental elements, such as the
seats and centre console, were crafted for minimal weight and volume
using cutting-edge materials from BASF.
Under the sleek bonnet is Hyundai’s
first diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. It uses the exciting new
1.7-litre engine plus two-stage turbocharging linked to a Lithium
Ion-Polymer battery to give a very efficient and advanced combination,
particularly when partnered with i-flow’s six-speed, dual-clutch
transmission.
The i-flow is a test bed for new energy
harvesting ideas, ranging from flexible solar panel roofing to a
thermo-electric generator which uses exhaust heat to produce power.
The i-flow’s looks and technology point
the way to a new D-segment family car which Hyundai plans to launch in
early 2011.
New look i30
In the shorter term, Hyundai is also
bringing new style to the C-segment with a revised version of its i30.
Entering production in March, the new
i30 incorporates a wide range of improvements in design, specification
and competitiveness.
The i30 builds on the strengths of the
current i30 range, to keep the model fresh and desirable. The new-look
i30 does not stray far from the original design, and instead merely
accentuates the car’s aesthetic qualities.
The redesigned radiator grille and air
intakes bring the i30 in line with Hyundai’s new-style corporate
identity, epitomised by the hexagonal frontal form. A reshaped, lower
bumper and more angular fog light recesses continue the visual
enhancement around the front end. The redesigned chrome garnish housing
the Hyundai logo completes the more dynamic new look. The refresh
carries on into the flanks, where extended side skirts and rear bumper
add a sense of strength to the car’s contemporary profile.
To complete the upgrade, the new i30
comes with Hyundai’s ‘Triple5’ package, including an enhanced five-year
warranty with five year’s roadside recovery.
Blue Drive takes i10, i20 and
i30 under 100g/km
Hyundai has revealed its latest
eco-focused Blue Drivevehicles. Four new cars have resulted from the
company’s leading-edge program: the i10 blue, i20 blue, i30 blue and
ix35 blue.
The eco-friendly variants incorporate
improvements in emissions without compromising performance, reliability
or driver satisfaction, making Blue Drive models a realistic solution
for modern motorists.
All employ the latest energy-efficient
powertrain technology. The new, downsized 1.0-litre Kappa petrol and
1.7-litre U2 diesel engines, for example, are coupled with
high-performance, low-friction engine oil, to considerably reduce
driveline friction. Dual continuously variable valve timing, improved
combustion efficiency, gear ratio optimisation, and engine control
optimisation to increase engine efficiency.
A noticeable change from the driver’s
perspective is the application of a Hyundai-specific Idle Stop & Go (ISG)
system. This cuts the engine when the car is stationary and restarts it
when the clutch pedal is depressed.
With ISG, an alternator management
system is added to maximise energy regeneration during braking and
disconnecting the alternator when it’s not needed.
It’s not just the engines which are
more efficient. To minimise drag, the Blue Drive models have improved
aerodynamics and lower rolling resistance.
Under body panels have been installed
on all models to smooth airflow under the car and certain models also
feature reductions in brake-pad drag on the discs. Wheels are also
fitted with low rolling resistance tyres, inflated to a higher pressure.
Through such innovations, engineers
have succeeded in lowering the CO2 emission levels of the
i10, i20, and i30 blue models to the sub-100g/km range.
The i10 blue, which
goes into production at the end of 2010, employs a new and extremely
efficient 1.0-litre version of the Kappa petrol engine, which produces
69PS at a lower rpm level of 6.200 rpm while generating 94 Nm of torque.
By tweaking the aerodynamics and refinements to the powertrain, CO2
emissions in the i10 blue have been reduced to just
99g/km.
The i20 blue features
the U2 1.4-litre diesel engine, designed and engineered at the R&D
centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and produces 75PS at a lower rpm level
of 4.000, while generating 220 Nm of torque. The power train is mated
to the latest six- speed manual transmission. Producing just 98g/km of
CO2 emissions, the i20 blue is scheduled to
go into production in 2011.
The i30 blue uses the
U2 1.6-litre engine, which produces 90PS at 4.000 rpm, while generating
240 Nm of torque. CO2 emissions of just 98g/km and 99 g/km
for the hatchback and estate models, respectively, will save customers
tax and fuel. Production commences in 2011 at the Nosovice plant in
Czech.
The ix35 blue, which
goes into production at the end of 2010, boasts an extremely impressive
CO2 emissions figure of just 135g/km, positioning it not only
as a rival to leading C-segment SUV models but also to C-segment
hatchbacks.
Another ix35 on display has taken CO2
emissions from the exhaust out of the equation altogether. Theix35
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, making its debut of the
show, moves Hyundai another step closer to the commercialisation of
hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.
The ix35 FCEV incorporates several
important innovations over the previous generation Tucson FCEV. And
with these improvements, Hyundai is set to meet its goal of ramping up
production volume of FCEVs into the thousands by 2012.
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