Is Hyundai’s Blue-WILL a Prius & Insight Killer?
Will Hyundai’s new, cost and fuel efficient Blue-WILL Hybrid be competition for both the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight? This little hatchback is powered by a 1.6 liter gasoline/lithium-ion battery electric hybrid drive train. Its futuristic looks come from the finest Korean automotive designers Hyundai has to offer. Blue-Will’s concept style is certainly eye catching – a transparent roof in t-top format gives us a view of enthusiastic dash board design, which we will hopefully get a full view of at Seoul’s Auto Show – where the hybrid will make its first live appearance.
Blue-WILL’s front end is ferocious – reminding many of the Hyundai Tiburon coupe. Does it look like the car is smirking at us? Check out more info in the Hyundai Press Release below, and during our upcoming Seoul Auto Show live photos!
Hyundai BLUE-WILL
Hyundai charges in with advanced hybrid concept:
- All-new concept car to be unveiled at Seoul Show
- Lithium-Ion batteries and a 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine
- Solar panels boost battery range
Hyundai has revealed the first pictures of an innovative plug-in hybrid concept car. Due to be revealed at the Seoul Motor Show which opens on April 2nd, the “BLUE-WILL”, has exceptionally advanced technology crammed inside its striking body shell.
Recycled PET soft drink bottles were used to make the material for the headlamp bezels while use has also been made of bio-plastics: PLA for the interior while PA11 was specified for the engine cover. These materials are made from plants extract rather than fossil fuels and are bio-degradable.
The BLUE-WILL concept is powered by an all-aluminum Gasoline Direct Injected 1.6-litre engine which is coupled to a Continuously Variable Transmission and a 100kw electric motor which is at the heart of Hyundai’s parallel hybrid drive architecture. Electric power, stored by a Lithium Ion Polymer battery pack, is neatly bundled with the fuel tank under the rear seat to maximize luggage space.
Hyundai will be the first automaker in the world to apply Lithium Ion Polymer in a mass production vehicle when the Elantra LPI Hybrid goes on sale in Korea in July this year.
A further expression of the concept’s design flexibility is found on the panoramic roof. The glass area integrates dye-sensitized solar cells which can generate power for the batteries from the sun without impeding visibility. Further details of the concept will be revealed at a press conference on Hyundai’s stand at the Seoul show.
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The gaping front end is ugly. I hope they modify it before it is too late. The slack jaw says, “Duh!” to me. It kind of looks
like the hood is popped open.
Little too much Mazda 3 front end for me.