Hyundai is showing us a little more of the Curb Concept, before it debuts officially at 2011′s North American International Auto Show. This vehicle will fit nicely into the relatively new (yet quickly growing) compact crossover segment. In fact, almost every foreign auto maker is producing a “compact-CUV” – meaning next year all the domestics will join in.

Designed by Hyundai’s California Design Center, Curb is “an evolution of the company’s famed fluidic sculpture design language,” according to Motor Trend. Curb features “deep scallops on the front doors that stretch to the tail of the vehicle. The steeply-raked windshield, low stance, and short overhangs lend the crossover a sporty interior.”

This exterior design and its materials have potential to make it into production. However, inside is a whole other story. The “gadget-laden interior” will remind onlookers that this is a show car for now. Hyundai has yet to release any official details on their little Curb, but it looks as though it uses a translucent, wrap-around instrument panel – complete with touchscreen controls on the dash, doors and seatbacks. George Jetson would be envious.

Source – Motor Trend

Under the hood, the Elantra is powered by a 1.6-liter Gamma GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) four-cylinder engine. This pumps out 138 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque. Their new engine is matted to a six-speed automatic transmission, which enables the car to be 10% more fuel efficient than competitors.

According to Steve S. Yang, President and CEO of Hyundai’s Global Business Division, “The new Elantra encompasses Hyundai’s latest ambitions, featuring the best styling and performance in its class. We’re confident that it will once again redefine the compact segment worldwide.” We can’t wait to see it on Hyundai lots later this year!

Source: WorldCarFans

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Next we have the ix-Metro and i10 concepts – the first city cars available from Hyundai. Smaller then the Accent, the ix-series in general is the way Hyundai will bring small, economy class commuting to their world. ix-Metro features a Hybrid Electric Drive, also known as a HED. Its turbocharged petrol engine displaces 1.0-liter, it is run by a 6-speed dual clutch transmission and returns C02 emissions of 80g/km.

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Get ready to check out the ix35, aka the all-new Tucson, along with ix-Metro, i10 & more at The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show Sept. 17th.

Hyundai’s 2020 City Car is the creation of recent design graduate Nicolas Stone, who entered Hyundai’s Design Project competition.

This car features state of the art (and environmentally friendly) technologies inside and out. The corner panels and roof of the vehicle are transparent solar panels, which collect ambient light to create electricity. This is not an electric vehicle but a hydrogen powered one – the electricity stored doesn’t head to the engine; instead it goes to water tanks that produce hydrogen out of oxygen.

The car essentially functions like a plant with its own version of photosynthesis. This artificial photosynthesis, based on research conducted at MIT by Professor Daniel Nocera, takes the pure oxygen we breathe and pumps it back into the cabin, giving driver/passengers an extra boost you need on your way to wherever.

The 2020 City Car keeps with its nature theme with an interior space that mimics “leaves growing off a stem” according to its designer Stone. The cabin’s principle duty, aside from utilitarian, is to keep everything “open and airy.”

Perhaps we will see such technology line Hyundai dealer lots by spring of 2020.

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.

Under the hood is an all-new 1.6-liter GDi turbocharged engine, which produces 175 horse power. It’s connected to a six-speed automatic transmission that was developed by Hyundai engineers. A large hatchback such as this reminds many in the crowd of Pontiac’s Vibe or Toyota’s Matrix. We’ll see how consumers react if and what the ix-ONIC goes on sale in 2010.

Aside from this futuristic instrument panel, Hyundai’s HED-5 also features a “state of the art 2.0-liter Theta Turbo GDI engine” with apparent capacity of up to 286 horse power. Hyundai also claims this motor contains the latest in direct injection gasoline devices with variable timing valves – which you can read more about in their official press release below our photos.

As if the inside of HED-5 is not impressive enough, we’re awestruck by the design curves of this Hyundai. It may be part crossover, part minivan, but it’s all sexy when you look at the vehicle heads on. A front windshield slinks back like the leaves of some exotic plant, while the transparent glass roof and stuck-up rear end give the car a powerful “I come from the Future!” look and make this ride aerodynamic to boot.

Press Release from Hyundai:

“2.0-liter, Four-cylinder Turbo Engine with Gasoline Direct Injection Approved for U.S. Market Intro in 2010

Hyundai unveiled the HED-5 “i-Mode” concept at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show today, featuring an all-new, eco-friendly powertrain making its first-ever appearance for Hyundai. The six-passenger family crossover, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, combines visionary styling with future technologies and advanced eco-dynamics.

For its North American debut, Hyundai added a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with state-of-the-art Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) that improves efficiency and reduces emissions. The HED-5 i-Mode concept and the new powerplant, called the Theta Turbo GDI, have been green lighted for the U.S. market. Variants of the engine will appear in various Hyundai models. Timing and specifications for a production version of a family crossover similar to HED-5 i-Mode are currently in development.

HED-5 “i-Mode” Concept Highlights

* Six-seater monocab design
* World debut of turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with Gasoline Direct Injection
* High-end materials and advanced eco-dynamics
* Unique Swivel Seat concept
* Futuristic communications and entertainment system

“The HED-5 i-Mode concept provides a glimpse into the future of travel, incorporating innovative weight-saving technologies, a modern fuel-efficient four-cylinder direct injection turbo, and a flexible interior package,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America.

All-new Theta Turbo GDI

For the U.S. market, the HED-5 i-Mode reveals a first-ever powerplant for Hyundai, the Theta Turbo GDI. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine uses gasoline direct injection technology. By injecting the fuel directly inside the cylinder in small, precise amounts, the performance and response of the engine improve thanks to the intake charge cooling. Both fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions improve due to the improved combustion. Combine GDI with turbo charging and the result is exceptional power output. The engine has capacity for up to 286 horsepower, greater than most six-cylinder engines on the market, while improving fuel economy by 15-20 percent. The Theta Turbo GDI includes Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) to further improve efficiency. This ultra-efficient, high-tech gasoline engine will be fitted in various Hyundai models in future model years.

HED-5 Cross-industry Collaboration Drives Packaging and Technology Advancements

Hyundai continues cross-industry cooperation to speed new technologies to market through such partners as Bayer MaterialScience AG, Keiper and LG Electronics. The cooperation with Bayer MaterialScience enabled the complex curvature and radical design of the HED-5 to be implemented sooner. The materials used are lighter and more adaptable than the metal and glass they replace. This, in combination with a light-weight body construction, reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. “Self-healing,” water-based finishes from Bayer add another environmentally friendly twist to the vehicle and even let minor scratches appear to “magically” disappear, saving the need for costly repair.

Through the advanced multimedia and entertainment concept developed by LG Electronics, the vehicle becomes an extension of the digital home allowing passengers to stay connected, communicate, and interact in the car and beyond. Access to the Web, video games, movies or video phones are possible through the pop-down touch-screen displays and Webcams located in the overhead console. A wireless network, cable-free keyboards, game controllers, and headphones further personalize the entertainment experience.

Hyundai’s engineering partner, Keiper, supported the HED-5 i-Mode project with the exclusive world premiere of its new and unique Swivel Seat concept. The first-row passenger seat flips to face second- and third-row occupants. Additionally, the second-row bench slides rearward to increase comfort and create a social space for communication.

The i-Mode Design

An innovative mechanism enables the sliding door to be free from conventional inner and outer guide rails. When the doors are opened, the lack of a B-pillar enables a feeling of space and remarkable accessibility to the generous interior.

The Hyundai design team worked extensively with new composite materials to enable unconventional and irregular shapes. The architecture of the HED-5 i-Mode is supported by an external frame protecting the space within, like a shell. In cooperation with Bayer MaterialScience, the HED-5 i-Mode is the first vehicle to feature the new “BayVision” glazing system and Collimator headlight lenses made from Makrolon®. This innovative glazing alternative enables extended transparent areas, further reducing weight.

Through the innovative door opening mechanism, the interior of the HED-5 i-Mode reveals an inviting landscape of softly sculpted shapes and advanced technology. The first step into the vehicle reveals the elegant application of natural materials. Soft, silky leather in warm and natural brown tones provides a level of comfort normally reserved for the home. Attention is immediately drawn to the seats, which offer first-class comfort combining a modern, floating look with innovative functionality, enabling the occupants to experience the lounge atmosphere without the limitations of a conventional automotive interior layout.“

In North America we have a close cousin to Hyundai’s “i” series (i10 & i30) in the Accent & Elantra. Accent has become a big seller with both the cost conscious and lovers of compact cars. Its size (bot Accent’s and i’s) hearkens back to the much loved (yet short lived) Toyota Echo. i20 will come with Hyundai’s i-blue concept – an all new state of the art 1.4 diesel engine, producing 220Nm of torque and CO2 output of just 99g per km, with a fuel consumption averaging 68mpg. i20 will be ready for sale in Europe in the end of 2008, with no release date scheduled in The Land Down Under.

More is coming up from Hyundai Europe and the “i” market. Engineers are working on a new hybrid petrol-electric drive, combining the current 2.4 liter engine and a 30kW electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries – that will (hopefully) give drivers upwards of 44mpg. Also coming up, a hybrid sport utility vehicle – the ix55. Stay tuned!