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Combining Hyundai’s latest eco-friendly technologies sheathed in its emerging design language, the i-flow concept is being revealed this week at the Geneva auto show.
The i-flow moniker references the aerodynamic shape and flowing lines of the concept, while previewing a D-segment car scheduled to go on sale in Europe in 2011.
Dubbed “fluidic sculpture,” the concept features a futuristic shape with an adaptive front spoiler and side rocker blade. There also are jewel-like headlamps and tail lamps and Hyundai’s hexagonal grille.
This cloaks the carmaker’s first diesel-hybrid powertrain, which employs two-stage turbocharging for the 1.7-liter engine that works with a lithium-ion-polymer battery and a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission.
The i-flow is also a rolling test bed and includes solar panels on the roof and a thermo-electric generator that recovers energy.
Also at Geneva, Hyundai is revealing the next-generation of the Tucson ix35 hydrogen-fuel-cell electric vehicle. This version has metallic separators in the fuel-cell stack, replacing the more expensive graphite parts. Engineers also simplified the assembling process to make production more feasible. Costs are further reduced with lithium-polymer electrical batteries for energy storage and an induction motor. Hyundai plans to make fuel-cell vehicles for fleet customers in Korea by 2012.
The company is also rolling out new “blue” versions (Hyundai-speak for green cars) of its European “i” lineup, and the i10 blue, i20 blue, i30 blue, i30cw blue and ix35 blue will be shown at Geneva.
