Hyundai Motor Co will unveil three new vehicles on 13
September at the IAA 2007:
- The i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
- Veloster concept car
- i30 Crossover Wagon (CW)
Reflecting Hyundai’s growing commitment to the development of
environmentally responsible transportation is the new hydrogen-powered,
zero-emission concept, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).
Developed at Hyundai’s Design and Technical Centre in Chiba, Japan, the all-new
i-Blue platform is tailored to incorporate Hyundai’s third-generation fuel cell
technology; which is currently being developed at Hyundai’s Eco-Technology
Research Institute in Mabuk, Korea.
The i-Blue keeps with the theme of this year’s motor show,
“See What’s Driving the Future,” through its focus on sustainability and climate
protection demonstrating a significant step towards the commercialisation of
Hyundai’s fuel cell vehicles.
Unlike its predecessors which were built on SUV platforms, the
i-Blue features a new D segment crossover utility vehicle (CUV) body type.
“The i-Blue is Hyundai’s first-ever model designed from the
ground up to incorporate fuel cell technology, marking a tremendous leap forward
for our R&D program,” said Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, President of Research and
Development. “Our engineering team has successfully designed a more compact fuel
cell vehicle, while still realising the safety, comfort, convenience and driving
range of a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle.”
“Hyundai is going to great efforts to make mass production of
hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles a reality in the next decade,” said Dr.
Hyun-Soon Lee.
The Veloster – a combination of ‘velocity’ and
‘roadster’ – styled at Hyundai’s Design and Technical Centre at Namyang, South
Korea combines simple, iconic design and robust construction.
Codenamed HND-3, the Veloster evokes the sporty
characteristics of a classic two-plus-two, with a panoramic glass roof and other
futuristic styling cues to project a high-tech image. This is the third in a
series of daring concept cars to be developed by Hyundai’s central styling
studio in Korea.
“With Veloster, we wanted to try something really different.
We’re keenly aware that we need radically new products for Generation Y, the
first-time twentysomething buyer,” said Oh Suk-Geun, Hyundai’s vice president of
design. “This is really a bold new direction,” he added.
Following the global launch earlier this year of the i30
5-door hatchback at the Geneva Auto Show, Hyundai is proud to introduce an
extension to the i30 family, the i30 CW which marks Hyundai’s
long-awaited return to this popular and hotly contested wagon segment in Europe.
Like its 5-door hatchback sibling, the i30 CW was styled at the European Design
Centre in Russelsheim ensuring that it is in tune with continental tastes.
i30 hatch will be available in Australia in October 2007.
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