If there is any single success story of 2009 in the automotive world, it is Hyundai. They have really stepped it up a notch across their lineup, and cars like the Genesis sedan and coupe have been universally hailed for both their quality and value. Hard to believe this is even the same company. Yet for all their progress, Hyundai is a bit behind other manufacturers in the hybrid game. Their first hybrid, the Sonata, won’t hit showrooms until later this year.
But Hyundai’s engineers have been hard at work, and the fruits of their labor are quite good looking indeed. The Blue-Will plug-in hybrid concept car will make its North American debut at the Detroit International Auto Show next week. Is that a menacing grin or what?
Personally, I think this is a sharp looking car, but you may disagree. If it does make it to production, it is unlikely to look this cool, but hopefully some of the loads of features might make it to the final product. Powering the Blue-Will is an all-aluminum, direct injected 1.6 liter four cylinder engine make 152 horsepower engine hooked to an automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT for short).
Backing up the standard engine will be a 100 kw electric engine, and Hyundai claims the Blue-Will can go up to 40 miles on electric-only power. That is the same range as the Volt! The press release doesn’t mention whether the power goes to the front or rear wheels, and it is probably too much to hope for a rear-wheel drive hybrid…
Still, Hyundai goes on to say that the Blue-Will will net 106 miles per gallon in plug-in hybrid mode, but further down claims a “Pure HEV” mpg rating of between 50 and 55 mpg. Do they mean it gets 50-55 mpg on just the gas engine, and 106 mpg when the electric engine is assisting, or are they pulling a fast one like GM and their “Volt gets 230 mpg” claim? Kinda confusing, but I’ll give Hyundai the benefit of the doubt though, since this is merely a concept car and not officially slated for production yet.
Concept cars usually showcase all kinds of expensive, cool technology, and the Blue-Will is no exception. LED lights are everywhere. The whole front fascia features LED lights, as does the dashboard gauge cluster. The interior promotes a “digital flow” design, and the exterior design is called “Eco Sleek”. Solar panels on the roof return some power to all these fancy, energy gobbling electric features, as does a thermal heat recycling system that uses exhaust gases to give back even more electricity. Regenerative brakes, low-rolling resistance tires, and low drag brakes are among the few of the many, many other features on this fully loaded concept.
Will Blue-Will become a reality? Should it? I certainly think so. Check out the press release on the next page for more details on this sharp little blue buggy.
Source: Hyundai
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About Christopher DeMorro
I agree with you that this is a very good looking car, and that Hyundai is an automaker on the rise.
I agree with you that this is a very good looking car, and that Hyundai is an automaker on the rise.
Really — I find this car difficult to look at… Blue-Will = Blue Whale IMO — it looks like it’s showing some of it’s baleen. The tech might be interesting, but the front end in particular is pretty weird.
Sincerely, Neil
Really — I find this car difficult to look at… Blue-Will = Blue Whale IMO — it looks like it’s showing some of it’s baleen. The tech might be interesting, but the front end in particular is pretty weird.
Sincerely, Neil
It’s a good looking car. The numbers look good too if the car lives up to them.
It’s a good looking car. The numbers look good too if the car lives up to them.
Hyundai still doesn’t sound cool but it look now with the new prototype!
Hyundai still doesn’t sound cool but it look now with the new prototype!
I think the design is great! Really like the lines on the vehicle and the numbers are fantastic. Price?
I think the design is great! Really like the lines on the vehicle and the numbers are fantastic. Price?