Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Robert Kah
Back in 2011, we looked at the writing on the wall and published a piece called "Korean Car Makers: the New Japanese" in which we predicted the Koreans are going to bring something new to the game. Besides the pop music and the smartphones, they're also quite good at the car making business. Both Hyundai and Kia have shown they can switch from budget to premium using design and engineering as their tools. To find out what the future will be like for these companies, we need only look towards the Intrado Concept, on display at the Geneva Motor Show.
Technologically, we're dealing with a very advanced vehicle. Built around a super-lightweight carbon fiber frame, it's powered by Hyundai's next-generation hydrogen fuel cell powertrain that utilizes a 36 kW lithium-ion battery. Hyundai already has a fuel cell ix35 out there on the road, which is exactly why we think Intrado is also a preview concept for one of their crossover SUVs, either the next ix35 or the smaller ix25 that's on the way.
If you want to know more about the design of this concept, Hyundai has hidden a clue in its name. "Intrado" is the underside of an aircraft’s wing and hints at an aerospace theme. If this is the shape of things to come, the next generation of Hyundais will have smaller headlights with a serious look and a large grille design.
Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman at Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) Namyang R&D Centre, commented: "Intrado reflects our innovative efforts in the area of advanced materials, while demonstrating the close collaboration between designers at Hyundai Design Centre Europe and engineers at HMC Namyang R&D Centre. The result is Intrado – a vision of how eco-friendly cars will deliver delight to our customers."
Bright "Beaufort Orange" is used for a few of the exterior touches and most of the cabin. In combination with he exposed carbon fiber and minimalist design, the cabin has a very modern look to it, like something you'd drive in a videogame.
The result of collaboration between Korean and Germany, the Intrado was actually styled at Hyundai Motor European R&D centre in Russelsheim, Germany, as indicated by its codename, HED-9 (Hyundai Europe Design-9). It has all the makings of a future global product that we hope to see going down the road really soon.
If you want to know more about the design of this concept, Hyundai has hidden a clue in its name. "Intrado" is the underside of an aircraft’s wing and hints at an aerospace theme. If this is the shape of things to come, the next generation of Hyundais will have smaller headlights with a serious look and a large grille design.
Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman at Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) Namyang R&D Centre, commented: "Intrado reflects our innovative efforts in the area of advanced materials, while demonstrating the close collaboration between designers at Hyundai Design Centre Europe and engineers at HMC Namyang R&D Centre. The result is Intrado – a vision of how eco-friendly cars will deliver delight to our customers."
Bright "Beaufort Orange" is used for a few of the exterior touches and most of the cabin. In combination with he exposed carbon fiber and minimalist design, the cabin has a very modern look to it, like something you'd drive in a videogame.
The result of collaboration between Korean and Germany, the Intrado was actually styled at Hyundai Motor European R&D centre in Russelsheim, Germany, as indicated by its codename, HED-9 (Hyundai Europe Design-9). It has all the makings of a future global product that we hope to see going down the road really soon.
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