Hyundai Motor Company, a leading multinational automotive manufacturer, recently unveiled its latest design concept vehicle, the ‘Enduro’, a lifestyle urban crossover utility vehicle (CUV) at the 2015 Seoul Motor Show in South Korea.

The Seoul Motor Show which started on April 2 will conclude on April 12, and is taking place at the Korea International Exhibition Centre, Goyang Seoul.

Hyundai also debuted few other models including a high-performance coupe concept, the RM15, and the company’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Sonata PHEV, said a statement.

Making its global debut at the show, the Enduro CUV concept’s name is derived from ‘Endurance’, it added.

Hyundai’s new dynamic model visually combines a SUV look with rally motorcycle which compete in the world’s toughest rally events, and has been designed to be the perfect partner for individuals living in the modern city with energetic, athletic lifestyles. By combining robust forms with bold styling, Enduro releases a sense of adventure and freedom for driver and passengers.

The vehicle features a new interpretation of Hyundai’s signature hexagonal front grille, with an aluminium aero blade connecting the front fender to the grille.

The new vehicle has the look of a crossover vehicle, with raised ground clearance, SUV-style fender cladding and a dark grey garnish to the lower parts of the car, which appear robust and protective, while expressing mobility and agility. The C-pillars are fitted with a unique aerodynamic air-blade to reduce drag and the side-skirts incorporate step bars for easier loading or unloading of the roof rack.

The other vehicle showcased at the event included the RM15 (Racing Midship 2015) which is an aggressively-styled, high-performance mid-engine coupe concept that makes a confident statement about Hyundai Motor’s passion for performance and its expertise in the development of advanced vehicle technologies and materials, further added a statement.

The core structure of the RM15 is based on an aluminium space frame, clothed in light, stiff body panels formed in carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) – together achieving a significant weight saving compared to a conventional all-steel vehicle. The body panels are painted in the signature colours of the company’s ‘N’ brand (pale blue, black, red and Hyundai mid-blue) which also feature on the Hyundai WRC i20 rally car.

The vehicle’s power comes from Hyundai Motor’s Theta 2.0-liter T-GDI engine mounted transversely behind the two-seater cabin and ahead of the rear axle, ensuring optimised weight distribution and a low moment of inertia for excellent handling agility and high levels of traction. The four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine generates 300 ps at 6,000 rpm and drives the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Strong torque delivery (39 kgm [383 Nm] at 2,000 rpm) helps to reduce the 0-100 km acceleration time to just 4.7 seconds.

Additionally, the Hyundai Sonata PHEV is the company’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Although technologically advanced, the PHEV model will behave much like the regular Sonata Hybrid from the driver’s seat. A 9.8 kWh lithium polymer battery pack, roughly six times larger than the Sonata Hybrid’s battery, is expected to give Sonata Plug-in Hybrid an all-electric range of up to 38.4 km, farther than any other midsize PHEV sedan.

The 50 kW electric motor is 32 per cent more powerful than the motor in the regular Sonata Hybrid and allows EV operation at higher speeds, it added. – TradeArabia News Service