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2010 Geneva Motor Show: Hyundai i-flow Concept

 
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2010 Hyundai i-flow Concept

HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 Hyundai i-flow Concept

The Hyundai Genesis Sedan, the recently-unveiled all-new Sonata, and the upcoming executive-class Equus are reshaping Hyundai's lineup from budget South Korean automaker to world-class player. The next car, previewed with the i-flow Concept at this week's 2010 Geneva Motor Show, is due in 2011 and will likely replace the current Azera (Grandeur) sedan.

Packaged as a family sedan one notch higher than the Sonata, the current Azera sticks out a bit from the rest of the new lineup, even with the updates received at the Chicago Auto Show. The replacement matches the Sonata step for step in design, and Hyundai credits the impressive look to its Russelsheim design HQ in Germany. High-tech materials from BASF help to minimize weight and maximize efficiency--including the use of solar cells.

The name i-flow reflects the aerodynamic shape and the flowing lines of the concept car's styling, and retains the 'i' prefix of Hyundai's established alphanumeric nomenclature for Europe. The concept features Hyundai’s first diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain consisting of a twin-turbocharged 1.7-liter diesel engine matched to an electric motor running on lithium-polymer batteries. Sending drive to the front wheels is a six-speed dual clutch transmission. The vehicle also benefits from a slippery 0.25Cd drag coefficient, which sees it register a fuel economy of 78 mpg.

To further enhance fuel economy, engineers have developed thermal engine encapsulation, which ensures that the engine reaches optimum operating temperature more quickly, by retaining heat when the car is at idle. Where a non-insulated engine can go gold in around three hours, the i-flow Concept will stay warm for 14 hours. This translates into fuel savings and emissions cuts of five percent during summer and up to nine percent during winter.

Other features include a thermo-electric heat energy recovery system on the exhaust that’s used to power ancillary features, adaptive aerodynamic elements and an eco-driving guidance system that includes fuel consumption and gear shift indicators, and an active ECO function which adjusts the powertrain to its ultimate condition by adapting the engine and transmission control units. Finally, 'eco route' uses real-time traffic conditions and three-dimensional road data to calculate the most fuel-efficient way of reaching a desired destination.

[Hyundai]





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Comments (19)

  1. By B-Man Posted: 2/13/2010 4:58pm PST

    I don't know about any of y'all but this pup looks very attractive to me. I like this Hyundai design the most since the 2003 Tiburon design came out. I now have yet another new car under development to add to my growing list of cars I would be interested in buying next. Call it a labor of love, though!
     
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  2. By NoNameDenton Posted: 2/13/2010 7:22pm PST

    The Hyundai-Kia group keeps impressing me so much, if I ever stop driving pick up trucks, I will seriously consider one of these cars.
     
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  3. By  memory card reader Posted: 2/15/2010 1:04am PST

    If it's supposed to go up against the Ford Modeno I'd be willing to wager this might be a preview of the direction the next Azera will take. That said, I wish people would lay off the 'i' names, really getting old.but I simply can't agree with that. Hyunday seems to have fallen in love with sharp creases in the beltline, that I can only imagine will become an immediate frustration once people realize the need to actually park these vehicles somewhere (think 'door dings'), and overall, they just look like they've been left in the microwave a little too long.
     
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  4. By Crutches Posted: 2/15/2010 9:23am PST

    Hyundai may be trying to move up in the world, but I see them for what they really are. Their new i-crap system isn't worth more than hair on the crack of an ass. I've been in their cars. They feel cheap. Plastic is everywhere. Their Santa Fe's have electrical problems. I've seen one that's speedometer craps out when you put cruise control on. You'd be better off standing up turning around and picking a bail of cotton and then going to the nearest Chevy dealership to get a Volt. Or just go European already and get a quality car.
     
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  5. By bepsf Posted: 2/24/2010 1:58pm PST

    Peugeot called - They want their grille & headlamps back.
     
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  6. By B-Man Posted: 2/25/2010 3:39am PST

    If Hyundai builds the real car like this concept I have officially put this i-flow Azera on my shopping list. 78mpg with the diesel/electric combo motor is an eye-opener that wasn't in the original article that I replied to on the 13th of February. Wow. This thing looks great to me.
     
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  7. By CLKDTM Posted: 3/3/2010 4:17pm PST

    Hyundai is just a copycat, they have only gotten better at it.
    Front and rear are more of Infiniti Essence concept.
    Not to mention those taillight like the FT-86 concept.
    What they really need is come up with a good design own their own, instead of stealing people's ideas.
     
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  8. By Fujiyama Posted: 3/3/2010 6:52pm PST

    Nice bucked-tooth exhaust on that Solara inspired rear end. Horrid.
     
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  9. By bwudwagun Posted: 3/3/2010 11:50pm PST

    @bepsf, CLKDTM: Couldn't agree with you guys more. I've always known Hyundai had a knack for stealing designs, but I didn't even realise the similarities in this one to the Essence and the FT-86 until you pointed it out. I think I see what you mean about the similarities to Peugeot as well.
     
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  10. By dan aka 64chevyman Posted: 3/4/2010 5:54am PST

    As a manager of housing in Los Alamos, NM home of LANL I meet a huge flow of S. Korean scientist. Now I can clearly see their country is a tech mecca and the designs are beautiful as well. It also reminds me of the Tiburon! The real issue is however twin turbo diesel hybrid that will be the future of cars period! GM make one and we'll all buy it!
     
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  11. By dan aka 64chevyman Posted: 3/4/2010 6:08am PST

    Bio fuel can now be manufactured for 2 bucks a gallon! The future is now for this vehicle! The Volt is still ahead of it assuming the grid is greener in the future!
     
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  12. By R2Dad Posted: 3/4/2010 12:02pm PST

    It's not ugly, though the A pillar has to be fixed, a real roof installed, that back windscreen modified, rear view mirrors installed, a real back bumper. The prototype looks good but suspect the production model will be much more bland and people will be disappointed.
     
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  13. By Saabaru5 Posted: 3/4/2010 12:45pm PST

    I think this thing looks awesome! I am impressed and it appears that Hyundai is set to take the automotive mainstream into the future.
    What I don't get is how some think that they are copy cats?? They're not Chinese, for one, and the only other car I can think of that is made by Hyundai that resembles something else is the Genesis. You're always going to find somewhat similar design elements from one car maker to the next. I say give them a break, they're on a roll. Some of the most interesting designs I've seen lately are from Hyundai/Kia.
     
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  14. By Burke Posted: 3/5/2010 7:11am PST

    It's kindda hard to find a car style nowadays that doesn't have influence of other cars'. Japan, which was the one of the biggest copycat-ers from the 60's and 70's is one of the greatest automakers today. I don't find anything not to like about this Hyunday and I would send it to production as is right away...As far as the quality of the materials...many Mercedes Benz'es SL 500 have issues with interior poor hand labor and AC's that do not cool enough...and we are talking about 6-figure-tag-price cars. I would strongly recommend the competitors to put their batteries on b/c Hyundai is comming strong in all fronts...I learned from a serious article at Edmunds that the Volt will not make more than 38mpg average @$40,000...If this Hyundai comes out, it would most likely stand alone in the competition...
     
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  15. By NerveBag Posted: 3/15/2010 4:41pm PDT

    Copycats? I don't know. I don't even care, as long as their designs are good and the cars stay inexpensive. Hyundai is a decent deal FOR THE MONEY. My girlfriend has a 2005 Tuscon, and it's been a pretty damn good vehicle for $20,000. A few quirks here and there, but my 2008 350Z has its share of annoyances, too. (I hate -- HATE! -- the transmission, and there's a horrible rattle/squeak in the rear.)
    The problem is, just like the Genesis coupe concept, they'll once again take a pretty wicked looking concept car and turn it into an embarrassingly ugly production vehicle. Granted, the new Tuscons actually look pretty cool in production model form, but, overall, Hyundai takes cool concept designs and turns them into turds more than any other car company I know.
    I'm crossing my fingers on this one.
     
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  16. By Dosh Posted: 3/17/2010 3:47am PDT

    Copycats?? Because of the grill?? Seriously I think people should just lay off.
    If Hyundai 'copied' Peugeot, then Peugeot copied Mazda. The latter two has that happy 'smile', but Hyundai one's a bit different... has a double chin :D That's how I see it.
    Now, I think all car designs are looking more similar all the time. To all serious buyers out there, get a Hyundai. They're not crap like in the 90s... they're very good economical cars, comparable to the Japanese cars (though i say better due to falling Japanese quality, with the recalls as evidence). They're still easier on the money too.
     
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  17. By Stephen Posted: 4/3/2010 5:09pm PDT

    Surely Hyundai has noticeably improved their quality. My boss got a Genesis six month ago, v6 with tech pac, and I got one too couple month later, v8 but without tech package. They are both awesome, as good as Lexus LS 460 for half the price. If you buy one, buy v8 without tech package - so much more power w/ pretty much the same mpg w/ less money.
     
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  18. By  Cheap Used Cars Posted: 8/12/2010 2:40pm PDT

    Hyundai is the only can get good competition with form in every type of cars, which is really big thing. as we all know from last some year hyundai has not gave some good cars but they had made some remarkable car to this industries. i am sure this is just starts from hyundai to get top of the world.
     
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  19. By BKK-MKT Posted: 11/19/2010 11:26pm PST

    I wonder when will the new I-Flow get to Thai tarket. To me I flow has excellent design and I would get one for myself if its avaliable here. Thanks!
     
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