Hyundai has released the first details about its Geneva Motor Show world premiere, the Intrado concept. Named after the underside of an aircraft’s wing (the area that creates lift), Intrado features advanced materials and technologies which also draw inspiration from aircraft, such as “the removal of all unnecessary weight, logical solutions to complex challenges, inspired by a purity of purpose, and a highly efficient powertrain.”
The study’s design is an evolution of Hyundai’s fluidic sculpture form language. Hyundai says the sporty crossover is shaped by the need to be aerodynamically efficient and that it is “free of unnecessary adornments”, with details reduced to a minimum. The concept’s body panels are made of advanced super lightweight steel from Hyundai Motor’s steel plant that is said to enhance crash performance and repair times.
These steel panels are attached to a central carbon frame structure that is constructed using “new, patent-pending manufacturing and joining techniques that together have the potential to change the way cars are made,” as Hyundai explains in the press release.
Focused on usability and adaptability, the interior of the car features advanced materials and radical construction. For example, the seals of opening panels shut directly against the central carbon frame, displaying the carbon fibre whenever doors, hood or trunk is opened. Furthermore, components that are usually concealed are highlighted, including the ‘see-through’ air vents and exposed frame onto which the seats clip directly. Styling-wise, the interior’s bright ‘Beaufort Orange’ color contrasts with the exposed carbon fiber.
The Hyundai concept is powered by a next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain that uses a Li-ion 36 kWh battery. Hyundai says the Intrado can be refueled in just a few minutes and has a range of up to 600 km (373 miles). The car emits only water but promises “more responsive and agile driving dynamics” due to the reduced weight and the efficiency of the powertrain.
The Intrado is the first Hyundai developed under the direction of Peter Schreyer, who became President and Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group in January 2013. The car was styled and engineered primarily at Hyundai Motor European R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
By Dan Mihalascu
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