Sustainability and climate protection Artist’s rendering of the i-Blue FCEV

HYUNDAI Motor Co.’s (HMC) new hydrogen-powered, zero-emission concept, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), made its world debut during the recent 62nd International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany. Developed at Hyundai’s Design and Technical Center in Chiba, Japan, the i-Blue concept is the designers’ view of a future FCEV production model. The all-new i-Blue platform is tailored to incorporate Hyundai’s third-generation fuel-cell technology, currently being developed at Hyundai’s Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, South Korea.

Keeping with the show theme, “See What’s Driving the Future,” which focuses on sustainability and climate protection, the i-Blue demonstrates a significant step toward commercialization of Hyundai fuel-cell vehicles.  Unlike its predecessors, which were built on SUV platforms, the i-Blue features a new D segment 2+2 crossover utility vehicle (CUV) body type. The smaller vehicle platform requires even greater engineering sophistication.

“The i-Blue is Hyundai’s first-ever model designed from the ground up to incorporate fuel-cell technology, marking a tremendous leap forward for our R&D program,” said Dr. Hyun Soon Lee, president of research and development. “Our engineering team has successfully designed a more compact fuel-cell vehicle, while still realizing the safety, comfort, convenience and driving range of a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle.”

Hyundai is making tremendous efforts to reach mass production of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles a reality in the next decade.   

Powered by third-generation fuel-cell technology

The i-Blue is powered by a 100-kW electrical engine and fuel-cell stack.  Fueled with compressed hydrogen (700 bar) stored in a 115-liter tank, i-Blue is capable of running more than 600 km per refueling and achieves a maximum speed of 165 kph.

The i-Blue’s fuel-cell stack is housed under the floor, not in the engine compartment as in the second-generation Tucson FCEV.  This endows the car with an ideal 50:50 weight distribution for optimal driving and handling dynamics.  Furthermore, by moving the fuel stack under the floor, the engine compartment is less densely populated providing better airflow and cooling.  The i-Blue drives almost noiselessly and passionate drivers will be delighted by the acceleration of the i-Blue’s powerplant.  Like its predecessors, i-Blue’s only emission is water vapor, fueling Hyundai’s unwavering dedication to FCEV technology as a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to the internal combustion engine. 

Concept

The i-Blue is a sophisticated and futuristic crossover concept sports tourer with the driving comfort of a sedan with all of the utility functions of a minivan. As its name suggests, the i-Blue has a next generation environmental-friendly fuel-cell system. But, it also is equipped with a state-of-the-art human machine interface information system presenting a glimpse into the future of automobiles.  Unlike its predecessors, which were built on SUV platforms, the i-Blue features a new D segment 2+2 Cross-over Utility Vehicle (CUV) body type. This marks a step ahead on the path to develop mass-production models, as the fuel cell system is more difficult to integrate in a smaller body type.  

Design concept unites yin and yang

The i-Blue FCEV has a dynamic and elegant exterior design, resembling TaeKuk, which is based on the philosophy of yin and yang. In this philosophy, opposite forces are unified in perfect balance and create something new. The i-Blue’s body was styled by unifying two distinct geometric forms, the square and the circle, thereby creating a rhombus-like shape. 

High technology meets passenger comfort and safety

The i-Blue features a futuristic H2O flow-form on the inside, which results in a relaxing, stretched-out seating position for the driver and passengers. Drivers of the i-Blue will be excited about the innovative, aircraft-like steering wheel that integrates touch-scroll control pads, enabling the driver to keep his hands on the wheel while operating the vehicle’s audio-visual systems. The 3D vision heads-up display (HUD) also adds safety and convenience. The outside environment is constantly projected through the vehicle’s full-surround camera system. Many more future convenience features from Hyundai, such as side and rear view monitors, are shown on the i-Blue concept vehicle.  

Exterior

As a crossover utility vehicle combining the strongest points of both a Sedan and a RV; and incorporating a design motive from the traditional beauty of Korea, the i-Blue has opened a new vehicle category.

From the bonnet to the front fender, A-Pillar, Cabin and rear fender, the i-Blue’s seamless cab forward type of surface provides a perfect form balance. From the TaeKuk theme of volume and surface in harmony, the character lines of the front and rear fender make for a sharp-looking exterior body.

The image of the front mask is similar to the design image of the Hyundai “Genesis” concept car, presenting the direction for future designs.

The radiator grille and headlamp have been expressed as a crystal glass art to depict the water from the fuel-cell system and, the power and dynamic image of the rear takes the shape of the horizontal and vertical form from the wings of an airplane.

Cameras have been installed in the head lamp, rear combination lamp and high mountain lamp helping to realize a functional and high-tech design. The lamp system in the rear combination lamps have been designed to associate the beautiful and bright stars in space.

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Crossover rubber. The Goodyear-shod Toyota FT-SX concept vehicle on display during the Philippine International Motor Show.

WHILE the country’s finest vehicles got primary attention at the first Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) held recently, perceptive motoring enthusiasts also noticed the “shoes” of the new vehicles, including the ones fitted on the Toyota FT-SX concept car.

Top automaker Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. showcased the crossover concept, sporting Goodyear P255/45R22 tires. An exploration of an entirely new genre of automobiles, the Toyota FT-SX combines the ride comfort, handling and fuel-efficiency of a sedan with the utility, spaciousness and visibility of a car-based SUV.

Reflecting the two companies’ commitment to innovation and performance, the Goodyear concept tires were designed in cooperation with Toyota’s Calty Design Center in California, for the vehicle’s debut at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

For Goodyear, the challenge was to meet Toyota FT-SX’s specifications while maintaining the standards that make Goodyear tires unique, especially in terms of safety and reliability. The result was a set of concept tires providing functional capabilities such as carrying the vehicle load, gripping ability and traction, as well as complementing the vehicle’s imposing size and sleek exterior.

“As a crossover vehicle, the FT-SX required the tire tread to be a little more robust than a typical all-season design, but not as rugged as a light truck or SUV tread pattern,” said Paul Maxwell, principal designer for Goodyear Design Studio A in Akron, Ohio.

“For Goodyear, the solution was a directional pattern for a high-performance look that included some sipes for all-season performance. In addition, the large tread blocks add to a more rugged design, while the beveled block edges in the circumferential grooves were built to help clear water and mud from the tread pattern as it rolls through its contact with the road,” added Maxwell.

IT won’t be long before we see a Filipino car designer in the glamorous world of car production.

Those could be prophetic words coming from a Filipino marketing guru who has overseen the unprecedented growth of her company through the years in the local car-manufacturing industry.

I ONCE said that one of the most salient features of a BMW upgrade is that you know something has changed, but you just can’t put your finger on it.

Well guess what? The Honda Accord has accomplished this feat for its next offering in 2008.

Eyes on the Road: Why switch the lights off?

I AM really at a loss as to why big business establishments in the city switch off all lights in their respective vicinities at night.

Government officials should tell those companies not to switch off all the lights in their areas at night. We know that they, too, want to keep their electrical consumption down but they must also share in the responsibility of protecting the people who patronize their establishments.

NOWADAYS, vehicles that use alternative fuels or those that use as little petroleum as possible are the norm. For certain manufacturers (such as Kia, General Motors and Hyundai), they have taken the latter ethos to the extreme, creating a new breed of car—the supersubcompact hatchback—that not only saves fuel big-time, but saves space as well.         

HYUNDAI Motor Co.’s (HMC) new hydrogen-powered, zero-emission concept, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), made its world debut during the recent 62nd International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany.