The Auto Writer

Hyundai says that Blue-Will serves as a test bed of new ideas that range from roof-mounted solar cells to drive-by-wire steering, lithium polymer batteries and touch-screen controls, and foreshadows future focused hybrid production vehicles from Hyundai. Blue-Will promises an electric-only driving distance of up to 40 miles on a single charge and a fuel economy rating of more than 100 miles per gallon.

Last week, I was asked by a long time friend what it is about Hyundai that changed my perception of the Korean automaker. He remembers back in the 1980s when I first visited a Hyundai showroom to preview the bland Excel, underwhelmed by what was on display and not liking the Hyundai brand whatsoever until, oh, the last few years.

I thought for a moment before I fired off several one line answers: Value. Design. Innovation. Warranty. Quality. Price. And of course the big one that I have been saying lately: unpredictable!

Yes, it used to be that Hyundai would build a car and that model would be exactly what you expected it to be: a lower cost version of the Honda Civic or Toyota Camry. Those earlier models, which have included the Elantra and Sonata, were not much to write about unless you were looking for cheap way to move from Point A to Point B.

New Hyundai Thinking

But Hyundai has gradually been improving each of its models, getting rid of old baggage like the Tiburon and bringing forth exciting new models like the Hyundai Genesis coupe. Personally, the Tiburon was the old Hyundai, while the Genesis coupe represents current Hyundai logic.

The Hyundai Blue-Will Plug-In Hybrid moves Hyundai into new territory. Yesterday it was bland, today it is innovative, but judging by what “blue will” is all about, tomorrow is unpredictable. And I say that in a good way.

Hyundai is late to the hybrid game, but when the automaker arrives, it will immediately challenge the leader which is widely recognized as Toyota thanks to the Prius. Blue-Will does for Hyundai what Evoq has done for Cadillac: a cutting edge design which can be incorporated in new products for many years to come.

The conventional gauge cluster has been replaced by an ultra-thin Transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (LED) display mounted on the steering column that is adjustable for rake and distance. Thin-film TOLED technology allows information to be displayed in high resolution color.

Going Beyond Expectations

This won’t be any old hybrid either. A four passenger compact, Blue-Will offers a panoramic glass roof with solar cells, useful for recharging batteries. In addition, the car will incorporate a thermal generator which will convert hot exhaust gases into electricity.

Powered by a lithium polymer battery pack paired with a .6-liter Gamma 152-hp GDI engine the concept is said to get 106 mpg in plug-in mode or 50 to 55 mpg under normal driving condition. Not bad when you consider the federal government is pushing up fuel economy numbers.

Yes, the Blue-Will is but a concept, yet it offers strong hints at what Hyundai has in mind, particularly as the 2015 model year nears. By then, hybrid technology will be part of the Hyundai experience, offering enthusiasts several lines of fuel efficient, but stylish vehicles at a competitive price.

Source: Hyundai Motor America