Closer Look: Hyundai Blue-Will Concept

Blue-Will is powered by a direct injection, 1.6-liter four-cylinder and a 100 kW motor.

Hyundai’s Blue-Will Plug-in Hybrid makes its U.S. debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show next week.

It’s a good example of the conventional thinking that is emerging from all major makers. In a quest for CAFE credits, most are showing plug-in hybrids, which get — in theory — very high miles per gallon ratings, and allow makers to put forth “clean car” marketing boasts.

As we reported back in April, the Blue-Will (블루 윌), was originally displayed at the Seoul Motor Show. However, Hyundai has now revealed more details in an English like release.

Hyundai claims that Blue-Will could see the road as a hybrid-only model. We very much doubt it, as the volumes will be small, so it’s likely coming as an adjunct to a freshened model. Still, the upstart government protected company, with no love lost over longer established Japanese competitors, is stalking Toyota’s and Honda’s huge lead as auto technology giants, so a dedicated hybrid is possible.

Hyundai says Blue-Will has 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. (Your mileage may vary.) Codenamed HND-4, the Blue-Will is the fourth in a series of concept vehicles to come out of the Namyang Design Center.

Power is stored in a Lithium Ion battery pack, which is next to the fuel tank under the rear seat.

“Blue-Will’s bold character lines and innovative design language give the perfect expression to the advanced eco-friendly technologies found beneath the skin,” says Oh Suk-Geun, executive vice president of design, Hyundai Motor Company.  (We will spare you the rest of the eco babble.)

The Blue-Will is powered by an all-aluminum, four-cylinder,  gasoline direct injected (GDI) 1.6-liter engine mated to a continuously variable transmission.

A 100 kW electric motor is at the center of Hyundai’ parallel hybrid drive system, which is shorthand for the  power coming directly from the gasoline engine, the electric motor, or both together, as conditions demand. This parallel hybrid drive architecture serves as the foundation for future Hyundai hybrids, starting with the Sonata hybrid coming later this year in the U.S.

One intriguing aspect of the concept wasted heat energy from hot exhaust gases into electrical energy to help power auxiliary systems. General Motors has been working on this for a while. And since most of the energy in an internal combustion engine is wasted as heat, this could offer a real promise of increased efficiency that customers would actually experience — if a practical production application ever appears.

Electric power is stored in a Lithium Polymer battery pack, which is next to the fuel tank under the rear seat in an attempt to preserve some trunk room. Packaging of bulky battery packs remains a challenge for EV designers, to say nothing of the high cost.

Hyundai claims it will be the first automaker in the world to apply Lithium Polymer battery technology in a mass production vehicle when the Elantra LPI hybrid goes on sale in Korea this July.

In keeping with the, controversial, touch screen trend this year, HND-4 designers added to the center stack touch-screen control technology which operates the HVAC, drive (PRNDL) selector and infotainment systems. The focal point of this display is the “Eco-Coach,” which graphically promotes fuel-saving habits by providing continuous feedback on fuel consumption and driving efficiency.

Last year more than 6,000 people were killed by distracted drivers and hundreds of thousands more seriously injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Yet the auto industry seems committed to compound the problem by adding more devices that will distract drivers. Maybe some of the features of the industry’s concepts need to be stopped before they become reality.

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