Hyundai ix Metro: New Hybrid Electric Small CUV Concept to Inspire Future Production Model

The 'arse' that you're looking at the picture above does not belong to some Alfa Romeo model -no really- but to Hyundai's ix Metro, a B-segment sized concept described by the Koreans as a compact utility vehicle (CUV) that is said to influence the creation of a small crossover model in the very near future. At 3,925mm long, 1,760mm wide and 1,576mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,513mm, the ix Metro has a similar footprint to Hyundai's i20 supermini. However, it does features a much higher ground clearance at 207mm.

With the exception of the Alfa Romeo-esque rear end design, the small crossover's exterior styling with its swoopy body lines and pointy snout that features a large hexagonal front grille looks very Mazda-ish. The ix Metro

The Hyundai ix Metro comes with a pair of conventional front doors and a set of rear-hinged sliding doors at the back. Hyundai says that the pillar less design not only enlarges the greenhouse to improve all-round visibility, but also allows easier entry and egress into the rear passenger area.

For the creation of the cabin, the design team says that it took its inspiration from sci-fi movies. Highlights include the white semi-transparent silicon-like material that covers the dashboard area, the ice-blue illumination and the digital side view cameras.

The Korean concept model is fitted with a hybrid powertrain that combines a 123HP 1.0-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine to a 5kw / 7HP electric motor. The hybrid system delivers 16.0kg.m / 116 lb-ft of peak torque at 1,750-4,500rpm which transferred to the wheels through a six-speed dual clutch transmission.

Hyundai ix-Metro Concept with 1.0-liter Turbo Engine Previews Small Crossover Model

The Hyundai Group seems to be on a product roll lately presenting one new model or concept after the other. The latest announcement concerns the presentation of a mini crossover concept called 'ix-Metro' at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. The fifth in a series of concept cars to be created by Hyundai's Global Design Team in Namyang Korea features an electric-gasoline hybrid system based on a 1.0-liter, turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection that churns out an impressive - for its size, 125 horsepower.

Hyundai said that the gasoline unit that is coupled to a six-speed dual clutch transmission records ultra low CO2 emissions of just 80g/km.

We only have these computer generated images to go by, but if someone removed Hyundai's badges and asked us to name the maker of the car, we would have probably sworn that the 3.93 meter long ix-Metro with its swoopy lines and pointy fascia is some sort of Mazda prototype...

Though not officially confirmed, it is believed that ix-Metro will spawn a production model within the next two years offering Hyundai a new contender in the all-important European sub-B segment.

Also on display at Hyundai's Frankfurt Motor Show stand will be the all-new ix35 that replaces the outgoing Tucson SUV, the facelifted Santa FE SUV, an all-electric version of the i10 mini and a new 'Blue Edition' model of the i30 that generates just 113g/km of CO2.

Hyundai CEO Says Veloster Coupe Coming in 2011 with 140HP 1.6-liter Engine

Following the successful launch of the rear-wheel drive Genesis Coupe, Hyundai is now focusing on the development of a front-wheel drive replacement for the Tiburon sports coupe which is known simply as the Coupe in Europe and other markets. In an interview with Inside Line, Hyundai Motor America's CEO John Krafcik revealed some juicy new details on the forthcoming small coupe which he claimed will look 70-80 per cent like the Veloster Concept that was unwrapped at the 2007 L.A. Show.

Krafcik said that the production version of the Veloster, which by the way, is among the names being considered for the new model, will pack a surprise bodystyle feature never seen before in the category. "It might be doors or a unique roof or something with the hatch. But it won't be like anything out there before in the small car segment."

In terms of size, Krafcik mentioned that the Tiburon's successor will be quite compact. "It's Accent-sized. Think of it like a 4-passenger Honda CRX," he said. "It'll be a little car you can take out and ring its neck and still get good mileage. Fun and economical, with a great power to weight ratio."

In a previous interview back in March, the American CEO had revealed that the Veloster would be offered with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine. This time Krafcik went into more details. "It'll be powered by a 1.6-liter four cylinder with Direct Injection making 140 hp. And it'll get over 40 mpg US (5.8lt/100km or 48mpg UK)," he told IL.

We're guessing that in other markets such as Europe and South Korea Hyundai will most likely offer the Veloster with diesel engines also, maybe even with the Korean firm's new 184HP 2.0-liter oil-burner that is available on the 2010 facelifted Santa Fe.

"There's just nothing out there right now with that kind of Eco-sport positioning" said Krafcik adding that the Veloster will arrive at Hyundai's dealerships before the end of 2011.

Via: Inside Line

Malignant Rumors: The Boys at Hyundai are Coming on Strong

In accordance with the most recent Initial Quality Study performed by J.D. Power and Associates, Hyundai's getting better and better (and that's no rumor). The numbers are in, and Hyundai came in 4th overall, falling behind Lexus, Porsche, and Cadillac, while beating Honda, Mercedes, and Toyota. Building on its drastically improved - and still-rapidly-improving image, it seems as if Hyundai is pumping more and more into its market offensive.

According to just about everyone, Hyundai is happy with it's up-sized vehicles (the Genesis sedan and Coupe) for the moment and feels the need to expand and improve its smaller ones. I agree; it's about time to replace and upgrade cars like the Sonata, Tiburon, and Tucson with cars befitting the new Hyundai.

Over the next few years Hyundai will supposedly be releasing a slew of small and mid-size products, like the Tiburon replacement, a new small CUV, the next Sonata , and a couple of MPVs based on the i20 (which the US market doesn't get) and i30 (the States' Elantra Touring).

The Tiburon replacement will supposedly take themes from the Veloster concept (we can hope), which is a huge improvement over any of the Tiburons to date. This is significant because it will give Hyundai a sporty, affordable, FWD car that will slot in below the RWD Genesis Coupe while taking on the Civic Si and any number of European hot hatches.

The new compact-sized CUV, rumored to be based on the 2009 Geneva Show ix-onic concept, is going to be Hyundai's second volley over the Germans' bow. The ix-onic would make one hell of a replacement for the Tucson (no one actually takes those things off-road anyway, so why not look good?).

Then there's the next-gen Sonata. Everyone seems to be thinking it's going to move up and tackle cars like the Passat and Camry, which would be interesting. If this is the case, we've got to ask ourselves what the point of the Azera is. Maybe it'll be phased out, now that the Genesis is the big-dog full-size Hyundai (and since the Azera is based on the Sonata's platform). If the spy shots are any hint, the 4-door coupe theme is being adopted, and the wagon could end up looking like the slick Genus concept.

What about those MPVs? Well, people are theorizing the States could be getting one. It'll probably be the smaller, i20-based model (if at all), so as not to get too close to the next Tucson. That, and the smaller MPV could be built alongside the Kia Soul, which utilizes the same platform.

As for the engines, the only real solid info is that Hyundai had a 1.6 liter GDi turbo four-cylinder with 175 hp in the ix-onic concept, and it was mated to a double-clutch 6-speed auto. This mill, in one form or another, will probably end up finding its way under the hood of the Tiburon/Veloster and ix-onic/Tucson, and maybe even the Sonata (if they keep those numbers, the Sonata's mid-range engine could be the Genesis Coupe's 2.0T). That means the Sonata's V6 would probably be bumped up to the Azera's Lambda 3.8 liter with 275-horses, putting it just under the Genesis and squarely against the aforementioned Passat and Camry.

At the end of the day this column is still called Malignant Rumors, meaning what's found within is speculation lathered with hopes and dreams. I just wonder if it's really possible for Hyundai's potential future lineup to elevate the brand's status even further (that is, from wannabe-contenders with a few lucky shots to big-time players)? I guess we're about to find out.

By Phil Alex

Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985, yet for reasons unbeknownst to him moved to South Carolina. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had a strange obsession with cars and travel. When not back in Sparkle City, he resides near Japan's international airport in Narita. He makes no apologies for his articles and welcomes all feedback, as long as it is adamantly worded. Oh, and if for any reason you are inclined to vent some more, check out more of his posts on the Examiner here.