Hyundai will showcase its vision of how cars will meet future mobility needs at next week’s Geneva show with its Intrado concept, the first developed under the direction of Peter Schreyer, who became president and chief design officer of Hyundai Motor Group last year.
This is more than a styling exercise, the company says it takes into consideration what consumers will need and expect of their cars in the near future: easy to use, intuitive to interact with, and readily adaptable to varying demands.
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The Intrado takes its name from the underside of an aircraft’s wing – the area that creates lift. The car’s advanced materials and technologies also draw inspiration from aircraft, such as the removal of all unnecessary weight and logical solutions to complex challenges.
The exterior shows off the automaker’s established fluidic sculpture form language and the distinctive shape is dictated by the need to be aerodynamically efficient. The body panels are made of advanced super lightweight steel from the automaker’s own steel plant.
The seals of opening panels shut directly against the central carbon frame, showcasing the carbon fibre whenever doors, hood or trunk are opened. Components that are usually concealed are highlighted, including the ‘see-through’ air vents and exposed frame onto which the seats clip directly.
Hyundai says the central carbon frame structure uses new, patent-pending manufacturing and joining techniques that together have “the potential to change the way cars are made”. The strength and rigidity of this central structure also allow body panels to be constructed from any material, giving designers greater flexibility and aiding repairability. Lightweight steel impact structures further improve crash performance and repair times.
The Intrado is powered by a next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain using a Li-ion 36 kWh battery. Refuelled in just a few minutes, it has a range of up to 600km.
The concept was styled and engineered primarily at Hyundai Motor European R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany and the project was led by Thomas Bürkle, chief designer at the technical centre.
