New lightweight materials, a boot lid that opens automatically as you approach it and a monster petrol engine have all been on display at Hyundai-Kia’s 10th R&D Motor Show held at their joint research centre in Hwaseong.
A lot of attention at the show was paid to the 3.8-litre petrol direct injection engine for four wheel drive models such as Hyundai`s new Genesis, which will be released at the end of this year. Hyundai said the 4WD driveline enables greater stability on wet, snowy and rough roads.
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New materials for next generation, rear wheel drive supercars were also unveiled including carbon fibre reinforced plastic for the roof of a high performance model, which is being developed in Germany. The material is half the weight of steel.
The ‘smart trunk [boot]’ automatically opens when a person stands in front of it with baggage. Ford has a similar function called ‘kick sensor’ which recognises a foot placed underneath the trunk opening and BMW offers similar technology on some higher end models. Hyundai’s technology is an advancement of this and will be used first on the updated i40 which is released next month.
Also on display was a two-litre petrol direct injection turbocharged engine which will be used in the next Hyundai Sonata and Kia Sorento models. This engine has 4% higher fuel efficiency compared to older engines.
A drowsy driving prevention system currently under development for mass production in 2015 has been also exhibited. This system identifies a driver’s state through an internal infrared light camera and makes alert sounds. Toyota already fits a similar device on top Lexus models.
This year’s show had 116 vehicles on display, including 71 Hyundai and Kia cars, 35 vehicles from rival carmakers and 10 concept cars.
Other inventions included a robot that lifts and moves a car for the driver. At a R&D supplier technical event held on the sidelines, 32 tier one and tier two supplier companies from various segments, including body, design, powertrain and environment friendly cars, displayed 57 advanced technologies, including 18 claimed world first new technologies, 36 claimed Korea-first technologies and three new technologies developed and applied by the automakers.
