2011 Detroit Show: Hyundai's Curb Small Crossover Concept

Sharing the spotlight with the Veloster coupe at Hyundai's Detroit motorshow stand is the Curb, a conceptual study for a small crossover model positioned under the Tucson. Labeled by Hyundai as a compact Urban Activity Vehicle (UAV), the Curb is aimed at young city dwellers.

Penned by the designers at Hyundai's California studio, the Curb's styling is said to have evolved from the firm's “Fluidic Sculpture” design language seen on the latest Sonata and Elantra.

“We wanted the Curb to be urban tough without looking like a Brink's truck,” said Jason Brown, Hyundai designer. City driving was going to be its forte, not crossing the Rubicon trail, but we wanted it to have urban armor for daily driving on city streets. It needed to empower its passengers in this setting.”

Another Hyundai designer, Arash Badeanlou boldly stated “The world has never seen lines like this on a car before," adding "it is as if the architect Santiago Calatrava inspired it.”

The Curb, which is the seventh vehicle (hence the HCD-12 codename) to be designed at the company’s California Design Center, is motivated by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct injection tech, mated to Hyundai's Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) [wonder what the VW Group has to say about the abbreviation...]. The force-fed motor develops 175 horsepower and 169 lb. ft. of torque. Hyundai said that by adding Idle Stop and Go (ISG) technology, the Curb would deliver 30+ mpg in the city and 40+ mpg on the highway.

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Detroit Show Preview: Hyundai Curb Crossover Concept Study

The upcoming Veloster sports hatch will be sharing the spotlight at Hyundai's Detroit motorshow stand with a new crossover concept called the Curb. The South Korean firm has released very little information on the study that carries the HCD-12 codename, but we do know that it has been penned at the firm's California Design Center. According to the company, the Curb's styling is an evolution of the "fluidic sculpture" design language seen on the latest Sonata and Elantra sedans. The official unveiling of the Curb will take place on Monday, January 10 at the Cobo Hall in Detroit.

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Hyundai dresses up New Accent as RB Concept for the Moscow Auto Show

Along with the local version of the new Sonata, Hyundai is also showing the RB "concept" at the Moscow International Motor Show. What we're really looking at though is a thinly disguised version of the Russian market Verna/Accent subcompact, which originally made its world premiere at the Beijing Auto Show back in April.

Other than the "Orchid strokes", "fluidic essence", and the styling blah blah blah (we get it, Hyundai, the new models are full of emotion), this is some sort of international peace statement.

Seriously, the announcement says this model helps realize "the harmonic coexistence of all things created". Don't forget: you can't hug people with nuclear arms. The concept features a different hexagonal fascia (similar to that of the latest Tucson / iX35) for the Russian market (which seems a bit too rounded and conservative...the car, not the market), as well as a set of boomerang fog lamps.

The Russian RB/Verna/Accent will be built at Hyundai's St. Petersburg, Russia factory and should be on sale next spring. It will be powered by one of two new Gamma engines, either a 1.4-liter (107 hp, 135 Nm) or a 1.6-liter (124 hp, 156 Nm), hooked up to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

For other dimensions, check out our post from the Beijing reveal.

By Phil Alex

Video Presentation of Hyundai's i-Flow Sport Sedan Study for a European Sonata

The biggest news at Hyundai's Geneva Motor Show booth is the world premiere of the i-Flow concept study. The sporty-looking mid-size sedan with the 'Cab-Forward' design is said to give Europeans a first look at the Sonata replacement (apparently the latest generation model wasn't cut for Europe) that will get a new name following the brand's alphanumeric nomenclature.

Hyundai confirmed that a production model based on the styling of this concept study will hit European showrooms sometime in 2011 offering the South Korean brand a new fighter in the D-segment that includes models like the Ford Mondeo, VW Passat, Toyota Avensis and Opel Insignia (Buick Regal). Hit the break for the videos.

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Geneva Show: Hyundai i-Flow Concept Previews 2011 European Sonata Replacement

[Updated with 'Live' Photos] Making its global debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, is the Hyundai i-flow concept that strongly hints at the Korean firm's Sonata replacement in Europe. Hyundai didn't refer directly to the Sonata, but it did say that the i-flow previews the company's European D-Segment contender that will rival the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Citroen C5 and VW Passat.

Furthermore, with an overall length of 4,780mm, 1,850mm width, 1,420mm height and a 2,800mm wheelbase, the i-flow is almost identical in size to the latest generation Sonata (4,820mm long, 1,835mm wide and 1,470mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,795mm), so it wouldn't make much sense for the Koreans to sell both models in Europe.

The i-flow or HED-7, is the seventh Hyundai concept car to be born in the firm's Russelsheim studio in Germany.

Hyundai said that the mid-size sedan's styling is an evolution of the company's so-called 'fluidic sculpture' design language adding that the car is also distinguished by its "unique proportions" with the long tail and the short front overhang, features which are said to have been inspired by Chrysler's Cab-Forward design aerodynamic motives.

The fluidic forms of the i-flow's exterior are echoed in the cabin with continuous lines that sweep from the dashboard, through the doors to the open storage area at the rear. Hyundai also claims that it has used cutting-edge materials in the interior to reduce weight.

Under the bonnet is Hyundai's first diesel-electric hybrid powertrain that uses the company's new 1.7-litre diesel plus two-stage turbocharging linked to a Lithium Ion-Polymer battery. The engine is couples to a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission.

According to Hyundai, a production model inspired by the i-flow will hit European showrooms sometime in 2011.