Hyundai Nuvis Concept

09th April 2009

Crossover concepts are the order of the day! Following close behind the Acura ZDX which broke cover yesterday, Hyundai has revealed a coupe-style SUV of its own. Called the Nuvis Concept, Hyundai has taken a leaf out of the BMW X6’s book by mating imposing SUV dimensions with svelte lines and a luxury finish.

The stunning exterior panels are designed to mimic flowing water and give the car an appearance of being in motion even when it’s standing still. A huge front grille and beautifully-machined 22-inch alloys help to give the Nuvis is dominating stance, but it was the full-length gullwing doors that won it the most amount of admiring glances on the show floor.

The carefully-detailed interior continues the liquid theme with wavy lines running throughout, as well as a translucent blue centre stack which divides the cabin in half – a clever touch-sensitive surface allows all four passengers to control the car’s entertainment functions.

Unusually for a full-blown concept car, the mechanicals are all functional. It uses Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive architecture, which mates a 2.4-litre petrol engine in parallel with an electric motor, with the advanced Lithium Polymer battery pack stowed under the boot floor. Other eco-tricks such as stop-start and regenerative braking help to maximise fuel economy, too.

Bosses from the Korean manufacturer revealed that the Nuvis hints at a possible future crossover production vehicle – but remained tight-lipped about if and when a showroom-ready version will make its debut.