Hyundai i-Mode

The i-Mode shows Hyundai is willing and able to enter sectors it hasn’t breached before. And, as well as being very attractive, the company’s proposal for a small MPV is innovative. The sliding rear doors and reversible front seat are two clever yet simple elements which are sure to appeal in the family car market. Add the cutting-edge turbodiesel, and the i-Mode is a genuinely interesting proposition.

It’s no longer enough to launch an MPV that’s good-looking, safe and family friendly. To make an impression, it has to be all these things and more! Judging by this car – which previews a small MPV sister to the i30 hatch – that’s exactly what Hyundai is planning.

This is the i-Mode, which bosses hope will ruffle the feathers of class leaders such as the Ford C-MAX and Vauxhall Zafira. The i-Mode is important, because it previews an entry into a new niche for the maker.

And it’s the first Hyundai to be fitted with a state-of-the-art 2.2-litre diesel. This will become available across the rest of the range from 2011.

But that’s not all. Instead of using glass, all the windows and headlight lenses are made of a light, impact-resistant plastic called Makrolon. The car also wears a six-sided grille which will be seen on all new Hyundais within a couple of years.

Elsewhere, inspiration seems to have been drawn from the Ford S-MAX to produce a sleek, rakish look. In addition, the foglights are blended into the front wheelarches, scoops have been sculpted into the doors and the sidelights have been incorporated with the A-pillars.

The interior is equally dramatic. Most striking of all is the brown leather trim. This won’t be to everybody’s taste, although it’s unlikely to make it on to the production version.

The way you access the rear is closer to reality, however. With the i-Mode providing six seats in three rows, it was vital for designers to make entry and exit as easy as possible. Their answer was sliding doors – but they didn’t stop there.

To avoid the ugly bodywork rails these systems usually require, the set-up opens on a sill-mounted hinge. It’s a clever solution that makes the Hyundai stand out – and it also eliminates the need for a B-pillar.

The front passenger seat is equally innovative. It can swivel or pivot in one easy move. The squab becomes the back and vice versa, so the occupant can face rearwards. There is even an integral reversible seatbelt. The i-Mode has three individual chairs in the centre row, although these will make way for a sliding bench in the production car.

One thing the i-Mode isn’t short of is pace. The diesel unit has twin turbos, which results in a peak torque figure of 461Nm. That means the six-speed auto doesn’t have to do a great deal of work to carry the car along in relaxed style.

Nevertheless, with power rated at 188bhp, the diesel gives the i-Mode the sort of sporty character that increasing numbers of MPV buyers demand. If Hyundai can develop the i30-based chassis to match the engine, the production car will be a great choice.