Skip advert
Advertisement

Hyundai Intrado concept revealed

New Hyundai Intrado concept car showcases new design direction by Kia's design star

The designer who made Kias cool – Peter Schreyer – is now turning his talented hand to sister brand Hyundai. His first concept car for the marque – the Intrado – was launched at the Geneva Motor Show today.

AutoExpress got a sneak preview of the aerodynamic-looking fuel cell concept crossover this week and spoke exclusively with Schreyer about his vision for Hyundai.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Schreyer told us the concept was “the first stage in differentiating the two Korean brands more clearly. Many people say Hyundai is the more conservative brand of the two, but I don’t think that’s the right way. It’s not an old man’s car, it can be sporty too with its rally racing background and more.”  

The concept – which Auto Express saw as a full-size clay model in Germany while the finishing touches were being made to the show car itself over in Italy – is a great-looking vehicle.

It features more focused, narrow front lights, a deeper and more three-dimensional grille and distinctive wheel arches which are partially detached from the front bumper and visually appear to frame the car’s front, with a little nod to the Aston Martin ONE-77, or perhaps a catamaran, in the process. 

Perhaps more important than this new aesthetic direction is the revolutionary new chassis structure that underpins its svelte shape.

It features a patent-pending pliable soft woven carbon fibre tubing system that can be bent into more flexible shapes than conventional steel or carbon fibre and is filled with four slugs of resin to then make it hard and rigid (looking akin to a grey Battenberg cake in cross-section).

Crucially, Hyundai says the new approach should save considerable weight, cost and manufacturing complexity and could reduce the cost of future hi-tech production cars within a few years (notably on its second-generation of fuel cell vehicles).

Due to its high rigidity the clever chassis material also allows the designers to dispense with a B-pillar between the front and rear passenger seats to improve vehicle access.

Although the Intrado doesn’t point to one specific new Hyundai model, its styling will inspire the look of the firm’s new models from now on.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

All-new Hyundai Elexio: Bizarre design, huge 435-mile electric range
All-new Hyundai Elexio - front static

All-new Hyundai Elexio: Bizarre design, huge 435-mile electric range

The Elexio is Hyundai’s latest all-electric SUV, but this one has been designed exclusively for China
News
8 May 2025
Best electric car deals: today's top discounts and incentives on new EVs
Best electric car deals - header image

Best electric car deals: today's top discounts and incentives on new EVs

Making the switch to an EV? These car brands have an offer (or two) for you
Best cars & vans
28 Apr 2025
What is Hyundai N? Past, present and future of the Korean performance brand
Auto Express consumer reporter Tom Jervis standing next to a Hyundai N racing car

What is Hyundai N? Past, present and future of the Korean performance brand

We follow Hyundai's N brand from Namyang to the Nurburgring
Features
10 Apr 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
8 Apr 2025

Most Popular

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return

The Ford Fiesta could be coming back as an electric car, and here’s everything we know so far
News
20 May 2025
Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution
Connecting charger to Hyundai Tucson PHEV

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution

Half a million extra PHEVs could reach UK roads by 2030 in place of cleaner EVs due to changes surrounding the ZEV Mandate
News
19 May 2025
Drivers face crackdown on unpaid European speeding fines after EU-UK reset deal
Parliament

Drivers face crackdown on unpaid European speeding fines after EU-UK reset deal

Government speeds up plans to share UK driver data following summit with Europe’s top mandarins
News
19 May 2025