http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/07/report-hyundai-planning-blue-will-based-sporty-plug-in-hybrid-b/


REPORT: Hyundai planning Blue-Will based sporty plug-in hybrid by 2012

by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Jul 7th 2009 at 8:59AM Green

Hyundai Blue-Will Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai's first-ever hybrid automobile for the U.S. market will be based on the redesigned 2011 Sonata midsize sedan, but it certainly isn't the only fuel-saver the Korean automaker has in store. According to Automotive News, Yang Woong-chul, president of R&D for Hyundai-Kia Motors, has reiterated his company's plans to aggressively (if belatedly) enter the increasingly crowded hybrid market.

To that end, Hyundai plans to launch a new sporty plug-in electric car based on the striking Blue-Will concept from Seoul Motor Show earlier this year. Powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injected powerplant and 100kw electric motor mated up with a continuously variable transmission, the Blue-Will reportedly has a range of 38 miles in EV mode and an overall rating of 55 mpg when the gas engine is in operation.

Expect a similar drivetrain for the production car when it hits the market in 2012 to go up against the upcoming Chevrolet Volt and the plug-in version of Toyota's standard-bearing Prius hybrid. So far, there's no word on expected pricing for the PHEV, but Hyundai says the goal is to 'show its technology and improve its image,' not to make money. Consider our interest piqued.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/250309hyu_opt.jpg
http://photos.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_610/car_photo_305110_25.jpg
Notice the shrunk T-shaped battery pack size relative to Volt's, made possible by LG's 2nd gen CELL.

Tastes differ but that thing strikes me as ugly.

And not until 2012? Why bother us about it now? We won't care for years.

Is this Korea's little dig to Japan for killing whales? lol. Check out the designer's inspiration. It's the first thing I thought of when I saw the car:

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/62/73262-004-A2E3ED15.jpg


Right whale. Other whale baleens are probably even closer (couldn't find just the right picture, perhaps someone else can).

Maybe if the price is cheap enough, you could pull all the body work off and start over!:D Asian car styling tends to be just weird. I think they are afraid that if they make cars with a classic style and look, people will want to keep them and maybe some will even make it to a museum someday. If that happens, it will be bad for the Asian economy and they won't sell as many cars. Keep 'em ugly and the consumer will continue to throw them away. Clever strategy.

I am surprised people are missing out how small Blu-Will's battery pack is; half the size of Volt's at almost identical AER.

Oh, I get it. You are trying to say that Korean battery tech is so far advanced that they now have a battery pack that is 1/2 the size of the Volt's.

I remember just a short while ago you were saying that Toyota was so far behind because they are going into production with their Prius plug-in in 2012. When again is the Hyundai going into production? 2012? Hummmm. That's doesn't seem so far advanced.

Why also 38 miles? Why not 41 miles to beat the Volt? Why 100 kW motor and not 112 kW to beat the Volt? Do they want to be second place on purpose? lol.

I also bet the following custom license plates are going to be snatched up quickly, you better hurry:

MobyDick1
MOBIDIC1
AHABSEV
ISHMAEL
WHALE1
WHALEV

Is this Korea's little dig to Japan for killing whales? lol. Check out the designer's inspiration. It's the first thing I thought of when I saw the car:

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/62/73262-004-A2E3ED15.jpg


Right whale. Other whale baleens are probably even closer (couldn't find just the right picture, perhaps someone else can).

Good call on the whale-car. I don't find it particularly attractive, and I also wonder what its Cd is. It doesn't look as aerodynamic as the Volt.

2nd gen LG batteries eh? I wonder how much better those are supposed to be than what the Volt is getting for its debut and whether they will switch to 2nd gen batteries halfway through the contract which expires in 2015 for the Volt? Maybe the 2nd gen Volt will be out about 2013 and they will use the 2nd gen LG batteries?

BTW If they're half the size, why is there still only 4 seats? Sheesh, you'd think they could at least make a bench or something.

2nd gen LG batteries eh? I wonder how much better those are supposed to be than what the Volt is getting for its debut
1st gen Cells were not meant for EVs; it was designed as a NiMH substitute in conventional hybrids, so it prioritized lifespan over energy capacity. 2nd and 3rd gen cells are designed for EV, pure and plugins.

2nd gen allows 10 mile AER on a Prius sized battery pack, and the 3rd gen 20 mile AER.


and whether they will switch to 2nd gen batteries halfway through the contract which expires in 2015 for the Volt?
The redesign doesn't make sense. GM would reach battery access parity with Hyundai by 3rd gen cells due out in 2015.


BTW If they're half the size, why is there still only 4 seats?
For styling reasons.

Whoa! I agree with HyperMiler on something!

omnimoeish: "BTW If they're half the size, why is there still only 4 seats? "

HyperMiler: "For styling reasons."

True enough. 4 seats is something you see in concept cars (the gorgeous Continental Concept of a few years ago, for example). In the real world, though, the need to provide utility overpowers that styling decision and a 5th seat is almost always provided. Or at least a 5th seatbelt - the seat might not be comfortable enough to rate calling a "seat."

The Volt is going to be faily unique in this respect.

I am surprised people are missing out how small Blu-Will's battery pack is; half the size of Volt's at almost identical AER.

And how do we know this to be true? Because Hyundai said so? Remember the original Volt concept? It was supposed to go 40 AER but in fact didn't when put to the test. That's OK, it was a non functioning concept car who's purpose was to get people excited about EREVs. Mission accomplished. The Blue-Will concept is the same thing. It's just a non functioning concept that the manufacturer can make any claim they want for the future with no real expectation to ever actually live up to those claims. It's just the business of concept cars, to promote a beautiful future but without any real concrete means of achieving it.

You guys noticed how space efficient that car is?.. it is mostly cabin. I could care less about looks, how it works is important.

But those headlights are going to be expensive to replace.

“You guys noticed how space efficient that car is?.. it is mostly cabin… “ – hermperez

I do not think Hyundai is serious about the styling design. The feretory type pillar-less doors make the car heavy because of the reinforcement needed in the chassis (the glass roof does not help). This added weight plus the weight of ICE, transmission, electric motor (100KW!) and, yes, the battery pack probably make it a 4000+ pounder. I think the real car will end up looking much like the Prius and Insight… smooth surface, highly raked windshield, B pillars and coda tronca rear end, if Hyundai wants to cheat the gravity and wind.

P.S. Where does Hyundai put the inline electric motor? It is too big to be placed at the ICE output shaft (in place of the flywheel, like the Insight). I like the basic concept of the inline electric motor, though. It is simple and can accommodate manual transmission (if the motor is not too big).

P.P.S. 55mpg on a 1.6-litre ICE? How can it be possible? Does Hyundai count the 38 miles on EV mode into the calculation?

Tastes differ but that thing strikes me as ugly.

It's not just you. It's extremely ugly.

My idea of sporty does not include anything with 4 doors, or that ugly ass front end!!!