Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive system was on display at the New York International Auto Show as part of the Nuvis crossover. This concept hybrid portends the future of Hyundai vehicles with a comfortable interior, stylish exterior and a focus on stretching fuel mileage as far as possible. Hyundai representatives indicated that the Nuvis crossover vehicle is likely the foundation for SUVs and sedans in the near future.
The Hyundai Hybrid Blue Drive is a comprehensive drive system that brings together the best of green vehicle technology. The 30 kW electric motor, the Theta II 2.4 liter engine and the 270-volt lithium-ion battery form the heart of the Blue Drive. The Hyundai Nuvis crossover featured a starter/generator that shuts the engine off at red lights and starts the vehicle when the gas pedal is depressed. The Hyundai Hybrid Bue Drive uses regenerative braking, lightweight parts and a six-speed auto transmission to ensure fuel efficiency.
The Hyundai Nuvis is projected to get 34 miles per gallon in city driving and 35 miles per gallon highway according to the automaker. The Nuvis prototype is equipped for all-electric driving at low speeds along with a parallel hybrid system that would be used for a majority of driving. Future Hyundai vehicles featuring the Blue Drive system will feature engine management software capable of regulating all aspects of drive train performance. This software will change engine timing, injection pressure and dozens of other criteria to ensure that the greatest mileage possible is achieved.
The Hyundai Nuvis must have impressed attendees at the New York International Auto Show. As you can see in the photo above, this crossover prototype has the design needed to bridge the gap between green vehicle lovers and traditionalists. The Hybrid Blue Drive system sounds all of the right notes for hybrid drivers including electric motor-assisted steering and a powerful engine.
The key for Hyundai is to stick to its guns in bringing the Hybrid Blue Drive system to the global auto market. Hyundai may be tempted to retrench over the short term to stay alive financially, putting the Hybrid Blue Drive on the back burner indefinitely. The Hyundai Nuvis and its descendants are necessary tonics to the auto market: reliable, stylish and fuel-efficient vehicles that represent the next vista of auto technology.
