Switzerland, Geneva

"Near production" concept vehicle on display in Geneva

Hyundai has put their i-blue range on show at the 2008 Geneva International Motor Show, featuring a new compressed natural gas (CNG) variant. Though the company has also designed a diesel variant it describes the CNG version as the "ultimate solution of an ecologically optimized vehicle", due to the use of a newly developed 0.8L 3-cylinder turbocharged CNG engine (98PS). The i10 blue CNG reaches class leading level of just 65g/km CO2. Small it may be but according to Hyundai the CO2 savings and surprising power output will make up for any size concerns buyers may have; output of 96.6hp from the tiny motor gives the i10 blue a specific output of 120.75hp/L.

In a Hyundai press release, the company says that with CO2 emissions at the core of eco-politics, Hyundai can make even further progress in reducing CO2. With the i-blue concept, Hyundai has combined several cutting edge technologies to meet ever-rising customer and legislative demands. 

“The i-blue concept can be thought of as an introduction of features that will naturally evolve in future Hyundai cars. But if distributor, dealer and public demand justifies it, could become a stand-alone eco-dynamic model range,” explains Hans van Gent of Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH. 

The i-blue models include a range of other initiatives designed to reduce CO2 emissions.

Powertrain
Elements that combine to achieve a major reduction in fuel consumption include:

• Increasing the inner motor efficiency by reducing driveline friction, using low friction oil, and optimizing the cooling system
• Changing the engine software control. For example, controlling injection pressure and engine cycle timing, along with enhanced exhaust re-treatment rates, and lowering the engine idling speed
• Fitting an ECU controlled gear change indicator (shift indicator)
• Adopting the Bosch Start & Stop system (incl. intelligent generator)

Chassis
In order to maximize both aerodynamic and fuel efficiency gains, the chassis will be further fine-tuned. Changes include:

• Suspension lowered by circa 15-20mm
• Adoption of very low resistance Michelin tires (i30: 205/55 R16) with increased tyre pressure

Transmission
Hyundai research has shown that changing from a 5 to a 6-speed gearbox and extending the top three ratios delivers a significant reduction in engine speeds with a corresponding reduction in consumption and emissions Changes include:

• Replacing 5-speed with 6-speed manual gearboxes
• Extending the ratios of the top three gears
• Mounting the shift indicator directly in the instrument display