Hyundai's Green is 'blue'

For Hyundai, blue is their way of being green. The South Korean automaker showed three concepts aimed at reducing CO2 and fuel consumption, identified by i-blue badges, including the i30 blue, i10 blue and the i10 blue CNG (compressed natural gas).

But don't be quick to judge and label these vehicles as another Toyota Prius or the natural-gas-powered Honda Civic GX. Think of i-blue as a package that combines different technologies to reduce pollution without compromising performance for each model.

While each car has a different combination of i-blue features, the overall package helps accomplish the same goals: improve aerodynamics; increase engine and transmission efficiency and provide a finer tuned chassis.

The i30 5-door's 88-horsepower 1.6 CRDi diesel engine emits 125 g/km CO2. But with the i-blue package, it is reduced by 15.2 percent to 106 g/km. For the entry-level i10 blue, CO2 emissions are reduced by 17 percent to 95 g/km but the most impressive of the three is the i10 blue CNG. The 98-horsepower 0.8-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine combined with a CNG application emits just 65 g/km CO2.

"The i-blue concept cars 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, this could become a stand-alone eco-dynamic model range," said Hans van Gent of Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH.

This unique concept gives us a glimpse into Hyundai's future. Shaped like a cocoon, the six-seater monocab crossover is what the automaker describes as an innovatively styled, eco-friendly and socially adaptive vehicle. The attractive and sporty-looking concept has an aerodynamic and muscular appearance, and has quite a bit of punch too.

An all-new 2.2-liter R diesel engine powers the i-Mode with two-stage turbocharging that results in 212 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. But power is not the only news about this concept.

The i-Mode offers versatile and flexible accommodation starting with a Swivel Seat concept that allows the first-row passenger seat to rotate to face the second- and third-row occupants. To maximize comfort and convenience, the second row bench can slide forward and backwards.

While on the road, passengers can stay connected to the Internet or be entertained by the onboard advanced multimedia features. From video games to movies to webcams, the wireless network allows for cable-free keyboards, game controllers and headphones.

Another interesting feature is the self-healing water-based bodywork finish developed by Bayer MaterialScience AG that allows minor scratches to disappear by themselves.

Also making news in Geneva was the debut of the all-new sixth-generation Hyundai Sonata. This latest version received a major face-lift that's highlighted by a chrome surrounded radiator grille, a more pronounced Hyundai emblem and projector styled headlights that add a touch of luxury to its appearance.

The interior has been redesigned for more comfort and the features have been improved for more convenience. Ride quality and handling has also been upgraded with tuning done to shock absorbers, springs and anti-roll bars. Power output has been increased across the entire line including the new Series II Theta 2.0 and 2.4 inline 4-cylinder gasoline engines that now have Dual Continuous Variable Valve Timing.