Hydrogen cell car from Hyundai

Hyundai i-Blue: first Korean design to use fuel-cells right from the start.

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Soon to inject some new cars into New Zealand in the form of its i30 models, Hyundai is pushing hard on the world stage with fuel-call technology.

Korean giant Hyundai unveiled its new fuel-cell concept vehicle, the i-Blue, at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.

Hyundai says the hydrogen-powered vehicle produces zero emissions and is built on a car-based crossover platform.

The company hopes to begin mass-production of fuel-cell vehicles within the next decade.

"The i-Blue is Hyundai's first-ever model designed from the ground up to incorporate fuel-cell technology," said Dr Hyun-Soon Lee, Hyundai president of research and development.

"Our engineering team has successfully designed a more compact fuel-cell vehicle, while still realising the safety, comfort, convenience and driving range of a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle."

Unlike its predecessors, which were built on SUV platforms, the i-Blue features a new D segment two- plus-two crossover utility vehicle (CUV) platform and body type.

Hyundai is also showing its new i30 wagon at the show, the five-door hatchback version of which is due to reach New Zealand showrooms shortly.

The i30 wagon will mark Hyundai's return to this popular and hotly contested segment in New Zealand. At one time its older Lantra wagon was the market's hottest seller. Like its five-door hatchback sibling, the i-30 wagon was styled at Hyundai's European design centre in Russelsheim.

Hyundai's so-called Gen Y offering comes in the form of the Veloster coupe, which combines simple design and robust construction.

Styled this time at Hyundai's design and technical centre at Namyang, close to its ship-building headquarters, the Veloster (codenamed HND-3) is the third in a series of concept cars to be developed by the company's Korean central styling studio.

The Veloster name, a compound of velocity and roadster, is designed to evoke the sporty characteristics of a classic two-plus-two. A panoramic glass roof and other futuristic styling cues help project a high-tech image.

"With Veloster, we wanted to try something really different. We're keenly aware that we need radically new products for the Y-generation, the first-time 20-something buyer," said Oh Suk-Geun, Hyundai's vice- president of design.

"This is really a bold new direction."