2009 iX-onic | Concept Car | Design

Concept

The sensational all-new Hyundai ix-onic concept car, which makes its world premiere at the 79th Salon International de L’Automobile in Geneva, introduces a whole new look for a compact 4 x 4 SUV.

Assertive, but not aggressive, the ix-onic (pronounced “ik-sonnik”) combines dynamic, sculpted, performance-oriented styling with an environmentally-friendly power train and thoughtful everyday utility, to create a vehicle that will change the way consumers and especially younger car buyers think about compact crossover vehicles.
Hyundai’s design team in Rüsselsheim, Germany views ix-onic as an ‘urban nomad, a car of contrasts for a world of contrasts’. Created in Europe, with European consumers in mind, the new concept is inspired by multi-cultural personalities of cities like Berlin, Paris and London. The ix-onic is tough and compact for life in the city, but sleek and agile for out-of-town travel.

Performance

The ix-onic’s power train is equipped with a 170 ps, 1.6 GDi turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol engine, with ISG (Idle Stop & Go) technology and a double-clutch six-speed transmission.
Power is transferred to the road by an intelligent four-wheel-drive system fine-tuned to deliver outstanding on-road driving dynamics, together with significant off-road ability. The next-generation, eco-friendly engine emits just 149 g/km of CO₂, an impressive figure for an SUV.

Exterior

With an overall length of 4,400 mm, the 1,850 mm-wide and 1,650 mm-high ix-onic has a great stance and road presence. The design team fused a light, elegant and sporty upper body, with belt lines flowing off both the front and rear wheel arches, to a tough, planted lower body so that the concept is assertive in the way it sits on the road. Key attributes of Hyundai’s ‘dynamic sculpture’ design philosophy are the athleticism and sophistication that ix-onic demonstrates through its dynamic and flowing lines, full surfaces and muscular presence. This athletic design language is highlighted by bold, dynamic graphic elements such as the hexagonal grille, the dramatically swept back headlamps, the split belt-line and the third side window kick-up.

The hexagonal grille is a further evolution of the style introduced on the 2006 Genus concept car and developed for its appearance on the i-mode concept in 2008. The headlamps feature innovative LED daytime running lights (DRL) which are becoming an increasingly important element of brand identity. For the innovative ix-onic, part of the DRL moves down whenever ‘dipped beam’ is switched on, and DRL are also fitted to the door mirror housings. The profile of ix-onic features a dynamic greenhouse and a sports car-like theme with a muscular, double-zigzag treatment for the wheel arches that wrap around the 21-inch polished alloy wheels. Unusually, the concave sills have a wedge-shaped profile which extends rearwards and wraps around into the rear bumper. The sills and bumper are finished in a contrasting color, with an aluminum garnish that echoes the aluminum trim in the door handles to enhance the perception of premium quality.