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Hyundai reveals new Blue DriveTM vehicles and technology
At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Hyundai has revealed the latest additions to its growing collection of eco-focused Blue DriveTM innovations. Five new vehicles have resulted from the company’s leading-edge program: the i10 blue, i20 blue, i30 blue, i30cw blue, and ix35 blue. These new arrivals will drive the company towards its target of global automotive leadership in environmentally-sensitive technologies.
The eco-friendly variants incorporate a number of real-world modifications to further enhance the standard cars’ already-impressive environmental credentials. The improvements are achieved without compromising performance, reliability or driver satisfaction, making all Blue DriveTM models a realistic solution for contemporary motorists.
Power train
All of these blue models employ the latest energy-efficient power train technology to come out of the Hyundai R&D Centres in Korea and Europe. The new, downsized 1.0-liter Kappa petrol and 1.7-liter U2 diesel engines, for example, are coupled with high-performance, low-friction engine oil, to considerably reduce driveline friction dual continuously variable valve timing, improved combustion efficiency, gear ratio optimization, and engine control optimization to increase engine efficiency.
A noticeable change from the driver’s perspective is the application of a Hyundai-specific Idle Stop & Go system. This innovation cuts the engine when the car is stationary and the gearbox is disengaged, and restarts the engine when the clutch pedal is depressed. This is particularly effective at minimizing emissions and fuel consumption in start-stop urban traffic.
With Idle stop and go system, Hyundai adds an alternator management system to maximize energy regeneration during braking and to provide good acceleration performance by minimizing the alternative workload.
Reduced Driving Resistance
To improve these new Blue DriveTM vehicles’ aerodynamics and lower their rolling resistance, a variety of measures have been implemented.
Under body panels have been installed on all models to cover the wind drag cavities that exist on regular vehicles and negatively affect fuel efficiency. Certain models also feature reductions in brake-pad drag on the discs – and wheels fitted with low rolling resistance tyres, inflated to a higher pressure.
Externally, the vehicles closely resemble their ‘standard’ equivalent models, but can be easily identified by bespoke badging and paint colour. A logo on the rear indicates that the car belongs to the Blue DriveTM family, and all models are finished in the same unique shade of Lavender Blue with the same attractive graphics on the bodywork.
CO2 emissions
Through such innovations, engineers have succeeded in lowering the CO2 emission levels of the i10, i20, and i30 blue models to the sub-100g/km range. The all new ix35 blue also boasts an impressive 135g/km, benchmarking figure for a C-segment SUV.
The i10 blue, which goes into production at the end of 2010, employs the new and extremely efficient 1.0-liter Kappa petrol engine, which produces 69PS at a lower rpm level of 6.200 rpm while generating 94 Nm of torque, and is fitted with a dual continuous variable valve timing (CVVT) system. By tweaking the aerodynamics and refinements to the power train, CO2 emissions in the i10 blue have been reduced to just 99g/km.
The i20 blue features the exciting U2 1.4-liter diesel engine, designed and engineered at the R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and produces 75PS at a lower rpm level of 4.000, while generating 220 Nm of torque. The power train is mated to the latest 6 speed manual transmission. Producing just 98g/km of CO2 emissions, the i20 blue is scheduled to go into production in 2011.
The i30 blue and its derivative CW utilize the U2 1.6-liter engine, which produces 90PS at a lower rpm level of 4.000 rpm, while generating 240 Nm of torque. The power trains are mated to a 6-speed manual, the latest generation of fuel-saving transmissions. As production commences in 2011 at the Nosovice plant in Czech, CO2 emissions of just 98g/km and 99 g/km for the hatchback and estate models, respectively, will translate into an extremely attractive package for customers.
The ix35 blue, which goes into production at the end of 2010 boasts an extremely impressive CO2 emissions figure of just 135g/km, positioning it not only as a rival to leading C-segment SUV models but also to C-segment hatchbacks. The U2 1.7-liter diesel engine, also designed and engineered at the Rüsselsheim R&D centre, produces 115PS at a lower rpm level of 4.000rpm, while generating 260 Nm of torque and mated to the latest 6 speed manual transmission.
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