SHARING THE LIMELIGHT with the ix35 crossover at Hyundai’s Frankfurt Motorshow stand will be a new concept from the Korean company, the ix-Metro.
Designed to showcase the automaker’s new environmental technologies, the ix-Metro merges a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and a six-speed twin-clutch gearbox with a compact high-riding four-door bodyshell.
With its 1.0 litre three-cylinder engine featuring direct-injection, variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust cams and a turbocharger, power output is a respectable 93kW. Fuel consumption figures are unavailable, but Hyundai estimates the hybrid concept will emit just 80 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.
It’s too early to tell whether the ix-Metro previews a new Hyundai hybrid, but with the next-generation Sonata expected to sport a hybrid powertrain in its line-up, odds are high the manufacturer will employ the technology in more products.
Whether this B-segment sized quasi-crossover will form the basis for one of those products remains to be seen.
The ix-Metro won’t be the only green Hyundai on show at Frankfurt. Hyundai will also be wheeling out its battery-powered i10 Electric, which will see limited production next year and enter real-world trials in South Korea.
The Blue-Will plug-in hybrid concept will feature at the Hyundai stand as well, and will appear alongside the Elantra LPI hybrid. Another Frankfurt-bound model is the i30 Blue, which receives a fuel-saving start-stop system and low-friction powertrain.
The i30 Blue and the i10 Blue are currently under evaluation by Hyundai Australia for a local release.
