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Slated to go full plug is the i10 city car, which will go into production as an electric version with a lithium-ion battery pack that gives a 160km range, and charges from household power in just five hours – or in 15 minutes on higher-amp industrial power supply.
Hyundai opted for the more expensive lithium-ion — over nickel-metal — because of their better efficiency but also because of the gains to be made in weight and space saving Drive-by-wire and powered technology also replaces some of the heavier mechanical pumps and pulleys, helping keep the weight to a slim single tonne.
The Korean carmaker has also revealed a hybrid mini SUV concept called the ix-Metro, which uses a three-cylinder turbo petrol engine married to an electric motor and mated to a twin-clutch automatic transmission.
The ix-Metro — the latest of the ‘i’ line of concepts and production cars that have seen the Hyundai badge shift its position from bargain basement to ‘style with value’ – has an ultra-streamlined look with pillarless sides, sliding doors and a silicon touch-operated dash.
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