Hyundai Alters Vehicle DNA with Genus

Motoring Channel Staff - 3/Mar/2006

Hyundai entered the Geneva Motor Show like many other automakers in 2006 - with a concept car.

Called the Genus, the conceptual vehicle not only hints at where the Korean car maker is planning to take look of its SUV range in the next half decade, but also brings new elements to the market segment with its 'crossover' design.

Calling it a coupe-wagon crossover concept car , the unusual Genus combines the sportiness of a coupe with the versatility of a traditional wagon.

As the Korean company communicates, the Genus challenges the traditional compromise of vehicle choice faced by demanding modern lifestyles, and according to Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai’s European Design Centre in Rüsselsheim near Frankfurt [Germany], which created the car.

“The dynamic 5-door concept blends roominess and comfort with elegance and practicality. It offers space and comfort similar to a traditional wagon but has an elegant, dynamic exterior. The Genus thus provides the answer to emotional desires and practical necessity,” Bürkle said.

The Rüsselsheim design team developed the Genus as a medium-size vehicle with a broad appeal to many target groups says Hyundai. With its multi-use concept, Genus can be used for work, extensive shopping tours, family holidays as well as for numerous leisure activities. A long wheelbase, short front and rear overhangs and a wide stance enable increased interior comfort and loading capacity without compromising the fundamental proportions inherent in a coupe.

For maximum versatility, the floor features an integral hatch that can be lifted to reveal a retractable bench seat. The bench extends out to rest over the trunk sill and together with a sliding deck that is concealed in the bumper, it forms a multi-use outside seating area. The sliding deck can also be used separately to carry bicycles and other sports equipment, increasing the car's versatility in new and original ways.

Inset B and C-pillars allow a flush sweep of glass along all side windows, which are fully retractable and together with a large panoramic glass roof, enable multi-sensorial experiences normally associated with coupes and cabriolets, while giving the car a unique look.

As customers turn to smaller vehicles and those with more efficient engines, Hyundai has chosen to outfit the Genus with a 2.2-litre common-rail turbo-diesel engine (CRDi), equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai has revealed that its new concept car also makes use of an AWD drivetrain which improves onroad grip and adds to the cars safety credentials.