Chevrolet Mi-ray Roadster Concept shines at Seoul

General Motors used the Seoul motor show to whip the covers off the futuristic Mi-ray concept, conceived to chalk up Chevrolet's 100-year heritage of designing and producing vehicles.

The Seoul debut of the concept also provided further proof of the Asian market's ever-increasing importance for the world's former No.1 carmaker.

"'Mi-ray' is Korean for 'future.' As GM rolls out Chevrolet across Korea, the Mi-ray concept offers an exploration of future possibilities for the brand," said GM Korea president and CEO Mike Arcamone,

"It strengthens the bond between car and driver, creating a fresh look at what sports cars of the future might be."

Conceived by GM's Advanced Design Studio in Seoul, the Mi-ray combines a state-of-the-art hybrid powertrain with futuristic design language that nevertheless derives inspiration from classic Chevys of yesteryear.

"It is small and open like the 1963 Monza SS, and light and purposeful like the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder," says GM of the concept. However, the aerodynamic fuselage is intended to mimic modern jet fighters.

The elaborately contoured bodywork is made of carbonfibre and CFRP (carbonfibre-reinforced plastic) and it's an aggressive mix of sharp edges and sweeping curves. The front and rear fenders were inspired by Corvettes of the past, while the face provides clues to Chevrolet's new corporate identity.

A novel touch is the angled character line along the flank with ambient lighting underneath. In GM's words, this accent "creates a sweeping line of light when the car is in motion, bringing a warm glow to the sculptured body."

Other pioneering elements include retractable flaps that provide additional airflow control while providing access to the charge port on one side and the fuel filler on the other. Meanwhile, the cabin is accessed via Le Mans racer-style scissor doors.

Each rear fender contains individual cargo space for small items, while out back the taillights provide a new interpretation of Chevrolet's 'twin element' identity.

The Mi-ray rides on aluminium-carbonfibre composite 20-inch wheels in front and 21-inchers at the rear, and their turbine theme is meant to evoke movement, even when the car is stationary.

Propulsion comes from what GM calls a "mid-electric" powertrain, located primarily behind and beneath the driver, and this set-up is claimed to maximise performance and fuel efficiency.

The inner-city trawl is taken care of by two front-mounted 15kW electric motors that are powered by a 1.6kWh lithium-ion battery (charged through regenerative braking energy).

However, more spirited driving requires the 1.5-litre turbo engine to kick in. The petrol unit is mounted behind the cockpit and drives the rear wheels "while seamlessly integrating electrification technology". Hooked up to the engine is a dual-clutch sequential gearbox that works in conjunction with a start-stop system.

"Many of the components in the Mi-ray's propulsion system are a logical extension of GM's current technology portfolio," said Uwe Grebe, executive director for GM Powertrain Advanced Engineering.

"The concept shows the potential for reconfiguring, rescaling and extending today's propulsion technologies."

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site