Geneva reveal for Hyundai SUV concept

Hyundai will unveil an all-new SUV conceived to replace its Tucson compact all-terrainer at next month's Geneva motor show.

Codenamed HED-6, the low-slung design study was styled at Hyundai's European Design headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

For now the company has released only this rendering of the HED-6, and what it shows is a vehicle that appears more crossover than mud-raker -- truth be told, it looks somewhat like a Mazda3 on growth hormones.

Hyundai isn't as yet giving away too much in the way of technical nitty-gritty, other than revealing that the SUV's stubby snout conceals a 130kW, 1.6-litre GDi turbodiesel engine.

The company says the HED-6 "gives a clear indication of the direction Hyundai will take with its next generation of SUVs".

The latest design study follows in the wake of the HED-5 MPV concept unveiled at the Geneva motor show last year, and it carries over some of the former's design language.

"The dramatic exterior look is enhanced by the hexagonal grille, angular style lines and piercing back-swept front headlamps, with the bold look completed by 21-inch, mirror-polished alloy wheels," boasts Hyundai.

Hyundai says it used Lexan (a high-strength plastic) in lieu of glass to achieve the "three-dimensional, sculpted shape" of the rear window, and the designers developed a special 'Ice Blue' exterior paint with an advanced pigment effect to highlight the concept's contours.

"The HED-6 brings an entirely new look to Hyundai's SUV line-up," said Hyundai Motor Europe vice president Allan Rushforth.

"It fuses a robust exterior with a fresh and elegant interior, making for an eye-catching package, while its latest-generation power train highlights Hyundai's clean-technology expertise."

The production version of the HED-6 will eventually replace the Tucson, which has been a steady seller for Hyundai since its 2005 debut.

Meanwhile, Hyundai's Geneva motor show stand will also be graced by a three-door version of its i20 baby car (more here), as well as the 'i30 blue' low-emission vehicle.

The i20 three-door will go on sale in Europe in the second quarter of 2009 and the company says it will play a key role in targeting the youth market.

The i30 blue will showcase the first application of stop-start technology on a Hyundai production car, and the company claims it contributes to a significant cut in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It will also be the company's first vehicle to wear the 'blue' label.

The ISG (Idle Stop and Go) technology automatically switches the car's engine off when stationary and uses an advanced starter motor connected to the ECU, which monitors the car's status at all times.

Hyundai claims ISG (when applied to the company's 1.6-litre petrol engine) reduces fuel consumption by seven per cent on the official combined cycle and achieves a CO2 rating of 142g/km, compared to 152g/km on the regular i30 1.6.