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Here's an article that was in the wheels section of today's edition of my local newspaper, the Ottawa Citizen. Check it out:
Hyundai clicks with the ultimate crossover vehicle
Coupe, convertible or pickup, the Korean maker's hot new concept vehicle is a Swiss army knife on wheels. Paul Williams reports.
Paul Williams
The Ottawa Citizen
Friday, February 22, 2002
TORONTO - Hyundai Auto Canada president Steve Kelleher is a happy man. Hyundai's 2001 Canadian sales were up again, this time by 52 per cent to 59,211 vehicles. That follows a 29-per-cent increase in 2000 and a 31-per-cent jump in 1999.
And sales in the far larger U.S. market have also made huge gains.
Now the company is thinking ahead to new products to build on this success.
One could well be patterned on the striking and stylish Hyundai Clix, a concept car introduced by Mr. Kelleher to members of the press at the Canadian International Auto Show.
Although the car has been seen in Europe, the Canadian event is the vehicle's North American debut. It's the only concept car at the Toronto show that didn't already debut in Los Angeles or Detroit.
"It's more than just a design exercise," said Mr. Kelleher in an interview. "It's the beginning of a whole new category of vehicle."
At first sight, the Clix looks like a futuristic sports coupe. But taking the notion of "crossover vehicle" to the extreme, this Hyundai is a Swiss army knife on wheels.
The Clix functions as a coupe, a convertible, a T-top (targa) and a pickup. A high-tech opening mechanism powered by six motors transforms the vehicle using a selection of console-mounted switches.
Four transparent roof panels tilt and move to reconfigure the vehicle's appearance and function.
Hyundai calls it an FAV, a Fun Activity Vehicle.
The Clix is a product of Hyundai's design studio in Frankfurt. According to Mr. Kelleher, the task was to create a truly multifunctional vehicle that could be easily adapted to a range of motoring needs. The result is a vehicle that can be used as an everyday car during the week, then transformed into a fast coupe/cabrio or a practical leisure vehicle on the weekends.
The target market, as you might expect, is a young generation of thirtysomethings that Hyundai believes like to work hard during the week and play hard on the weekend.
Motive power for the Clix is a supercharged 2.2-litre, direct-injected engine, which Hyundai says produces 300 h.p. Power is routed through a manual, six-speed transmission and 19-inch alloy wheels. The Clix stops by using giant, 375-mm ventilated front disc brakes, and 350-mm solid discs at the rear.
The vehicle's smooth profile is augmented by the deletion of conventional external rear-view mirrors. These are replaced with tiny cameras connected to interior monitors.
"We think this kind of vehicle embodies the Hyundai philosophy of being fun and contemporary," said Mr. Kelleher.
"Will we build it? Partly that depends on the reception we get from the public. If we do, it wouldn't be until maybe 2004, and not exactly as you see here. Don't forget, though, we built the Tiburon, and it looks very much like the Hyundai HCD-I and HCD-II concept cars that preceded it."
The Clix is on view at the Hyundai stand at the Toronto show until Sunday. Its next scheduled appearance is the Vancouver Auto Show April 6-13.
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Hyundai clicks with the ultimate crossover vehicle
Coupe, convertible or pickup, the Korean maker's hot new concept vehicle is a Swiss army knife on wheels. Paul Williams reports.
Paul Williams
The Ottawa Citizen
Friday, February 22, 2002
TORONTO - Hyundai Auto Canada president Steve Kelleher is a happy man. Hyundai's 2001 Canadian sales were up again, this time by 52 per cent to 59,211 vehicles. That follows a 29-per-cent increase in 2000 and a 31-per-cent jump in 1999.
And sales in the far larger U.S. market have also made huge gains.
Now the company is thinking ahead to new products to build on this success.
One could well be patterned on the striking and stylish Hyundai Clix, a concept car introduced by Mr. Kelleher to members of the press at the Canadian International Auto Show.
Although the car has been seen in Europe, the Canadian event is the vehicle's North American debut. It's the only concept car at the Toronto show that didn't already debut in Los Angeles or Detroit.
"It's more than just a design exercise," said Mr. Kelleher in an interview. "It's the beginning of a whole new category of vehicle."
At first sight, the Clix looks like a futuristic sports coupe. But taking the notion of "crossover vehicle" to the extreme, this Hyundai is a Swiss army knife on wheels.
The Clix functions as a coupe, a convertible, a T-top (targa) and a pickup. A high-tech opening mechanism powered by six motors transforms the vehicle using a selection of console-mounted switches.
Four transparent roof panels tilt and move to reconfigure the vehicle's appearance and function.
Hyundai calls it an FAV, a Fun Activity Vehicle.
The Clix is a product of Hyundai's design studio in Frankfurt. According to Mr. Kelleher, the task was to create a truly multifunctional vehicle that could be easily adapted to a range of motoring needs. The result is a vehicle that can be used as an everyday car during the week, then transformed into a fast coupe/cabrio or a practical leisure vehicle on the weekends.
The target market, as you might expect, is a young generation of thirtysomethings that Hyundai believes like to work hard during the week and play hard on the weekend.
Motive power for the Clix is a supercharged 2.2-litre, direct-injected engine, which Hyundai says produces 300 h.p. Power is routed through a manual, six-speed transmission and 19-inch alloy wheels. The Clix stops by using giant, 375-mm ventilated front disc brakes, and 350-mm solid discs at the rear.
The vehicle's smooth profile is augmented by the deletion of conventional external rear-view mirrors. These are replaced with tiny cameras connected to interior monitors.
"We think this kind of vehicle embodies the Hyundai philosophy of being fun and contemporary," said Mr. Kelleher.
"Will we build it? Partly that depends on the reception we get from the public. If we do, it wouldn't be until maybe 2004, and not exactly as you see here. Don't forget, though, we built the Tiburon, and it looks very much like the Hyundai HCD-I and HCD-II concept cars that preceded it."
The Clix is on view at the Hyundai stand at the Toronto show until Sunday. Its next scheduled appearance is the Vancouver Auto Show April 6-13.
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