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Hyundai BLUE-WILL, the plug-in hybrid with a face only a mother could love
So what if Hyundai is a little late to the plug-in hybrid car market? It's designed the oddly-named BLUE-WILL, a bizarre-looking car that resembles a grimacing beaver, all dolled up in eco-friendly plastics and powered by a 100kw electric motor lashed onto a 1.6-liter gas engine.
It's not a real car yet, destined for the Seoul Motor Show (April 2) as a design exercise showing that Hyundai has the techno-chops to put together a plug-in hybrid. It borrows a few ideas here and there, such as its solar-paneled top, but the real mojo might be in its lithium ion polymer battery pack, said to be "state-of-the-art."
Now if Hyundai can just figure out how to lure somebody — anybody — into buying a car, it'll be a breakthrough. Where there's a BLUE-WILL, there's a way? Not when your bait is the second coming of the ugliest car in history, the Pontiac Aztek. With BLUE-WILL's strange open-mouthed grin (and what's up with that all-caps name?), we're afraid this design might scare away more buyers than it attracts.
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Via Auto Blog
By trsim at 7:41 PM ON 03/25/09
Maybe the designer was inspired by too many games of StarCraft?
By CB at 8:00 PM ON 03/25/09
Why all the hate? I think the design looks pretty good.
To each his own I guess.
By Tango at 8:16 PM ON 03/25/09
Given the appearance, I'd say the name is a play on the term Blue Whale [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Whale].
By Jackson at 1:36 AM ON 03/26/09
I think it looks interesting. Give them a break, it's a freaking concept car. Whoever saw a single concept car that looked like the final production model? And for the record, i see MANY Hyundais on the road every day. Get over yourself and your obvious bias against this growing company. Was your dad laid off by them or something?
By xTdub at 2:18 AM ON 03/26/09
Sexy. I would buy one.
By www.tech-press.ru at 2:22 AM ON 03/26/09
By Mr. Gumsandals at 10:04 AM ON 03/26/09
Tango's got it right. It looks like the front end of a blue whale. Now if it could get its energy like the whale does, then Hyundai would really be onto something.
By nicholasjh at 11:16 AM ON 03/26/09
yeah Hyundai is great, and they at least give you a great warranty 6-10 yrs, I'd buy them over Honda or Toyota anyday. I still think my next car will be American though, and Ford also gives a good warranty
By lafe at 12:07 PM ON 03/26/09
I agree with CB; I also like the design. And Hyundai has made some decent looking concepts: http://www.dieselstation.com/cars/hyundai-genesis-coupe-concept-a733.html
Unfortunately, like 98% of all car manufacturers, the sexy concept designs people would break down doors for are thrown out for boring drabbiness.
By radiocycle at 11:31 AM ON 03/27/09
Looks like a giant cell phone to me but hey, any PHEV is a good thing to me! Our cars are 13 and 25 yrs old so we can't wait too much longer. BUT "no plug ~ NO DEAL".
By radiocycle at 11:34 AM ON 03/27/09
Looks like a giant cell phone to me but hey, any PHEV is a good thing! Our cars are 13 and 25 yrs old so we can't wait too much longer, BUT "no plug ~ NO DEAL". Can't wait to plug in!
By Brian H at 6:31 PM ON 03/30/09
Here's a car you can buy, 100% electric, up to 300 mi. range: Tesla Motors Model S. Seats 5+2. Top speed 130 MPH.
http://www.teslamotors.com/s
By beag at 11:30 AM ON 04/20/09
Are you sure of the name? Blue Whale fits the front design.
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