Hyundai has announced its Blue-Will concept will make its North American debut next week at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. The Hyundai Blue-Will concept made its world debut last April at the Seoul Motor Show.
Although still clearly in concept form, the Blue-Will is an important vehicle for Hyundai as it is the company’s first plug-in electric vehicle. The Blue-Will utilizes the same Hybrid Blue Drive technology Hyundai unveiled at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Blue-Will’s parallel hybrid system allows the concept to run as a conventional hybrid vehicle or as a pure electric vehicle. Hyundai says the Blue-Will can return up to 55mpg in hybrid mode and 106mpg when operating as a plug-in hybrid, with an all-electric operating range of 40 miles.
Power for the Blue-Will is powered by a 1.6L direct-injected four-cylinder – developing 152 horsepower – and a 100kw electric motor. Instead of more conventional lithium-ion batteries, the Blue-Will uses a lithium polymer setup.
The Blue-Will is expected to preview a dedicated hybrid model from Hyundai, with a launch date expected in late 2011.
