Hyundai revealed a new concept crossover called the QarmaQ at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Designed at Hyundai Motor Europe’s Design and Technical Center and engineered in close cooperation with GE Plastics, QarmaQ is a showcase for 30 technologies that will find their way into Hyundai’s new models to be rolled out from 2008-2014.
The wrap-around GE Lexan windscreen and extensive use of GE polycarbonate glazing materials provides a weight saving of up to 50 percent in relation to glass, while simultaneously allowing more adventurous shapes than flat glass. The glazing features a unique technology from Exatec which deposits a thin protective layer of glass on the Lexan to add protection from scratching and the effects of weathering.
The QarmaQ also introduces new curved and moving side glazing in Lexan. As well as allowing such advanced applications, the impact resistance and other properties of this material also helps increase both occupant and pedestrian safety.
Exatec infrared coatings on the whole transparent areas reflect heat, helping cool the interior and reducing the power demands upon the infrared regulated air conditioning. Lighting is achieved by incorporating mood illumination into the actual material, delivering a unique interior ambience. The material also facilitates a perfectly flat, fully integrated fractal radio antenna within the roof structure.
Among other highlights of the QarmaQ’s construction, the front wings were designed from the beginning to be one large single injection moulded component. Together with the deformable bonnet and precise bumper mouldings, these also form a major addition to pedestrian impact safety. The sophistication of the material and manufacturing technique also played a major part in the ability to fully encapsulate the complex headlight shape into the whole frontal styling.
At the rear, the tailgate breaks new ground by bonding different materials, including the glazing and rear light assemblies, to create a one-piece component structure. This increases the integral strength, while at the same time simplifying vehicle assembly and reducing weight.
03/08, 2:19 AM
posted by:
F451
Funky x2. I see GE got into the act.
03/08, 2:23 AM
posted by:
europerspective
I want one!
Fantastic styling, innovative construction, quality finishing - the Koreans have become serious car builders in impressive time.
03/08, 2:26 AM
posted by:
CAPTAIN AMERICA
I actually like it.
03/08, 2:45 AM
posted by:
onur
I never thought I’d put a picture of a Hyundai as my wallpaper.
03/08, 3:11 AM
posted by:
Adrio
Pretty cool I guess. Until a side crash jabs a giant piece of glass into your legs.
03/08, 6:10 AM
posted by:
Stuart
Looks like they ran out of plastic to finish the door. The mitsubishi Dakar runner (What ever it called) looks much better though
03/08, 7:02 AM
posted by:
PrimeGTP
What is it with the pointless over-the-top concepts that have 0% value as a preview to production?
03/08, 9:06 AM
posted by:
HoosierHero
Wow, nice concept. Now get someone else besides Hyundai to build it…
03/08, 9:07 AM
posted by:
bb_454
Probably to bring interest into a brand and showcase what the company is capable of. I like the profile, don’t like the front, and if you were to actually try to pick a gear it looks like it would take forever with as far as the gears looks to be spaced out. I hate the Lexan or what ever it is in the door, ugh just ugly to me.
03/08, 9:11 AM
posted by:
Kenny W
Gimme gimme gimme! Take off that silly GE badge & this would be pretty cool. Give it a small turbocharged 4 banger and it would even be a little fun.
03/08, 9:54 AM
posted by:
edgarp
I like a lot about this design. very nice.
03/08, 10:00 AM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
Nice design but I hate that lower glass strip in the door. I like to scratch my nuts and no one sees. Plus how can my GF give me a freeway blowjob?
03/08, 10:24 AM
posted by:
PrimeGTP
“Probably to bring interest into a brand and showcase what the company is capable of.”
Any company can build a radical-looking car. Making an exciting PRODUCTION car that would actually meet code is what matters. These concepts prove nothing, regardless of what maker they are from. All it is is fabricating plastic, glass, and aluminum in funky shapes.
03/08, 11:30 AM
posted by:
gtv6
This looks terrible. Everything is out of proportion. It’s like a big blob…
03/08, 11:32 AM
posted by:
gtv6
How do you roll the window down?
03/08, 11:56 AM
posted by:
gitcypher
PrimeGTP -
As much as Hyundai has been outright copying Nissan lately, I wouldn’t be surprised to see if this gets toned down very little in production.
I only make reference to Nissan because their Murano and FX were also seen as over-top-concepts.
03/08, 11:58 AM
posted by:
gitcypher
…For the record, I’m mainly referring to the EXterior.
03/08, 12:13 PM
posted by:
sampson
I don’t know… I like some weird stuff, and I like different cars, but this just doesn’t seem marketable to me… I’m not really feeling it. I’d much prefer the HCD8 concept, and I think the general public would too…
http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/concept_cars/hyundai_hcd8.html
03/08, 12:38 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
Looks ok from some angles and hideous from others, mabe it would look better in a single color. i do like the rear doors, but hate the lite blue lighting. somebody please tell hyundai that captain jean luc picard called and wants his shuttle back.
03/08, 6:11 PM
posted by:
maximus
looks pretty cool
03/08, 10:08 PM
posted by:
V-series
Hyundai’s are homo cars.
03/08, 11:20 PM
posted by:
autonutt
Looks like Crossfire meets SVX, slapped on a Jeep Wrangler chassis.
03/08, 11:38 PM
posted by:
0GSharK6
Looks pretty nice to me.. though definitely over the top. Maybe in like 2025-2030?
03/09, 12:30 AM
posted by:
supercharged
Do you remember the AMC Eagle 4WD car? Well, this sort of reminds me of Hyundai doing the same with a Tiburon.
03/09, 10:07 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
i still see one here in riverside(amc 4×4 wagon that is) really old and rusty but it has a lift kit and some decent tires, never rode in one but they looked fun.
03/09, 3:54 PM
posted by:
Aston Martin
I can almost guarantee all of the features which make the car radical and futuristic will never make it into production.
If they make the car, it will look galactically dull, will have no off-road ability whatsoever, will be rubbish to drive, will annoy eco-mentalists even though its not actually an SUV and will make you look very stupid because, of course, it’s a Hyundai. In other words, it will be another totally crap addition to the world of motoring.
IF YOU WANT TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD, HYUNDAI, BE LIKE HONDA AND BUILD ALL THIS RADICAL STUFF.
03/09, 9:47 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
Makes me want the offroad capability of an Isuzu Vehicross but with the raw power of a WRX STi.
In a car that looks like this, who would expect less?
You’d better not do what you usually do and disappoint us, Hyndai.
03/10, 4:31 AM
posted by:
europerspective
How cool is the Vehicross? Tried to buy one last year but the seller was being very unrealistic.
03/22, 12:05 PM
posted by:
RICH AS HELL
Not bad I like the interior and part of the exterior.