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Hyundai‘s Curb concept moves the automaker’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language in a more youthful direction. While we’ve seen plenty of urbanized concepts and production vehicles that use the traditional box-like design pioneered by the original Scion xB, Hyundai chose to create something substantially more curvaceous and sleek. “We wanted the Curb to be urban tough without looking like a Brink’s truck,” Hyundai’s designer, Jason Brown, says.

The basis for the Curb’s powertrain is Hyundai’s new 1.6-liter Gamma inline-four, though the addition of a turbocharger means output is boosted to around 175 horsepower. Combined with a dual-clutch transmission, the Curb is efficient enough to achieve around 30 miles per gallon in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. That power runs to the ground through a large set of 22-inch five-spoke wheels wrapped in Michelin tires with a custom saffron-colored tread pattern. Funky, yes, but definitely fitting for an urban concept car.

Other forward-thinking exterior design elements include exhaust vents that open to reveal a bike rack, a pop-up roof rack and a third rear access door for easier ingress and egress to the rear seats.

The interior features a large acrylic screen that allows information to be passed between all of the passengers inside the Curb, and a heads-up display provided by Continental shows navigation information as well as screens for the cameras used in place of side mirrors. Saffron interior accents compliment the tire tread, and three-holded A-pillars increase the driver’s cornering visibility. Hyundai’s new Blue Link technology is used to keep owners connected with their electronic systems at all times, as well.

It’s all very funky and hip, and we’d like to see this sort of design come to live as a sub-Tucson urban utility vehicle. Follow the jump for Hyundai’s official press release and stay tuned for live images direct from the Detroit show floor.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Detroit 2011: Hyundai Curb Concept is a small crossover for the urban scene

Detroit 2011: Hyundai Curb Concept is a small crossover for the urban scene originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai has announced that it is bringing a new crossover concept – the Curb – to the 2011 Detroit Auto Show next week. We only have two teaser shots of the new CUV, and while the big wheels and overly swoopy lines are concept car-spec through and through, we won’t rule out the possibility of a sub-Tucson crossover coming down the pipeline in the next few years. The interior has been given the typical not-gonna-happen future-tech layout, but it is indeed eye-catching and definitely draws our interest.

The Curb concept will be rolled out on Monday, January 10, and we’ll be on hand to bring you the full suite of details and photos live from Cobo Hall. In the meantime, you can check out both teaser images in high-resolution glory in the gallery below.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai bringing Curb concept to Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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