Hyundai Motor America 10550 Talbert Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 MEDIA WEBSITE: HyundaiNews.com CORPORATE WEBSITE: HyundaiUSA.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HYUNDAI UNVEILS E3 CONCEPT CAR, TUCSON FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLE AT 2004 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW Miles Johnson Senior Manager, Quality, Service and Technology (714) 366­1048 [email protected] ID: 28617 GENEVA, March 2, 2004 ­ At today’s opening day of the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, Hyundai Motor Co. today unveiled the E3(E­ Cubed) concept car and the Tucson Electric Fuel Cell Vehicle which hint at exciting things to come from Korea’s largest automotive manufacturer. Europeans also got their first look at the all­new Tucson SUV which made its global debut at the Chicago Auto Show last month. The E³ is the third in a series of Hyundai concept cars to be designed in Europe and the first creation of Hyundai’s new European Design Center which opened in Rüsselsheim last year. Meeting the unique tastes and needs of Europeans, the E3name can be understood to stand for three “E” values: Enjoyment, Environment and Extraordinary. Taken a step further, the name suggests new ways of using cubic space to create a mobile personal environment that meets the needs and wants of tomorrow’s more demanding customers. Externally the E³ manifests a sleek but essentially strong profile, the integration of the B­pillar into the door frame construction showing the interior to excellent effect. The front and rear use of LED lighting, allowing a significant reduction in light size, allows non­obtrusive light treatments, which fully meld into the front and rear styling. This reduction in size leads to increased lens versatility, for example the replacement of rear view mirrors with an Indicam, which also houses the side marker lights. The car is powered by a clean­burning next­generation 2.2­litre common rail diesel engine and is a fully drivable concept car which hints at the future design directions of Hyundai’s next generation C­segment car. The E³ impresses visitors less by flashy exterior styling, than by thought provoking details in the car’s interior layout. The E³ has the ability to seat four adults in real comfort. Unique seat mountings offering multiple configurations add a spacious and airy “walk through” dimension to the front. A multi­tiered centre console containing large, unobtrusive and integrated storage spaces is “suspended” between the front seats reaching rearwards. The result is a reassuring, yet futuristic, grand limousine realised in mass market size. Intrusive and largely redundant dials and gauges have been dispensed with, replaced by a multi function speedometer, plus a retractable centre console featuringanLCD information screen developed in conjunction with VDO. A vertically sliding communications centre also shows a clever way ahead for in­car communication device storage. Extending the stress reduction and user­friendly attention to detail further, all the major climate and sound controls have been incorporated into one sculptured control unit which, also developed in conjunction with VDO and designed to feel good, fall naturally to hand while being immediately and instinctively understandable to any driver. In addition the single spoke steering wheel, holding the airbag, adds another functional aspect of elegance to an already imposing interior concept. With a wheelbase of 2650mm and 4150mm overall length, the E³ is not based upon any current Hyundai platform, although the traditional Macpherson strut front and multi­link rear suspension maintain similarities with current production cars. The 16­inch ventilated disc brakes are by Brembo and the E³ rides on 19 inch alloy wheels. TucsonFuel Cell Electric Vehicle Hyundai Motor Co.'s fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) program took a major step forward today with the unveiling of the Tucson FCEV at the 2004 Geneva Auto Show. Code­named FJM by its developers, the Tucson FCEV will have an extended driving range plus cold weather starting capability. It will incorporate numerous technical advances including a higher output fuel cell and a new lithium ion polymer battery. "Migrating our fuel cell program to a smaller, more compact platform poses numerous challenges but we're confident we can meet them all," said Kim Sang­Kwon, president of research and development for Hyundai·Kia Motors. Built with lightweight, performance­boosting aluminum body components, the Tucson FCEV has a power­to­weight ratio similar to that of a conventional SUV. It also features low noise levels plus a roomy cabin that offers the same level of comfort and convenience as its gasoline­powered sibling. "Entering this new phase of our program is really quite exciting because we will be able to build fuel cell electric vehicles in higher volumes for fleet testing applications. It also brings us one step closer to the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles," added President Kim. Unlike the Santa Fe FCEV, the FJM program has been running on parallel path with the conventional JM providing fully digitized engineering data from the earliest stages. "The capability to conduct simultaneous engineering on our production and fuel cell electric vehicles is a big step forward," said President Kim. With this, Hyundai will be able to significantly improve efficiency and quality control in the FJM manufacturing process. The Tucson FCEV's power plant has been relocated to the front­under the front hood­unlike its predecessor which featured an under­floor installation. In addition, the Tucson FCEV will be capable of starting and operating in sub­zero temperatures. More importantly, Tucson FCEV's driving range has been extended to 300km thanks to its 152­liter hydrogen storage tanks. By contrast, the Santa Fe FCEV lacks cold weather start capability and with a 72­liter fuel tank, it has been restricted to an operating range of just 180km. Marginally lighter than its predecessor, the Tucson FCEV also gets five more kW of power for a peak output of 80kW. Its maximum speed is rated at 150km/h compared to the Santa Fe's 124km/h. As in the Santa Fe FCEV, Hyundai will once again be partnering with UTC Fuel Cells of Hartford, Connecticut which will supply the hydrogen­powered fuel cell and with Enova Systems of Torrance, California. Enova Systems has been tapped to provide the next generation hybrid­electric drive­train, motor and control unit. Hyundai formed its first fuel cell task force team in 2000 and by October of the same year, it unveiled the Santa Fe FCEV, its first prototype fuel cell vehicle. Tucson Moves into Europe’s Fastest Growing Segment The new Tucson takes Hyundai into one of the fastest growing segments of the European market. Capitalizing upon the success of Santa Fe, Tucson is a logical progression for Hyundai which is planning the launch its newest SUV in the European market in September 2004. The European introduction of the Tucson marks a major step in the broadening of Hyundai's range in Europe and brings Hyundai quality and design into a highly competitive section of the SUV market. By combining Hyundai quality with attractive and functional styling and high value added technology, the Tucson is set to further establish the Hyundai reputation by appealing to a highly demanding category of discriminating customers across Europe. The athletic appearance clothes a spaciously comfortable but fully functional interior. Traditional Hyundai virtues, such as high equipment levels, exceptional value for money and long lasting quality, add a further depth of appeal to an extremely versatile and stylish lifestyle companion. It is also a further manifestation of Hyundai's determination to build vehicles with high "European Value". As with all Hyundai models, the Tucson was conceived and built as an environmentally friendly vehicle. Not only does it come from some of the cleanest production facilities in the world, but it offers a choice of three eco­friendly engines and an above average recycling rate. In approaching the C segment in Europe, Hyundai have delivered an optimum package. Both male and female customers put high emphasis on appearances and style in selecting an SUV and the clean, masculine, lines of the Tucson are designed for immediate and long lasting appeal. Design Concept Hyundai vehicles are brought to reality by "system design" which is our way of integrating all the goals of the various development specialists into a harmonious product, fully fitted to the lifestyles of our customers. The exterior challenge of the Tucson was to combine the expressiveness that SUV buyers associate with traditionally larger vehicles, with urban style. In particular attention has been paid to the optics, vis­a­vis the ground clearance and the wheel arch treatment. In arriving at a purposeful but pleasing shape the designers also paid special attention to the masculine image which SUV buyers traditionally expect. The result is a cleanly styled vehicle with a high glass area for the class, but which gives a real signal of the overwhelmingly tough potential below the skin. Frontal treatment is decidedly modern, key features such as the lights and grille in a traditionally clear relationship. Seen from the side or rear, fine details such as the door handle treatment, and exterior mirrors complement the clean lines. Overall the Tucson shows extremely fine proportions, which disguise the actual roominess of the interior. The key words here are: strong, sporty, and urban. In designing the perfect interior Hyundai kept in mind that a majority of customers, both male and female will have between one and three children. The result is a level of flexibility exceeding several estate cars. The front passenger seat folds forward to provide extra load or workspace. The rear seats can be easily folded flat leaving a load area large enough to cope with space consuming leisure pursuits, such as paragliding or scuba diving, yet can be instantly replaced ready for fitting of child seats for the school run or family outing.