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Hyundai has unveiled its HCD9 Talus concept car at the Detroit motor show.
It's a 2+2 sports car-cum-4x4 crossover, which "previews Hyundai's view of the future of the sports car segment", apparently. The Coupe of the future? Probably not, but perhaps the precursor to a sister model for that more traditional low-slung sportster.
The HCD9 Talus has been designed at Hyundai's centre in Irvine, California. Chief designer Joel Piaskowski said: "It's a car for a person who has grown accustomed to the needs and benefits of an SUV, but desires the emotional gratification of sports car styling and performance."
The SUV part of the equation is indicated by its higher ground clearance and four-wheel-drive, which would be an option if this car went into production. The sports car bit is the 4.6-litre V8 engine, along with six-speed automatic transmission: expect this powertrain to appear in other high-end Hyundai production models shortly.
The Talus is accessorised with 22-inch polished alloys and doors with solenoid releases, doing away with the need for door handles. It has small rear-hinged back doors, similar to those of the Mazda RX-8 - which are unlikely to make production - to present a clean, pillarless side profile for the photographers at the show.
This show car is finished off in red metallic paint with black detailing and highlights; its cabin features blue LED ambient lighting, metallic trim, a retractable panel which covers a 10-inch LCD monitor, DVD monitors for the rear-seat passengers and brown and black leather upholstery with a metallic-effect finish. Equipment includes stability control, infrared night vision, shift-by-wire transmission, wireless internet access and adaptive cruise control.
