Switzerland: Geneva show premiere for Hyundai HED-5 concept and Matrix facelift

Hyundai has announced a new concept, a facelift for an existing model and a programme to enhance the general environmental compatibility of its vehicles, all to premiere at the Geneva motor show's press day on 4 March.

The slow-selling Matrix (Hyundai LaVita in South Korea and some other markets), introduced in 2001, will be given styling changes but the OEM has released neither details nor images.

 

The current Pininfarina-designed small minivan offers the choice of 1.5-, 1.6- and 1.8-litre gasoline engines, as well as a 1.5-litre turbodiesel, depending on the market. This is expected to be the last update, with a replacement in 2010.

 

As for what Hyundai calls its "new eco-concept package", the company is also revealing little information ahead of the announcement on 4 March. It simply states that the so-called package will demonstrate how existing technologies can make a significant (up to 29%) reduction in CO2 emissions, without punitive penalties in price, performance or driving enjoyment.

 

The Firm adds that ecological considerations played a major role in its latest concept car. The forthcoming HED-5, of which it has revealed two sketched inages, is a six-seater minivan that the brand says will offer a choice of what it deems "revolutionary materials and construction techniques". The HED-5 was developed in co-operation with Recaro, Bayer and LG and is said to offer exceptional fuel economy.

 

Sources maintain that a production version of the HED-5 will be based on a modified version of the i30 and will have two rows of three seats, like the Honda Edix/FR/V and Fiat Multipla.