2006 Hyundai HCD-9 Talus - AllCarIndex

Original name: 현대 HCD-9 타러스

HYUNDAI REVEALS INNOVATIVE HCD9 TALUS CONCEPT

A NEW DIRECTION IN SPORTS CAR DESIGN

DETROIT, Mich. – Hyundai Motor America’s stand at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit will TODAY (January 8, 2006) see the world debut of the new HCD9 Talus concept.

Designed at the Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, California, the innovative HCD9 (Hyundai California Design 9) Talus 2+2 concept previews Hyundai’s view of the future of the sports car segment.

"The mission for Talus is to create a vehicle that will excite the inner passion of customers who haven’t been able to justify having a sports car in their garage," said Joel Piaskowski, chief designer at the Hyundai Design Center. "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."

CAPABILITY

Unlike a traditional sports coupe, Talus can tackle tougher terrain thanks to its increased ground clearance. Talus also offers optional 4WD to assist traction and for added confidence in poor weather. The increased ride height, meanwhile, improves visibility, enabling the driver to anticipate the road ahead.

Talus includes interior room for four adults, plus luggage space, for those spontaneous weekends away. More space, ease of access and the benefits of a commanding ride height are unique advantages Talus brings to the sports car market.

A sophisticated 4.6-litre V8 engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, delivers power and performance to fit sports car customer demands.

Exterior Design

"The exterior design is very assertive and conveys confidence," said Eric Stoddard, senior creative designer. "It says Talus can do what it wants to; it opens your boundaries from a sports car perspective."

The powerful curves and surface detail of Talus come from the same underlying inspiration that guided the all-new Santa Fe. Talus shares a similar assertive expression in its front grille, headlamps and body feature lines with its cousin. The bonnet shape is confident, emphasising the extremely powerful V8 engine underneath.

An arched roofline and tapering upper body highlight the exterior profile and enhance the car’s broad shoulders and wide, sporty stance. Talus sits on deeply sculpted 22-inch polished aluminium wheels.

Access into Talus’ richly appointed interior is made easier through a pillarless opening, utilising front-hinged doors and rear-hinged jump doors. The solenoid door releases are integrated in the B-pillars allowing for a clean body shape.

There is a balance between passion and functionality at the rear of the vehicle. The undulating centreline adds intrigue, while enhancing outward visibility for both the rear passengers and driver. A power clamshell lid opens the spacious luggage area and allows easy access from the rear and sides of the vehicle. The dual exhaust tips are integrated into the rear panel repeating the design theme of the front fog lights.

The exterior is finished in Molten Red metallic paint, selected as a refined evolution of bright red typically associated with sports cars. The body colour is complemented with Cinder Black ground effects.

Interior Design

The HCD9 Talus concept is captivating and luxurious on the inside while providing great passenger and storage versatility. The cascading metallic trim on the centre console invites you to enter the Talus and explore the details and craftsmanship that were exclusively tailored into the interior. Blue LED lighting adds a harmonious ambience throughout the interior, day or night.

"Sitting behind the wheel of the Talus will make you feel privileged and empowered by the luxurious appointments and higher seating position," said Dragan Vukadinovic, senior creative designer. "We wanted to push the expectations of the sports car interior by injecting as many luxury cues as possible. The centre console was designed to be visually alluring while providing all the practical functions a driver expects."

The centre stack was designed to look like a hanging jewelled pendant. The necklace graphic defines a retractable panel that opens to expose a 10-inch LCD monitor, air vents and a clock capable of displaying time in three different time zones. Two control knobs that appear to be suspended from the necklace represent the jewelled pendant. Dual-zone climate controls flank the tapering centre console. Secondary audio controls are dedicated to the rear passengers who can enjoy watching individual nine-inch DVD monitors mounted in the rear of the front seats.

The interior is finished in rich hues of supple leather. The palette consisting of Sierra Brown and Black Chestnut was selected to evoke warmth and affluence, while the accented metallic finishes maintain a fresh technological outlook toward the future. The rear seats fold flat and there is a covered storage locker beneath the load floor for additional luggage space.

Technology

Talus is equipped with next-generation technology including:

• Electronic Stability Control
• Night Vision
•  Shift-by-Wire Transmission
• Wireless Internet
• Adaptive Cruise Control

HCD9 Talus Specifications

SOURCE: Hyundai