Chevy is showcasing its futuristic Mi-ray concept car at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show.
Developed at the GM Advanced Design Studio in South Korea, the next-gen vehicle artfully combines hybrid propulsion technology with advanced styling.
Made of carbon fiber and CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastic), the wedged body side is divided by an angled character line, with ambient lighting underneath.
Le Mans racer-style scissor doors open up and out of the way, as (corner) carbon-fiber spoilers and retractable flaps help reduce force and airflow.
The Mi-ray also features aluminum-carbon fiber composite 20-inch wheels in front and 21-inch wheels in the rear.
Its interior compartment is surrounded by a carbon fiber shell, which facilitates a lightweight, yet rigid structure. Interestingly, designers adopted a unique approach to displaying information, using back projection on the instrument panel. Information in front of the driver has been prioritized into three zones.
Immediately in front is vehicle performance. It is flanked on the left by range and on the right by navigation and mileage figures. This helps eliminate unnecessary visual clutter, allowing the driver to focus on the road.
Meanwhile, the centrally located start button seems to have been inspired by a jet aircraft.
When the button is pressed, the column-mounted retractable meter cluster rises like a jet fighter canopy and “Interactive Projection” appears on the white surface.
Finally, the Mi-ray boasts retractable rearview cameras – replacing traditional rearview mirrors – which extend from the side glass electrically. For city driving, the forward-facing camera operates in conjunction with GPS to overlay navigation information with real-time video.
Additional specs include:
- Mid-electric propulsion system – located primarily behind and beneath the driver.
- Two front-mounted 15-kW electric motors (powered by a 1.6-kWh lithium-ion battery) for quick acceleration and zero emissions in urban driving.
- Can be switched from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.
- Performance driving – 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine combines with the electric motors, providing spirited torque control to both the left and right wheels as needed.
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Dual-clutch transmission (DCT) – enables a reduction in the powertrain’s size by eliminating the torque converter. The shift pattern has been tuned for improved top speed in performance mode. Note: A start-stop system works in conjunction with the DCT.
