2005 Hyundai Portico Concept
The Portico Features Hyundais Upcoming Hybrid Drivetrain
There are few automotive segments left for Hyundai to enter, now that its SUV lineup is filling out with the addition of the new compact Tucson and expectation rising for a larger 7-passenger replacement for the Santa Fe.
Its passenger car arsenal is up to five models now, leaving only the introduction of a pickup truck, something the automaker has been talking about for years now, and a minivan.
If Hyundai brings anything close to its new Portico concept to life, the minivan segment will never be the same. The new van, expected to share general architecture with Kias next-generation Sedona (see automotive news for Feb 5, 2005: New Kia Sedona to Debut at Chicago Auto Show), will need to stand out in order to pull dedicated Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna buyers away from their trusted family haulers.
The Portico would without doubt raise the eyebrows of all in its sightlines, its sleek, sporty lines making the minivan popular even among teens. Of course, this might be because Hyundais latest concept is not truly a minivan. At least, its missing some key minivan characteristics, such as sliding side doors, seating for seven or eight instead of six, and, as if I need to say it again, boring styling.
The Portico, introduced on February 9th, at the Chicago Auto Show, debuts a completely new design language for Hyundai.
"The Portico is an example of the new market segments Hyundai is exploring - in this case, the next generation of family transportation," commented Hyundais Vice President of Product Development and Strategic Planning, John Krafcik. "Portico features seating for six passengers and roomy, flexible cargo space - previewing the types of attributes well be adding to our growing Hyundai lineup in the U.S. Well have two all-new Hyundai models with seating for seven and roomy, flexible cargo space within the next year or so - all part of the 24/7 new model launch cadence we started with the Hyundai Tucson last fall."
Not just another pretty face, the Portico comes with an extremely versatile interior layout, featuring flat folding rear seats, a unique panoramic glass roof design, featuring the Polaroid-like capability of darkening when the overhead sun gets too bright and hot, and uniquely rear-hinged back doors.
Unlike conventional minivans or SUVs that carry more than five people in three separate rows, the Portico seats three across for a total of six. The advantages of this configuration include greater legroom for rear passengers, as well as improved ingress and egress for those who would otherwise be relegated to the third row. The seats can be staggered too, with the middle rows pulled backwards for greater hip and shoulder room. An additional bonus is more cargo room, something that is usually lacking in conventional three row vehicles.
The pillarless clamshell doors make getting in and out of the Portico all the easier, except if parked next to another vehicle in which the small crowd getting out of the vehicle would be trapped between both doors with no way to get out - a common problem with pickup trucks that make use of rear "suicide" doors. Hey, theres a reason why all minivans have adopted rear sliders. Theyre the most convenient door design possible.
Once inside, the Porticos cabin is extremely stylish and filled with top-tier technology, such as a DVD-based infotainment system with separate screens for front and rear occupants.
New age technology is featured under the hood too, in the way of Hyundais 24-valve, DOHC, Lambda V6, featuring aluminum heads and cylinder block, an engine that will first show up in the 2006 Sonata. Its joined to a sophisticated 6-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual mode, also said to be available in upcoming production models soon.
But theres more under its pretty skin than just internal combustion power. The Portico also displays the automakers future hybrid drive system, which features two electric motors; the first driving the front wheels and the second powering the rear wheels, in essence providing all-wheel drive. The wheels in front are powered by a 110 kW (136 horsepower) electric motor, while a 60 kW (83 horsepower) motor drives those in the rear.
The Portico concept, designed and manufactured by Hyundais Advanced Design Team at the Design Center in South Korea, will be displayed at the Chicago show for its duration before making rounds throughout the auto show circuit.