(continued from above)
The inspiration for Curb came from the need to evolve Hyundai's "Fluidic
Sculpture" design language for younger buyers. Hyundai designers wanted to
create a vehicle loaded with technology that was at home in an urban environment
with potholes and densely packed nightclubs on the streets. The vehicle needed
to secure the advanced Blue Link and connectivity features against impact and
shock. From these ideas, the 'technology rugged' design direction for Curb was
formed.
"We wanted the Curb to be urban tough without looking like a
Brink's truck," said Jason Brown, Hyundai designer. "City driving was going to
be its forte, not crossing the Rubicon trail, but we wanted it to have urban
armor for daily driving on city streets. It needed to empower its passengers in
this setting."
Exterior Design
The Curb's design starts
with the glass that spills into the hood and wraps around the cowl, covering the
A pillars. This look resembles the face shield of a sport bike motorcycle
helmet. Beneath the glass are structural trusses with the glass panels applied
like a shield.
"The truss frame structure going up the pillars helps
increase greater visibility in dense urban environments," said John Krsteski,
Curb design manager.
The striking profile is dominated by a boomerang
trajectory bodyside line. This dominant line brings the entire design together
and reinforces the feeling of strength with its positive and negative shapes.
"The world has never seen lines like this on a car before. It is as if the
architect Santiago Calatrava inspired it," said Arash Badeanlou, Hyundai
designer.
The thin, sleek headlamps and taillamps dive into the vehicle,
creating the illusion that they are connected into the engine compartment or
interior. To complete the 'technology rugged' look, designers added 22-inch five
spoke wheels and Michelin tires with a custom saffron colored tread pattern to
match the interior. These wheels have spokes set into the tires to make them
have a more pronounced profile. To enter the Curb, one simply drags their finger
across a touch pad to open the doors.
The exhaust vents serve a dual
purpose. They pop out to reveal a bike rack so the owner could park and ride a "Fixie"
(fixed gear) bike to the rest of his destinations as an alternative
transportation source. The roof also features pop-up roof rack towers,
demonstrating the perfect blend of being rugged, yet high-tech. Curb has a
lighted clam shell rear hatch, also opened via a touchpad for loading gear and a
third rear access door for easy passenger ingress and egress.
At startup,
the Curb's numerous LED lights illuminate sequentially, starting with the
outside rows and the Curb's badging illuminates through the paint. Shamze Custom
Coatings developed the One-Way paint finish allowing the Curb name to illuminate
through the paint.
Hyundai Curb Concept: Review (2/2)