Advanced Technology Demonstration Vehicle From Hyundai And GE Plastics Unveiled
The ongoing 77th Geneva International Auto Show has attracted car manufacturers from all over the world to strut their stuff at the said event. Production cars, hybrid cars, concept cars - these are all present at the motor show.
Car makers of different orientations gathered to showcase the technology that they have developed for the auto industry. Hyundai is one of the auto makers making an appearance at the event and the star of their show is the fruit of their collaboration with GE Plastics.
The QarmaQ is presented as the first of its kind in the Crossover Coupe segment. The QarmaQ is Hyundai’s Advanced Technology Demonstration Vehicle and showcases over 30 advanced features that will soon make an appearance on production vehicles of the Korean brand.
The foremost technology that the QarmaQ features is the Elastic Front. The technology is aimed towards reducing the risk of serious injury or fatality to pedestrians in the event of a collision with the vehicle. The QarmaQ was designed solely at the Hyundai Motor Europe’s Design and Technical Center which is located in Russelsheim, Germany.
The team behind the design of the QarmaQ elicited the support of GE Plastics. The more than 30 technologically advanced features will be incorporated on Hyundai vehicles from 2008 model year vehicles onward.
Dr. Kwon Moon-Shik, the Vice-President for Advanced Technology for Hyundai, has this to say about their partnership with GE Plastics: “At Hyundai, we believe in innovation for humanity, and QarmaQ demonstrates our commitment to safety innovation and our determination to bring more environmentally responsible technologies to the market. We chose to partner with GE Plastics because of their commitment to the environment and their wide range of innovative materials and technical capabilities. Technology from QarmaQ will provide Hyundai owners with a safer, more environmentally responsible car and a better driving experience.”
Aside from the abundant advanced features employed by the QarmaQ, it is also designed to be lighter, stronger, and more economical over crossover utility vehicles that are currently in production. The car is said to be environment friendly because of the fact that the construction and disassembly of the vehicle offers recycling advantages.
One of the most notable features that the QarmaQ has is its Elastic Front safety system. The safety system is the first of its kind on a CUV. The bumper of the QarmaQ, unlike a Nissan bumper, is designed with three energy absorbing structures integrated into it. The energy absorbing property of the materials used in the construction of the car’s bumper makes it one of the most advanced pedestrian protection solutions.
The design of the Elastic Front is a response to the growing number of fatalities caused by CUV/pedestrian collision. The technology is now undergoing final tests before it can be actually integrated to a production vehicle.
The development of the said technology will be a big help to make the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The support of GE Plastics made the QarmaQ possible. GE Plastics is a global supplier of plastic resins used commonly for automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, transportation, performance packaging, building & construction, telecommunications, and optical media applications. The expertise of the company made the design of the QarmaQ possible.
The ability of the company to provide materials that are necessary to design the vehicle, especially the wrap-around windscreen, proved to be a huge contribution to the development of the vehicle.
With more and more developments in the automotive field, it comes as no surprise that a vehicle like the QarmaQ came into fruition. While the QarmaQ is only destined for the podium at the Geneva Auto Show, the fact that the features of the car will be integrated into future Hyundai vehicles gives the motoring public something to look forward to.
About Author
Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine.
Source: ArticleTrader.com