Hyundai BLUE-WILL Hybrid Concept Takes Bite Out of Prius, Volt

Although gas prices aren’t quite as bad today as they were last year, we’re still looking for ways to save money at the pump and to treat Mother Nature a little better. The Toyota Prius has been a great halo car for the hybrid phenomenon, but the Hyundai BLUE-WILL could blast it out of the water.

The gasoline-electric hybrid concept is set to make its debut at the Seoul Auto Show and it’s there that we will learn a little more about what this Prius-fighter will have to offer. From what we hear, the aggressive-looking Hyundai BLUE-WILL (strange name, I know) features a direct-injection 1.6L four-banging engine that is mated to an electric motor.

That kind of powertrain sounds similar to what the Toyota Prius does, but the BLUE-WILL ups the ante by providing the same kind of plug-in electric functionality as the Chevrolet Volt. In addition to doing the usual hybrid thing, this car can be plugged into a standard wall outlet to charge its lithium-ion polymer battery.

Further to its “I love the environment” philosophy, the Hyundai BLUE-WILL concept vehicle features “headlamp bezels made from recycled PET soft drink bottles and dye-sensitized solar cells on the roof.” That solar boost might be enough to power secondary features, like the radio or gauge cluster, I assume.