Chevrolet Mi-ray concept gets a new ‘mid-electric' hybrid powertrain

General Motors Co. has unveiled a sporty South Korean-developed concept car that showcases a "mid-electric" hybrid powertrain that can run on electric-only front-wheel drive or tap a gasoline engine to turn the rear wheels for extra power.

Dubbed the Chevrolet Mi-ray, Korean for "future," the compact, open roadster gets a carbon fiber body mounted on an aluminum chassis for lightweight performance.

The car, making its world debut at this week's Seoul Motor Show, was developed at GM's Advanced Design Studio in Seoul, the company said in a statement. South Korea is the automaker's global center for small car expertise and has developed models such as the Chevrolet Cruze and Aveo.

The Mi-ray is being paraded as a tribute to Chevrolet's centennial this year.

The car's looks pay homage to Chevrolet's sports car heritage, taking cues from cars such as the 1963 Monza SS and 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, GM said.

Inside, the car gets asymmetrically positioned seats and a center start button inspired by jet aircraft.

The car has what GM calls a "mid-electric" powertrain, which is behind and beneath the driver, to maximize performance and fuel economy.

Under normal driving conditions, the car is propelled by two front-mounted 15-kilowatt electric motors for quick acceleration and zero-emissions driving. The motors are powered by a 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that is charged through regenerative braking energy.

But when extra power is needed, the Mi-ray's 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine drives the rear wheels. That half of the powertrain gets a dual-clutch transmission for fast shifting and fuel efficiency.

By Hans Greimel- Automotive News