Hyundai i-oniq concept car (2012) first pictures

If, like us, you think Hyundai's on a stylistic roll, wait until you see this. The new Hyundai i-oniq concept car signals the next stage of Hyundai's Euro-focused design lanuage.

The i-oniq concept car will be shown at the 2012 Geneva motor show on 6 March.

Like a mash-up of Nissan 350Z headlamps at the front and a sporting shooting brake at the rear, the i-oniq's purpose is to show there's more to come from the Koreans in chapter two.

It's a hybrid 'sports hatchback', according to Hyundai. It's a range-extender hybrid, whose 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine charges a lithium ion battery.

You can travel 70 miles on electric mode, using just the 108bhp e-motor; when the internal combustion engine is topping up electricity levels, the range swells to nearer 400 miles - with a claimed 45g/km of CO2.

The i-oniq espouses the next iteration of 'fluidic sculputre', the current mantra at Hyundai's design studios in Frankfurt.

What's new? The combination of 'gentle feature lines and muscular surface treatment, conveying both premium and sporty qualities evident in both the exterior and interior of the car,' says Hyundai.

It further points to the ‘penthouse roof’ and LED headlights on i-oniq. At 4.4m long, this concept is smidge longer than a BMW 1-series coupe.

Hyundai Motor Europe chief Allan Rushforth said: 'The i-oniq concept has been created to reflect the new thinking that runs through the Hyundai brand. 

'It has a bold design, inside and out, that provokes contemplation on the future of automotive possibilities, and a powertrain that highlights one of the ways in which we could power future products – wrapped in a package that exudes premium qualities.'

By Tim Pollard