GM's Korean subsidiary lifted the wraps off the Mi-ray hybrid roadster concept at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show today, as a tribute to Chevrolet's 100th anniversary this year. The aggressive-looking Mi-ray (which means “future” in Korean) was developed by the GM Advanced Design Studio in Seoul and pays homage to the bow-tie brand's sports car heritage.
The roadster uses styling cues from Chevy's 1963 Monza SS and the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, but also from aircrafts, with its aerodynamic fuselage being reminiscent of modern jet fighters. Elements like the scissor-doors, the pronounced wheel-arches and the sharp front bumper add further drama to the Mi-ray's appearance.
The car's bodywork is made of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced plastics, while the turbine-shaped wheels (20-inch front/21-inch rear) are made of aluminum-carbon fiber composite.
The cockpit-like interior is split in two areas by a high center console and contains a mix of brushed-aluminum, natural leather, white fabric and liquid metal surfaces. The steering-wheel and the centrally located start button are also inspired by jet aircrafts, while information is displayed on the instrument panel by means of back projection.
The sweet looks are backed by a performance-oriented drivetrain layout, dubbed “mid-electric” by Chevrolet. A mid-mounted turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine drives the rear wheels, while two front-mounted electric motors, each delivering 15kW (20 horsepower), send their juice to the front wheels. The electric motors are fed through a 1.6 kWh battery located on the floor of the car, behind the seats. The 3.99 meter-long Mi-ray is also fitted with regenerative braking and start-stop systems and can run on electric power alone in the city, although Chevrolet didn't reveal details on the driving range.
Interestingly, the roadster model can also be switched from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. Chevrolet didn't announce any performance figures, but communicated preliminary fuel-economy ratings. The roadster averages 60 mpg US (3.92 lt/100 km) in the city and 63 mpg US (3.73 lt/100km) on the highway.
“By combining GM propulsion technology and visionary design, the Mi-ray points to the future of Chevrolets around the globe – expressive, youthful and entertaining,” said Mike Arcamone, CEO of GM Korea.
By Dan Mihalascu
