It doesn't fly, but Hyundai's new concept car, to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next week, has as much in common with aeroplanes as cars.
The HED 4 concept, which Hyundai reckons combines coupe styling with off-road ability, uses composite plastics taken from the aerospace and racing industries.
Whereas the industry has generally labelled these strong, ultra-light materials too expensive and complex to use, Hyundai claims the HED 4 disproves this.
The windows are made from materials half the weight of glass, and which allow designers to create more adventurous shapes, such as the 'curved and moving side glazing'.
Pedestrian safety technology has also been advanced. The body panels have been designed to work with integrated energy-absorbing structures, thereby dissipating the force of hitting a pedestrian.
This particular technology is undergoing final testing, and looks as though it may be utilised in Hyundai's production vehicles. Whether the rest of HED 4's futuristic materials will make it so far is less certain.
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