Hyundai HCD10 Hellion Concept Car

The engines that lie beneath the hoods of concept cars are funny things. Most of them will never fire up as the cars are trailered from show to show, and yet they’re a crucial design consideration. Why? It’s not a matter of functionality, but perception. Concept car engines, like the cars themselves, show us what’s on the mind of automakers as they plan ahead for the future.

Consider Hyundai’s HCD10 Hellion compact crossover concept. At its launch at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai stressed the so-called “organic ruggedness” of its exterior. There’s certainly plenty to talk about: The sheetmetal skin appears to be stretched over three structural ribs, sort of like a tough hardshell backpack that uses ribs for structural strength. In the case of the Hellion, these ribs also and connect to a suspended surfboard-shaped spine and create a unique safety cage. Hyundai says some of these forms – particularly the front end design characterized by angled headlights and a dominant grille – could show up on future Hyundai trucks.

There’s plenty to like about the Hellion concept, from its overall unusual design to the many specific touches that define its character. These include a performance flavor with its prominent hood scoop, a sharply-raked windshield, and 20-inch aluminum wheels. Functional aluminum skid plates wrap underneath the Hellion to suggest that its design is clearly not all glitz.

Inside, the high-tech theme continues with the structural ribs exposed. An overhead console with an integrated drop-down LCD monitor and interior lighting is suspended from the ribs and runs the length of the cockpit. Four racing-style bucket seats are provided with an unusual hydration system that uses a refillable reservoir inside each seat instead of a cupholder. Drinks are dispensed via a hands-free, pump-assisted flow tube at each seat. Do we really need this kind of “freedom” to enjoy the drive? There’s no saying…but it is an interesting exercise in an environment where more and more hands-free cellphones are being required by states to reduce driver distraction on the road. Still, we figure that we can handle a soft drink without problem and still drive…thank you very much.

An interesting array of advanced technologies is incorporated into the Hellion’s design, as one might expect. These include electronic stability control, shift-by-wire transmission, adaptive cruise control, wireless Internet, and onboard navigation.

All this is interesting stuff. Still, we think the big news is what lies behind this innovative concept’s grille: a 3.0-liter V-6 common rail diesel engine that makes 236 horsepower and 332 lbs-ft of torque. The aim is clearly for performance and efficiency, which will surely dominate a lot of the automakers’ brainpower and expertise in the years ahead.

Hyundai doesn’t currently offer diesel engines here – unlike in other world markets – but a U.S. debut for a diesel-powered concept car suggests this could change. Plus, we’ve heard reports that the South Korean automaker’s American arm is currently studying the potential market for diesel engines in America. We’ll let you know when a final decision is made – and we’ll keep looking under the hoods of concept cars in the meantime.