Chevrolet Mi-ray:
Hyundai Blue2:
Why the comparison?
Both of them belong to that exclusive category of “green” super-cars, both have that exalted pedigree, and they both were introduced as advanced car concepts in the 2011 Seoul Motor Show. Though it should be noted that each one of them employ very different approaches to achieve the same goal; the righteous goal of having a sustainable, fuel efficient and zero emission future.
Chevrolet Mi-ray:
The green side:
The Mi-ray concept was unveiled as a plug-in hybrid in the Seoul Motor Show. Steered by two front wheels, this sleek contraption will be propelled by a dual motor of 15-kilowatt (20-horsepower), juiced up by a bantam 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. The eco friendly car is also touted to give around 60 mpg of fuel efficiency in the city and 63 mpg in the highways. But the most striking feature of this car would be its “mid-electric” powertrain, which will be behind and beneath the driver, to maximize performance (by dual-clutch transmission) and enhance the fuel economy. This in turn also comes in handy when that extra bit of power is needed, as the Mi-ray’s advanced 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine will also be able to drive the rear wheels, literally according to the driver’s choice.
The dark side:
Okay, so it is fuel efficient in many ways, but what happens when we compare it with its equally eminent peers? This Chevrolet will feature around 60-63 mpg, where as the Volkswagen’s nigh revolutionary concept XL1 will feature around 0.9liter/100 km, i.e. 313 mpg!
Hyundai Blue2:
The green side:
The Hyundai Blue2 Concept car epitomizes the next generation of luxury sedans and will come uniquely with an innovative hydrogen-powered fuel cell stack. The car is touted to feature around 120 hp and its fuel economy will be around 82 mpg. Moreover, to accentuate upon the fuel efficiency, the car will incorporate a streamlined body with modernistic essence, along with special alloy wheels and low resistant tires.
The dark side:
The hydrogen fuel may itself be environment friendly, but around 50 percent of hydrogen is still derived from natural gases and 20 percent from non-renewable fossil fuels. So the end product i.e. the car may feature zero emissions, but the long procedure before that certainly leaves significant carbon footprint.
The final verdict:
The Hyundai Blue2 may be more fuel efficient when compared to Chevrolet’s Mi-ray, but it is the “all out” practicality that conspicuously features in the Mi-ray concept, which takes it ahead in our books. Well at least nothing can beat Mi-ray’s advanced dual clutch transmission and effective controls of both the front and rear wheels. Added to that, it is a “green” hybrid.
