Hyundai Motor unveils first gull-wing concept car in U.S.

(ATTN: ADDS Kia Motors quote in final three paras)
SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, said
Friday it has showed off a concept version of its Nuvis hybrid that sports
gull-wing doors for the first time at a U.S. industry fair.
The Nuvis crossover utility vehicle, which is equipped with a 2.4-liter gasoline
engine and a lithium-ion battery, produces 184 horsepower at its peak, Hyundai
said in a statement.
With a sharply raked roof line, the Nuvis looks like a sports car but has the
toughness of a sport-utility vehicle. Hyundai did not provide information on when
it hopes to bring the concept car to market.
Along with the Nuvis, Hyundai showcased 10 models, including the Genesis luxury
sedan, at the New York Auto Show this week.
Hyundai is gearing up to sell its first hybrid version of the Sonata sedan in the
U.S. at the end of next year.
Last month, Hyundai's vehicle sales in the U.S. fell 4.7 percent to 40,721 units,
but the result was seen as relatively resilient in the world's largest auto
market where overall sales plunged 36.8 percent for the same month.
At the New York event, Kia Motors Corp., a unit of Hyundai, also debuted its
Forte Koup.
The two-door coupe comes with either a 2-liter and a 2.4-liter engine, and is
expected to compete with coupe versions of the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and
Chevrolet Cobalt in the U.S., Kia said.
"Forte Koup represents the next exciting step in the transformation of Kia design
and offers a blend of sporty and emotional appeal,??? said Michael Sprague, vice
president at Kia's U.S. unit, in a statement.
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