2006 Hyundai HCD10 Hellion Concept

Mother always called us the same name. But somehow the Hellion tag sounds better on Hyundai’s latest HCD concept car, which sees its debut at the 2006Los Angeles auto show.

The Hellion, Hyundai says, is a compact three-door sport crossover “designed with attitude and independence creating its unmistakable character.”

 

Power for the concept, in theory, comes from a common-rail 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine making 236 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque.  A six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive complete the drivetrain.

 

Attitude comes from the three-door Hellion’s every angle. Hyundai says it’s using the Hellion to gauge reaction to different shapes on the front end of “future Hyundai trucks,” in their press-release words. Scoops and strakes evoke rally racing, as does the fast windshield. Skid plates and tougher bodysill protection underscore off-road potential.

 

The Hellion’s unexpected canvas roof casts it somewhere between a Wrangler and a Miata—maybe more the former, since the fabric is printed in a camouflage pattern. The concept’s 20-inch wheels are coated in Teflon to throw off dirt, slush, and potentially, naysayers’ criticism.

 

Inside the Hellion concept’s cockpit is staged for intense driving. An overhead console houses interior lighting and a flip-down screen for rear passengers. The four bucket seats are covered in camo-print fabric like the top. Black interior trim is highlighted by gloss white and matte aluminum. Controls are actuated by a console-mounted mouse; the Hellion also brings its own WiFi hotspot to the party.

 

Flexibility marks the Hellion’s seating arrangements. Backpacks hitched to the seatbacks can be detached and carried on the trail or the beach. Drawers under the front seats and a deep center console hide valuables while trailing. And in the oddest or most useful touch, depending on your definition of a road trip, the Hellion’s cupholders are replaced by a central reservoir and flow tubes positioned for each seat.

 

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