In-Depth Look at the 2006 Hyundai HCD9 Talus Concept
That Hyundai is a rising star is not news. With their recently remodeled lineup getting much praise, ranging from the popular and attractive Accent 3-door to the affordable and handsome Tiburon and top-line Azera, each car offers great value. To be truthful, walking out of a Hyundai dealership with a set of keys in your hand would not be an unsatisfying experience, for you’re pretty well guaranteed of an excellent car, if the brand’s third-place J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Rating and high marks from Consumer Reports are indicators, and comparable to much more expensive models whatever you choose will be a downright bargain. So what were they thinking when they come up with this monstrosity?!
Ok, perhaps that’s a little harsh. Called the HCD9 Talus, Hyundai’s attempt at a sporty crossover vehicle isn’t quite ugly, but it’s not exactly pretty either. And I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and no doubt someone somewhere likes the look of this thing, but I have trouble imagining who. Designed to look assertive and confident, some of the exterior styling details are similar to those found on the much more attractive 2007 Santa Fe, with a healthy dose of sportiness injected into the SUV’s DNA. By far the worst angle, the front end is dominated by a massive grille opening reminiscent of a Chrysler LHS, which combines with very angled, bisected headlights to make the head-on view look like some sort of scowling monster with its eyes shut. Think of it as a bugeye Sprite gone mean. Add in the curvy front fascia that’s almost completely devoid of any sort of scoop, light, or duct to break up the monotony, and you’ve got yourself a front end only a mother could love.
But walking around the vehicle does quiet the turning in one’s stomach slightly. Those scowling headlights that look ridiculous from the front take on a distinctly Ferrari 612 Scaglietti-like air in profile, and a small sculpted vent on each front fender breaks up the monotony of the front half, going from concave to convex over the rear wheelwell and forming the strong rear shoulder line. The only part that sullies the otherwise attractive profile view is the rear side glass, where the window openings’ lower edges drop down, instead of kicking upwards like most. It’s not terrible looking, but it does give the rear windows an odd shape. It’s also worth noting that the long front doors and relatively short rear doors have no handles to speak of, with the sole means of entry being solenoid door releases mounted on the B-pillars. Traditionally hinged front doors and pillarless suicide rear doors make the Talus look very clean, although the black plastic that rings the bottom of the car muddies the effect.
Finally reaching the rear, there is some real solace in the rakish profile of the rear backlight and the surrounding sheetmetal. The shoulder line that begins at the leading edge of the rear door wraps around the back, forming the top of the backlight and the edge of the trunk. The small back window combined with the huge C-pillar no doubt would make shoulder checks almost completely futile, but they look good, and the proportions are spot on. The brake lights, on the other hand, couldn’t be worse. Roughly the size of mainland China, they’re simply too big, and the sculpted, creased surrounding metal disrupt the smooth lines. Very cool dual exhaust tips slot through the body between the painted rear fascia and the black plastic bumper. Finally, the whole thing rides on blinding 22-inch wheels that look suspiciously similar to those found on Nissan’s Murano.
Inside, the organic lines continue, with a flowing dashboard and centre console. Designed to look like a necklace, the metallic centre stack’s focal point is a 10-inch LCD screen hidden behind a retractable hood. Also exposed by the hood are two air vents and a clock that displays the time in three different time zones; just in case you find yourself crossing half a continent on a whim.
“Sitting behind the wheel of the Talus will make you feel privileged and empowered by the luxurious appointments and higher seating position,” commented Dragan Vukadinovic, senior creative designer. “We wanted to push the expectations of the sports car interior by injecting as many luxury cues as possible. The centre console was designed to be visually alluring while providing all the practical functions a driver expects.”
Appropriately enough, the controls are almost jewel-like; as is becoming of a necklace inspired console, and the rear seat passengers get their own audio and video controls as well as individual 9-inch LCD screens. Flanking the console are rich Sierra Brown leather seats; a colour that’s echoed on the flowing dashboard, while the door panels and seat bolsters are covered in Chestnut Black, with the aim of inducing a western lodge-type feel.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a crossover without at least some off-road capability, and Hyundai hasn’t failed to deliver in this respect. Adding a 4.6L V8 under the hood and a six-speed automatic transmission, the Talus makes an estimated 340 horsepower; more than enough to haul it up any two-track backroad. But don’t be fooled, the Talus was never intended as a Jeep Wrangler-style off roader, and Hyundai emphasizes the blend of sports car and SUV that it represents. With that in mind, it’s relative lack of suspension travel and the aforementioned huge wheels all mean its optional four-wheel drive system is better suited to putting the power down on freeway onramps than off your local fire road.
Joel Piaskowski, the chief designer at the Hyundai Design Center sums it up best when he says “the mission for Talus was to create a vehicle that would excite the inner passion of customers who haven’t been able to justify parking a sports car in their garage. It’s for a person who has grown accustomed to the needs and benefits of an SUV, but desires the emotional gratification of sports car styling and performance.”
Which places it firmly in the crosshairs of some very, very capable competition. Nissan’s incredibly popular Murano poses the largest threat, having already established itself as the most popular sporty crossover currently available. And while Hyundai certainly doesn’t have the cadre of the more established brand; they do have a history of making some of the best value-oriented cars around.
With that in mind, it would make sense that something similar to the Talus, at least in concept, should see production, as it would offer plenty of luxury and performance attributes at a fraction of the Nissan’s price; however, there’s but one problem with that: the Mazda CX-7. Already gaining a reputation as a fine automobile, the very affordable Mazda offers much of the same draw as the Talus concept; sports car inspired looks and performance, and a luxurious interior at a price that’s utterly amazing. So, will the Talus see production? Probably not. With no real niche to fill in Hyundai’s already impressive and uncluttered lineup, the sporty crossover would simply be competing with the brand’s out-and-out sports car (Tiburon) and the Santa Fe for customers; and that’s not something many manufacturers want to risk. Oh, and not to mention, the front end looks like a…
Specifications:
- Body Type: 4-door crossover
- Layout: front engine, RWD
- Base Engine: 340-hp (est) 32-valve 4.6L, V-8
- Transmission: 6-spd automatic transaxle
- Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
- Wheelbase: 2800 mm (110.2 in.)
- Overall Length: 4667 mm (183.7 in.)
- Overall Height: 1578 mm (62.1 in.)
- Overall Width: 1932 mm (76.1 in.)
- Track, f/r: 1592.6 mm (62.7 in.) / 1640.8 mm (64.6 in.)
- Seating Capacity: 4
- Web Site: www.hyundai.ca