Celebrating both its hundred-year history as a leader in the automotive world and its brand-new entry into the Korean market, Chevrolet unveiled the Mi-ray Roadster Concept at the recent 2011 Seoul Motor Show. The technologically advanced Mi-ray made the perfect statement at the show, combining expressive design language that looks to both Chevy’s past and its future.
Uncoincidentally, “‘Mi-ray’ is Korean for ‘future,’” according to Mike Arcamone, president and CEO of GM Korea, who went on to say, “As GM rolls out Chevrolet across Korea, the Mi-ray concept offers an exploration of future possibilities for the brand.
“It strengthens the bond between car and driver, creating a fresh look at what sports cars of the future might be.”
A key is its dynamic exterior design, which is created from a combination of carbon fiber and CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastic). As a result, the Mi-ray’s body is light in weight, enabling enhanced performance and efficiency, while showcasing an aerodynamic wedge shape that draws its cues from iconic Chevy sports cars like the 1963 Monza SS and 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, as well as modern-day jet fighters. Other expressive design accents include LED headlamps, carbon-fiber spoilers, scissor doors and an angled character line set off by ambient lighting.
According to Louisiana Chevrolet Dealerships, the cabin design was inspired by Chevrolet’s long track record of success in motorpsports. Here, high-quality materials in a range of inviting textures mix with a distinctly forward-looking approach to both design and engineering. For example, notable interior features include a back-projection instrument panel and a retractable meter cluster that rises like the canopy of a jet when the Mi-ray’s starter-button is pressed. This striking space is then wrapped in a carbon-fiber shell that also provides structural support to the vehicle.
But perhaps the most innovative element of the Mi-ray is its powertrain. It’s a system geared to providing an optimum mix of both high mileage numbers and high performance. For typical urban-style driving, the Mi-ray leverages a pair of front-mounted, 15-kW electric motors, powered by a 1.6-kWh lithium-ion battery. But when the driver wants more performance, a 1.5-liter turbocharged I4 engine is on board to work with the electric motors and maximize the Mi-ray’s athletic potential.
“The propulsion concept fits perfectly with the rest of the vehicle, delivering big performance in a small footprint,” said Arcomone, adding, “By combining GM propulsion technology and visionary design, the Mi-ray points to the future of Chevrolets around the globe.”
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