SEOUL -- Staria, a new multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) designed by South Korea's Hyundai auto group, made its debut. The vehicle will go on sale in select markets starting from the second half of 2021.
Hyundai said that Staria's debut through a digital world premiere furthers its transformation as a smart mobility solution provider and embodies its "inside-out" design methodology that emphasizes interior spaciousness and usability.
Evoking the streamlined form of a spaceship, Staria's sleek exterior is defined by a single stroke running from front to rear, inspired by the curve of light that illuminates the Earth’s horizon at sunrise when viewed from space, Hyundai said in a statement on Apri 13.
"We are thrilled to introduce Saria, which represents our latest effort to spearhead the evolution of mobility, and to address emerging lifestyle needs as we adapt to new ways of living," said Hyundai's global marketing head Thomas Schemera.
The front is embellished with horizontal daytime running lights and a positioning lamp, running across the width of the vehicle, complemented by a bold, wide radiator grille, Hyundai said, adding its clean silhouette is further accented by a pair of low-set headlamps. Lowered beltlines and panoramic side windows improve overall visibility and create a feeling of openness.
The rear features a wide window framed by elongated vertical tail lamps, with premium models receiving parametric pixel lamp design and garnish on top. The rear bumper is lowered so passengers can easily load and unload cargo.
The interior highlights the driver's convenience and passengers' comfort. The cruise ship-inspired interior delivers an open and unique atmosphere, while lower beltlines and panoramic windows create a spacious, stimulating environment for all passengers.
First-row seats offer a feeling of space and comfort and the simple interior layout provides more room and flexibility to passengers. A glove compartment in the first-row passenger’s seat is moved forward to provide extra legroom space.
The driver’s seat has a 10.25-inch front display screen, touch-based center fascia and a button-type electronic shift lever. Storage space is available on top of the overhead console, bottom of the cluster, and top and bottom of the center fascia. Both driver and passengers have access to a center console equipped with cup holders, USB ports and additional storage space.
A 64-color ambient mood lamp, available in all premium variants, provides a lush interior atmosphere. The harmonious direct and indirect lighting can selectively illuminate the cockpit, console, doors and cargo areas. The premium feeling is further enhanced by the Bose sound system.
Hyundai said that the legroom can be converted into expansive additional cargo space when all seats are pushed together, made possible by the versatile long sliding seat function, and the full-flat mode applied to rear passenger seats of the standard model makes it the perfect choice for activities that require a lot of room and interior flexibility, such as camping and equipment-intensive sports.
"Staria's interior space and functionalities aim to transform how people experience in-car travel, optimizing journeys by making the most of time in transit," said Hyundai's global design head Lee Sang-yup.
The interior space utilization is made possible by the vehicle's 3,273-mm wheelbase with an overall length of 5,253 mm and width of 1,997 mm. Its overall height of 1,990 mm. Staria offers powertrain options of a diesel-powered 2.2-liter engine and a gasoline-powered 3.5-liter engine.
Safety features include a wireless module seat belt reminder. If a passenger attempts to open the power sliding door while a rear-side vehicle is passing by, the safe exit assist system prevents the door from opening. The rear occupant alert system, available in select markets, uses a radar sensor to detect and alert the driver if a rear passenger is left in the car.
A wide-angle camera enables the driver and front passenger to view rear passengers on the display screen. Hyundai said families can use this feature to monitor children and pets. The driver and front passenger can communicate with rear passengers using a speaker function.
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