Hyundai’s Mobion Concept Does What GMC Hummer EV Can’t
Hyundai Mobis, a division of the South Korean automaker specializing in innovation and mobility solutions, unveiled the MOBION electric vehicle concept equipped with the next-generation e-Corner system motion technology for the first time at CES 2024 in Las Vegas.
We’ve covered the e-Corner system before, which allows the four wheels to pivot up to 90 degrees and thus enables the vehicle to move diagonally and sideways or even make U-turns—something the GMC Hummer EV’s “Crab Walk” mode can’t do, of course.
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The Mobion’s four wheels are individually controlled (acceleration, braking, steering, suspension), each one utilizing four small motors to generate its own power independently. There’s a pretty cool video that shows what the vehicle is capable of:
Based on the Hyundai IONIQ 5 crossover, the concept also captured the attention at CES with its autonomous driving sensor and lamp technologies. Two short-distance lidars are positioned near the left and right headlamps, complemented by a single long-distance lidar installed at the centre of the front of the vehicle. This configuration facilitates lateral movement and effectively recognizing nearby objects.
In addition, during diagonal or lateral movement, new Ground Projection technology can illuminate the vehicle’s direction on the ground, utilizing lights across a 360-degree spectrum. It can also generate crosswalk stripes for pedestrians to use when they are detected.
Hyundai Mobis conducted successful on-road tests of the e-Corner system's driving capabilities in 2023 and, according to its vice president in charge of advanced engineering, Lee Seung-Hwan, all of the MOBION’s technologies are ready for immediate mass production.
It might take a while before we see such versatile Hyundais on Canadian roads, but aren’t you excited?