General Motors says that its new Mi-ray Concept, which debuts at this week’s Seoul Motor Show, pays tribute to the sports car heritage at Chevrolet. Specifically, GM points out that the Mi-ray is “small and open” like the 1963 Monza SS, and “light and purposeful” like the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder. Whatever the case, the Mi-ray (Korean for ‘future’) is one sharp little roadster.
Powering the Mi-ray are a pair of front-mounted 15-kilowatt electric motors, mated to a 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that’s partially charged via regenerative braking. The electric motor is mostly used for initial acceleration and urban cruising, but when higher speeds are demanded, power is sourced from the Mi-ray’s 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mounted behind the cockpit. This powerplant is mated to a dual-clutch transmission, and what’s most interesting, is that apparently the Mi-ray can switch between front- and rear-wheel drive at the driver’s whim.
The majority of the Mi-ray’s exterior is made up of carbon fiber components, complete with ambient lighting worked into the main character lines along both sides. Out back, each rear fender contains individual storage compartments, and carbon fiber spoilers at all four corners help with downforce and airflow.
Inside, the Mi-ray uses leather, white fabric, ‘liquid metal’ surfaces and brushed aluminum to create what GM calls “sculptural velocity.” A long center console separates the driver and passenger seats, and all of the car’s vital information is displayed via a back-projected screen. The rear-view cameras are fully retractable, and in city driving, a forward-facing camera works alongside the car’s GPS to overlay navigation information with real-time video.
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