The first image of Hyundai’s new i-oniq concept car has been released today, showcasing new technology and design.

The i-oniq is an electric sports hatchback with a range-extending petrol engine, intended to convey the latest thinking from Hyundai’s designers and engineers.

A 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine is mated, via a generator, to a lithium ion electric motor which produces 109 ps. In electric-only mode, i-oniq has a range of 120 km, while with assistance from the petrol engine it can travel up to 700 km, producing 45 g/km of CO2 in the process.

Senior vice president and of Hyundai Motor Europe, Allan Rushforth, commented, “The i-oniq concept has been created to reflect the new thinking that runs through the Hyundai brand. It has a bold design, inside and out, that provokes contemplation on the future of automotive possibilities, and a powertrain that highlights one of the ways in which we could power future products – wrapped in a package that exudes premium qualities.”

The Hyundai i-oniq concept car will be unveiled during Hyundai’s press conference at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.