Hyundai Shouwang Concept Car

Hyundai unveiled its first-ever locally developed car model at an international motor show in China, last week.

Codenamed BHCD-1, the vehicle was developed with an aim to grab more attention of the consumers living in the world’s largest automobile market.

The car is still in concept form, but it was revealed already that Hyundai plans a serial production with release date set for late 2012 or early 2013.

We have already reported that Hyundai aims to develop a new sub-brand which will be marketed exclusively in China. The new brand will offer locally developed car models that will suit to Chinese consumer's demands better than existing models.

And the car we see on the images below will be a part of the new local brand!

Called the “Shouwang”, the mid-size sedan is being displayed at the ninth annual Guangzhou International Motor Show. Reportedly, the car is based on Hyundai Elantra and shares its major powertrain technology with the popular C-segment car from Hyundai.

However, a top official at Beijing Automotive Co., a 50-50 joint venture between Hyundai and Beijing Automotive Co, revealed that the Shouwang will, once it gets into production, also get an exclusive all-electric powertrain. This could happen as early as within a year or two.

When Hyundai puts it on sale, the Shouwang will be the very-first mass produced Hyundai vehicle in China.

There are no other technical details available at this point...

Hyundai Shouwang image gallery: