At the 2009 auto show in New York this spring, Hyundai rolled out the latest incarnation of the hybrid SUV crossover, the Nuvis. Sleek and futuristic, the Nuvis combines the spaciousness of a large sedan with the wide-bodied handling of a sporty SUV. Motortrend’s review of the Nuvis also claims that the hybrid SUV gets four miles more per gallon than the Ford Escape hybrid SUV, which is about 34-35 miles per gallon (the Escape gets about 30 MPG).

If built, the Nuvis would get its power from Hyundai’s Blue Drive system - a 270-watt lithium-polymer battery, a 228-hp Theta II 2.4L inline four-cylinder engine and 30 kW electric motor. This combination gives the hybrid SUV an advantage over other hybrids of its size because it has extra acceleration power when starting from a dead stop. Further increasing the engine’s performance is the advancement that reduced engine friction, thereby making the Nuvis a more efficient vehicle.

The new battery technology used in the Nuvis is beneficial because it does not require the space that lithium-ion batteries do, thus allowing a sleeker design and more room for what’s really important (you know, like your legs). These batteries are also much lighter than older hybrid batteries, so with reduced car weight, you get better mileage. The Nuvis is a relative lightweight, weighing in at just about 3,400 pounds. Additionally, the lithium-polymer batteries can be custom molded to the space allotted in cars, making them less obtrusive.

One of our favorite features, though also the least likely to make it to dealer showrooms, are the doors. Though the Nuvis could easily be a four-door hybrid, it chooses to be a two-door. The doors are not only extra-long, they are also gull wing doors – yes, just like the Dolorian! Nothing says “Hey, I’m from the future” quite like a gull wing door. Aside from that, the rest of the design is very fluid and makes the hybrid look powerful and speedy.

What do you think? Would you buy a Nuvis? Take a look at the following video, which includes some input from the designers. Gotta love that steering wheel!