DETROIT -- Hyundai Motor America revealed the Curb crossover concept vehicle during a press conference at the 2011 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. It is being described as an Urban Activity Vehicle or a UAV, with the intent of attracting a younger crowd. The Curb features touch sensors and screens, a 12-inch display and a reflective heads up display. It also includes a pop-up roof rack and a pull-out bike rack. The Curb was the 12th concept vehicle to be designed at Hyundai's California Design Center.

"It is exploring a compact crossover for the Hyundai lineup," said Miles Johnson, Manager of Hyundai Product Public Relations. "It is urban tough on the outside to protect all of the cool telematics features on the inside. It's rugged in the terms of potholes and nightclubs. It's not meant to go a cross the rubicon trail or anything. We're just exploring the design language and the look and feel. It certainly involves our fluid sculpture design language and has striking cutlines throughout the body."

The Curb also includes 22-inch five spoke wheels and Michelin tires. The brake pads are orange in color and feature the word "Curb" printed on them. There are numerous LED lights on the exterior of the vehicle. The heads up display will alert the driver if he or she is not paying attention to the road.

"I think the styling is what really sets it apart," Johnson added. "Very aggressive hard lines throughout the vehicle. Looking at the next generation of Hyundai buyers to get them into a smaller crossover. It would slot in our lineup below the Hyundai Tucson. It's running a 1.6-liter Gamma engine with direct injection about 140 hp. We're saying about 40-45 mpg. We are going to be adding more and more hybrid vehicles to the Hyundai lineup in the future. Hybrids are certainly the future of this business."

It also has a large acrylic screen with multiple zones allowing information to be passed between the driver and the passengers. The two headrests also have monitors on them. Passengers can select their own music with Pandora internet radio.

"It has a lot of information gathering things," the Manager of Hyundai Product Public Relations explained. "I can find out where nightclubs are and that kind of stuff. It's very unique. It would be about $17,000 to $20,000 if this does get the green light to become a production model. We're having a great year at Hyundai, very excited to be here."

Another cool feature is what Hyundai is calling its "Blue Link Technology." When the driver receives a phone call, a map pops up showing the location of the caller. The technology can also be used to post the driver's location on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. If a friend accepts the driver's invitation to share locations, then he or she will show up on the navigation screen.

As a young driver, I can tell you that I am greatly impressed with the Hyundai Curb. It is has all of the features and amenities that a Gen Y person would want plus much more. I hope this vehicle does get the green light for production.