Supernal Debuts eVTOL Product Concept at CES 2024

by Jan 9, 2024All News, CES 2024, Hyundai, Slider0 comments

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Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, Supernal, today unveiled S-A2, its  electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle product concept at CES 2024. The pilot-plus-four-passenger vehicle marks the  latest milestone in Supernal’s roadmap to commercialize safe, efficient and affordable everyday passenger air travel.  

S-A2 builds on the Company’s vision concept, S-A1, which it debuted at CES 2020, bringing together the innovative aerospace  engineering and Hyundai Motor Group automotive aesthetic design to create a new mode of transportation to get people in urban  areas from point A to point B faster. Supernal will achieve commercial aviation safety levels and enable affordable manufacturing  of its vehicles as it prepares to enter the market in 2028. 

“From the beginning, Supernal has been on a mission to create the right product and the right market at the right time,” said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “The unveiling of S-A2 demonstrates our unwavering  commitment to deliver on that mission with a safe, efficient vehicle design that provides a clear path to market entry. By leveraging  our talented 600-person team, the vast technical and business capabilities of Hyundai Motor Group and trusted aviation suppliers  around the world, Supernal is ready to deliver a new era of flight.” 

Supernal

Technical Components 

S-A2 is a V-tail aircraft designed to cruise 120 miles-per-hour at a 1,500-foot altitude to meet typical city operation needs of 25- to  40-mile trips, initially. It features a distributed electric propulsion architecture and has eight all-tilting rotors. At entry into service,  Supernal’s vehicle will operate as quietly as a dishwasher: 65 dB in vertical take-off and landing phases and 45 dB while cruising  horizontally. 

The vehicle is designed with a priority on safety and a focus on sustainability and passenger comfort. Engineered to achieve the  global commercial aviation standard of safety, it has a robust airframe structure including redundant components in critical systems  such as powertrain, flight controls and avionics. The all-tilting rotor configuration will power the vehicle through both the vertical lift and horizontal-cruise phases of flight with unique efficiency. To maintain superior quality while also being cost-effective, the  vehicle will be manufactured leveraging Hyundai’s mass production capability. 

“Supernal’s product concept vehicle is the result of the creativity and hard work of our world-class team. S-A2 is designed to take  full advantage of emerging electric powertrain advancements that will define the next generation of aviation,” said Ben Diachun,  chief technology officer, Supernal. “From here, we will develop this concept into a revolutionary commercial product.” 

As Supernal continues to optimize its vehicle for certification, mass production and expanded use cases, the Company is also focused on interior modularity and battery upgradability. This includes the ability to replace the battery module as technology advances. 

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Aesthetic Design 

Supernal’s engineering teams partnered with Hyundai Motor Group’s automotive designers on S-A2’s aesthetics – blending design  with functionality – that will attract aviation operators and create the preferred AAM passenger experience. Different color palettes  and materials delineate distinct pilot and passenger sections of the vehicle. Aviation-grade, energy-absorbing components are  integrated into the seat frames, and contribute to the overall clean, minimalist design. Lighting transitions throughout phases of  flight allow the cabin to feel larger and to provide visual cues, such as where to enter and exit the vehicle.

“S-A2 is a true representation of ‘auto meets aero.’ Drawing on the competence of Supernal’s top aerospace engineers and Hyundai  Motor Group’s world-renowned automotive designers to create human-centric design that maximizes passenger experience and  safety,” said Luc Donckerwolke, president, chief design officer and chief creative officer, Hyundai Motor Group.  

Drawing on experience from designing “smart cars” with similar efficient footprints and recent award-winning electric vehicles, Hyundai Motor Group’s designers also incorporated the latest in passenger experience and automotive design best-practices into  S-A2.  

Written by Jose Antonio Lopez

Passionated about Korean cars from Hyundai, Kia & Genesis. Photographer. I love being in nature, hiking. Tech lover.

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