Is the car as we know it going the same way as Walkmans? Hyundai is the latest to tackle plug-in hybrid technology.

Due to be revealed at the Seoul Motor Show which opens on 2 April, the "BLUE-WILL" concept car crams advanced technology inside its unique bodyshell.

Recycled plastic soft drink bottles were used to make the material for the headlamp bezels while use has also been made of bio-plastics for the interior and the engine cover. These materials are made from plants extract rather than fossil fuels and are bio-degradable.

The BLUE-WILL concept is powered by an all-aluminium petrol direct injected 1.6-litre engine which is coupled to a Continuously Variable Transmission and a 100kw electric motor which is at the heart of Hyundai?s parallel hybrid drive architecture.

Electric power, stored by a Lithium Ion Polymer battery pack, is bundled with the fuel tank under the rear seat to maximise luggage space.

Hyundai will be the first automaker in the world to apply Lithium Ion Polymer in a mass production vehicle when the Elantra LPI Hybrid goes on sale in Korea in July this year.

A further expression of the concept?s design flexibility is found on the panoramic roof. The glass area integrates dye-sensitised solar cells which can generate power for the batteries from the sun without impeding visibility.

Now, that's foresight.