As hinted by Hyundai CEO John Krafcik earlier this week, officials in Korea have confirmed that the brand will bring over its first plug-in hybrid to the U.S. in late 2012. The vehicle will reportedly be largely be based on the brand’s Blue-Will concept currently on display at the Seoul Motor Show and will go head-to-head with the Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Volt, head of Hyundai-Kia R&D Yang Woong-chul said. ‘We want to be the world leader in fuel economy and alternative fuels,’ he said. The Blue-Will currently shown in Korea sports a 106-in. wheelbase and 1.6L direct-injection gasoline engine, not to mention some edgy styling thanks to a solar-cell-clad panoramic roof. Supplementing the engine is a 100-kw electric motor powered by Hyundai’s own lithium-ion battery pack. Yang estimates the Blue-Will has a range of 38 miles on electric power alone and can achieve 106 mpg in plug-in mode and 55 mpg in hybrid-electric mode. ‘Almost every part on this car has been developed in-house,’ Yang said. ‘That will make it possible to make this vehicle affordable.’