LOS ANGELES — Korean automaker Hyundai said at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show that it will begin building a full hybrid version of the next-generation Sonata sedan in 2010. The car will be the centerpiece of its new eco-friendly Blue Drive global strategy to provide cleaner and more fuel-efficient powertrains.
The company also said it plans to be the first to achieve a fleet fuel economy average of 35 mpg, five years ahead of the government-mandated deadline.
One of the first entries in the Blue Drive range, the 2011 Sonata Hybrid will use advanced lithium-polymer batteries from Korean supplier LG Chem, combined with a parallel hybrid drive system. The hybrid system, developed in-house, mates Hyundai's DOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission with an electric motor that generates 151 pound-feet of torque. The system can run solely on battery power or gasoline or a combination of both.
Hyundai said the new system "will serve as the foundation" for the company's future hybrid vehicles.
Hyundai said it also plans to offer high-mileage "Blue" versions of the Accent and Elantra compacts next year. Over the longer term, the Blue Drive portfolio will be expanded to include plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell electric vehicles, as well as turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engines that combine high output with excellent fuel economy.
Inside Line says: Hyundai could be about to leap to the head of the pack, in terms of achieving tough new fuel economy standards. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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