It may be standing tall with the leading fuel economy of any major car manufacturer in the US, but Hyundai is still eager to improve its EPA ratings even further.

According to reports, the company is now planning to achieve a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) of at least 50mpg by 2025 for its line-up of passenger cars and light duty trucks.

Hyundai North America has lead the fuel economy ratings in the US since 2008 and with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations requiring automakers to achieve a CAFE rating of 35.5mpg by 2016, it had already set its own goal to reach 35mpg by 2015.

Now its 50mpg target will apply to its full line of products – from small cars to larger family haulers. It is part of its global Blue Drive strategy which aligns resources at its engineering centres throughout the world and includes improvements and innovations to its powertrains, turbocharging and the introduction of electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids and lightweight materials.

Its innovations have already made their way to its model line-up including the 2011 Sonata which features a 2.4litre Theta II GDI four cylinder as its base engine and achieves up to 35mpg on the highway. Later this year Hyundai will also launch a 2.0T four cylinder turbo option and a hybrid version.

According to current EPA ratings, Hyundai is expected to achieve a fuel economy rating of 30.1mpg for its 2009 line-up – making it the first car manufacturer to top the 30mpg threshold in these projections.

Share on Facebook

The eyes of the motoring world may be focused on Beijing, but it was at the Busan International Motor Show where Hyundai Motor Corporation chose to unveil its all-new Avante compact saloon car – which is badged as the Elantra in markets outside Korea.

The company’s best selling model worldwide features a new 1.6l Gamma petrol direct injection engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. It’s the first time that GDI and a six-speed automatic have been applied to a compact saloon car in Korea.

The new Hyundai Elantra/Avante.

Among the features of the Gamma engine are a 150bar direct injection fuel system, a variable induction system, a dual continuously variable valve timing and anti-friction coatings.

The vehicle has a peak output of 140ps and a maximum torque of 167Nm. It is around 10 per cent more fuel efficient than its nearest competitors and now Hyundai will hope it furthers the success of the badge which has sold more than six million units worldwide since 1990.

Share on Facebook

We may be at the dawn of a green car era but not all motorists are changing their buying habits with an environmental conscience.

According to reports in the Korea Times, carmakers in South Korea sold just 591 hybrids in February, representing just 0.5 per cent of the market – that’s down from 0.6 per cent in January. By contrast, Hyundai SUV models saw a sharp rise in sales – by 70 per cent year on year to 18,704 units. Indeed SUV sales for Kia also almost doubled during the same span.

Sales of hybrids are certainly weaker than expected, particularly as the country introduced large subsidies and tax incentives. However, a Seoul analyst suggests that they will eventually take root but at the moment the high price tags of the models, coupled with the recalls of Toyota’s hybrid cars, have negatively affected consumer sentiment.

Currently, the Korean government offers tax incentives amounting to three million won for buyers of hybrid cars; while Hyundai started providing price cuts worth up to 2.9million won this month.

During February the Hyundai Avante Hybrid sold a mere 266 units – down considerably from the 526 sold during January and the 1,000+ that was achieved from its debut in July through to September.

Elsewhere, sales of the Kia Forte Hybrid fell from 615 last September to 78 in January; sales of the Toyota Prius dropped from 128 in October to 54 in February; and most other hybrid editions failed to sell more than 10 vehicles over the month.

Share on Facebook

One of the highlights of this year’s Geneva Motor Show has to be Hyundai’s stand. Earlier, we brought you news that the Korean carmaker was to unveil a diesel hybrid called the i-flow (see post) but this is far from all there is to see.

Along with the innovative sports coupe hybrid planned for launch sometime in 2011, Hyundai is displaying its all new i10, i20 and i30 models all with super-low emissions. Entering production in March, the new i30  features a host of external tweaks to the design.To complete the upgrade, the new i30 will come with Hyundai’s ‘Triple5’ package, including an enhanced five-year warranty with five year’s roadside recovery.

Blue Drive takes i10, i20 and i30 under 100g/km

Perhaps more interestingly, however Hyundai has revealed its latest eco-focused Blue Drive vehicles. Four new cars have resulted from the company’s leading-edge program: the i10 blue, i20 blue, i30 blue and ix35 blue.

The eco-friendly variants incorporate improvements in emissions without compromising performance, reliability or driver satisfaction. All employ the latest energy-efficient powertrain technology. The new, downsized 1.0-litre Kappa petrol and 1.7-litre U2 diesel engines, for example, are coupled with high-performance, low-friction engine oil, to considerably reduce driveline friction. Dual continuously variable valve timing, improved combustion efficiency, gear ratio optimisation, and engine control optimisation to increase engine efficiency.

Hyundai has also made available its Idle Stop & Go (ISG) system on the models.  Like all stop/start systems. this cuts the engine when the car is stationary and restarts it when the clutch pedal is depressed.

It’s not just the engines which are more efficient. To minimise drag, the Blue Drive models have improved aerodynamics and lower rolling resistance. Under body panels have been installed on all models to smooth airflow under the car and certain models also feature reductions in brake-pad drag on the discs. Wheels are also fitted with low rolling resistance tyres, inflated to a higher pressure.

Through such innovations, engineers have succeeded in lowering the CO₂ emission levels of the i10, i20, and i30 blue models to the sub-100g/km range.

The i10 blue, which goes into production at the end of 2010, employs a new and extremely efficient 1.0-litre version of the Kappa petrol engine, which produces 69PS at a lower rpm level of 6.200 rpm while generating 94 Nm of torque. By tweaking the aerodynamics and refinements to the powertrain, CO₂ emissions in the i10 blue have been reduced to just 99g/km.

The i20 blue features the U2 1.4-litre diesel engine, designed and engineered at the R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and produces 75PS at a lower rpm level of 4.000, while generating 220 Nm of torque.  The power train is mated to the latest six- speed manual transmission.  Producing just 98g/km of CO₂ emissions, the i20 blue is scheduled to go into production in 2011.

The i30 blue uses the U2 1.6-litre engine, which produces 90PS at 4.000 rpm, while generating 240 Nm of torque.  CO₂ emissions of just 98g/km and 99 g/km for the hatchback and estate models, respectively, will save customers tax and fuel. Production commences in 2011 at the Nosovice plant in Czech.

Fuel cell future

A new crossover model, the ix35 blue, which goes into production at the end of 2010, also boasts an extremely impressive CO₂ emissions figure of just 135g/km, positioning it not only as a rival to leading C-segment SUV models but also to C-segment hatchbacks.

This new model is also joined by a different version of the ix35 which has taken CO₂ emissions from the exhaust out of the equation altogether. The ix35 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (pictured) makes its debut of the show too, to display the carmaker’s steps toward commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

The ix35 FCEV incorporates several important innovations over the previous generation Tucson FCEV.  And with these improvements, Hyundai is set to meet its goal of ramping up production volume of FCEVs into the thousands by 2012.

Share on Facebook

Leading car manufacturers continue to throw their weight behind plug-in hybrid technology and now Hyundai has announced it will bring its own plug-in vehicle to market in 2012.

The announcement was made by Dr Byungsson Min of Hyundai Motor Company Research and Development Centre as part of the SAE 2010 Hybrid Vehicle Technologies Symposium in San Diego. He announced that company would also be launching a fleet test programme in Korea and the US.

Noting that Hyundai is “late in launching hybrid vehicles”, Dr Min stated that it would be accelerating the introduction of conventional hybrids and noted the Sonata Hybrid would reach the US market later this year. The Sonata is based on Hyundai’s full parallel Hybrid Blue Drive architecture which includes nine major components: an integrated starter generator for stop start; optimised Theta II 2.4litre engine; 30kW electric motor; a regenerative braking system; a six-speed automatic transmission with improved efficiency electric oil pump; 1.4kWh lithium polymer battery pack; hybrid power control unit; electric air conditioning compressor; and weight-efficient architecture with low-drag co-efficient. More details are expected to be revealed about the Hybrid Sonata at the New York International Auto Show in April.

In addition, Hyundai announced the Blue-Will Plug-in Hybrid Concept at the North American International Auto Show in January. The Blue-Will concept uses an all aluminium 152hp petrol direct injected 1.6litre engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. Fuel economy is projected to be 50-55mpg and the vehicle range is 652miles.

Furthermore, Hyundai has announced the introduction of the I-Flow concept at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show on March 2. It is a compact saloon car for the D-segment that utilises a host of technologies from BASF including lightweight materials and solar cells.

Share on Facebook

The North American International Auto Show in Detroit marked the US debut of Hyundai’s Blue-Will plug-in hybrid concept that was first introduced at the Seoul Motor Show in 2009.

The Blue-Will represents a myriad of new ideas including roof-mounted solar cells, drive-by-wire steering, touch screen controls and lithium polymer batteries. It promises an electric-only driving distance of up to 40miles on a single charge with a fuel economy rating at the equivalent of 106mpg.

Among the features of the Hyundai Blue-Will is an all-aluminium 152hp petrol direct injected 1.6litre engine that is connected to a continuously variable transmission. The vehicle features a 100kW electric motor at its heart with fuel economy in charge sustaining mode estimated to be between 50 and 55mpg with Hyundai stating that the vehicle has a range of 652miles.

To maximise luggage space the fuel tank is located under the rear seat alongside the lithium polymer batteries that can be recharged using a household current. Hyundai is the first car marker in the world to incorporate lithium polymer batteries in mass production after putting the Elantra LPI Hybrid Electric Vehicle on sale in Korea last year. It will also use this battery technology in the 2011 Sonata BlueDrive hybrid.

Efficiencies are further improved thanks to low-rolling resistance tyres, low-drag brakes and the panoramic glass roof with solar cells that provide a trickle of charge to help operate a cabin cooling fan, reducing interior temperatures.

Share on Facebook

If Japan is leading the way with hybrid and electric technology, then Korea is surely the front-runner for LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injection) Hybrids.

Now, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has started a test run of LPI hybrids from Hyundai-Kia Motors as taxis – the test period began on December, 3.

According to reports, the Korea National Joint Conference of Taxi Association will select participating taxi companies and support the monitoring of its operation. Meanwhile, Hyundai-Kia will monitor the technologies including making an analysis of the vehicle components’ durability.

A total of 10 taxis will be deployed across five taxi companies in Seoul with the Korea LPG Association to support the supply of fuel for the taxis and the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Ministry of the Environment to offer administrative support.

As for the vehicles themselves, they are powered by an LPI Gamma engine displacing 1.6litres, as well as a pancake type permanent magnet synchronous motor and a continuously variable transmission. The Hyundai-Kia Elantra LPI hybrid electric vehicle emits just 99g/km of CO2 – that’s 90 per cent fewer emissions that a standard petrol powered Elantra.

Share on Facebook

The green car innovations just keep on coming and now the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has announced plans to add a diesel hybrid to its fleet.

The company, which already has both liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and petroleum hybrid offerings will attempt to commercialise a hybrid edition of one of its diesel models, according to a report in the Korea Times. The nation’s largest car maker made the revelation at the National Assembly on Monday, with Kim Hae-jin, the company’s managing director, stating that commercialisation will be established in 2011.

It is expected that Hyundai-Kia will focus on diesel hybrids rather than electric vehicles in the short-term. Kim outlined that electric cars will be produced in 2011 as well, but it will take five-six more years to churn them out and so the initial focus will be on diesel hybrid models.

Hyundai has already released hybrid editions of both the Avante and Forte saloon cars, and is also planning a hybrid version of the Sonata and Santa Fe.

Share on Facebook

The all-new 2011 version of the Hyundai Sonata was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, marking the North American debut of the latest version of the vehicle.

The new Sonata will include a four-cylinder engine line-up with a naturally aspirated version of the new Theta II GDI 2.4 litre four cylinder engine with a gasoline direct injection fuel delivery system making it the first midsize saloon car to adopt the technology as standard equipment.

The GDI allows greater control of the fuel mixture which in turn improves efficiency. The fuel is injected by a high pressure pump with direct injection utilising a high compression ratio for increased power. The engine also features continuously variable valve timing on both camshafts as well as a variable induction system for better engine breathing. A version of the engine will also meet partial zero emission vehicle standards.

When equipped with a six-speed manual drive, the Sonata achieves 23mpg city/34mpg highway with 184lb-ft of torque. The six-speed helps the vehicle accomplish a nine per cent gain in fuel economy and it is smaller, more compact and lighter than other transmissions on the market. It has been developed over a four-year period and is 26.4lbs lighter than the five-speed it replaces.

The Hyundai Sonata can also boast world-class body rigidity and is 25 per cent stiffer in torsion and 19 per cent stiffer in bending rigidity than its predecessor.

Share on Facebook

Korean manufacturer Hyundai has enjoyed vast sales success in recent months, but it clearly has no intention of resting on its laurels.

Now the carmaker has unveiled the 2.4 Theta II GDI, which is its first gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine. The new technology was showcased at the Ninth Annual Hyundai-Kia International Powertrain Conference in Korea and has a compression ratio of 11.3:1.

Compared to a conventional engine, the GDI offers seven per cent more torque at low revolutions and 12 per cent more at the high-end which creates better take-off and overtaking performance. It has been developed with a budget of 170billion won over a 46-month long period and is expected to make its debut in 2010 in the newly launched Sonata.

The new production version includes a high pressure fuel pump that injects the fuel at pressures up to 150bar. The injection is split into two phases to optimise combustion with the first phase involving the pilot injection and the second phase seeing more fuel injected and ignited during the piston’s descent. This split technique reduces the loading on the catalytic converter while lowering emissions. Indeed the split injection helps the catalytic converter to optimal operating temperatures much faster and is therefore able to cut emissions by around 25 per cent during cold starts.

Additional performance gains have been achieved thanks to the incorporation of dual continuously variable valve timing which enhances the engine’s breathing while offering better fuel economy and lower emissions.

Share on Facebook