Hyundai model lineup to average 50 mpg
Hyundai’s future model lineup to achieve an average of 50 mpg (or better) by 2025!
Hyundai’s model lineup is the most fuel-efficient vehicle lineup currently available on American soil. Hyundai is also the sole automaker in the USA that averages a fuel economy rating of 30 mpg. And the South Korean carmaker is poised to stay on top and maintain its fuel-economy leadership in the future.
Yesterday, the automaker revealed ambitious plans to boost the fleet fuel efficiency average from a current level of 30 mpg to a whopping 50 mpg by 2025. “We are committed to setting the pace in this industry on fuel economy, and we are inspired by the possibilities that our advanced Blue Drive technologies afford. Getting to 50 mpg and beyond seems like a huge leap, but by making this commitment and aligning our R&D initiatives now, we know we can get there,” said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO.
To achieve an average of 50 mpg, Hyundai plans to improve its current model lineup by introducing a range of fully redesigned models with vastly improved powertrain technologies. Technical improvements will affect each model in the automaker’s line-up, starting from sub-compact Hyundai Accent and Elantra sedan to the automaker’s luxury Genesis sedan and coupe.
Hyundai claims that each new car and crossover vehicle wearing a Hyundai badge will adopt a large number of fuel-saving powertrain technologies. Those include gasoline direct injection technology, turbocharging and light-weight materials. The carmaker will also develop new hybrid vehicles, electric cars and its first-ever plug-in hybrid vehicle. Add some fuel-cell powered vehicles and you get a perfect eco-friendly vehicle lineup.
One of the very-first Hyundai models that features some of the afore-mentioned innovative powertrain technologies already hit the market. This is the hot-selling 2011 Sonata sedan, which went on sale in the US-market earlier this year. The all-new Sonata features Hyundai’s state-of-the-art 2,4L Theta II 4-cylinder engine with gasoline direct injection -GDI technology.
The model also features a more powerful 274 horsepower 2,0L turbo engine and completely new hybrid powertrain technology which mates a2,4L Theta II gasoline engine to an electric motor and 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2011 Sonata Hybrid incorporates an industry-first lithium polymer battery, which packs greater power density and stability into a smaller, more package-efficient space.
The 2011 Sonata will soon be followed by fully-redesigned Hyundai Avante/Elantra compact sedan, which is already on sale in South Korea, and new Hyundai Accent. The automaker will also introduce a 40-mpg Veloster sports car, which is rumored to make its official premiere at the forth-coming Paris Auto Show.
August 6th, 2010 at 3:41 am
What??? 2025 , a lot of thing could happen since 2025…in 15 years,maybe we will stop using oil/petrol and use cold fusion reactor or ZPM like STARGATE SG1 in cars!
August 6th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Yea, sounds like a PR thing. Disappointing.
August 6th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
@attaboy
I’d like to believe that. But considering the pace of development in the auto industry, it’s better to be pessimistic. In the past 30 years since Reagan rolled back the CAFE requirements, the average American car’s MPG has stagnated while the average Euro car has actually skyrocketed.
By 2025, we’ll see a lot more hybrids and maybe a few hydrogen-powered cars in lower volume around. But it’ll take more than 15 years to replace our gasoline-based infrastructure to accommodate anything more advanced than hybrids.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Nissan is on the edge to lauch electric car named Leaf by 2011.
If you are ready to pay 40 000$ to get an electric Versa…. and pay less then 2$ for 85% battery recharge, why not!
Quebec province in canada will go on at end of 2011 to install fast recharging stations for eCar across province!
costly hydrogen from oil industry…. still fossile fuel and all problems like those BP oil spills!
August 8th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
In 2025, It is a Piece of Cake.
Even Chevy Volt is 230mpg.
August 8th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
In 15 years, we’ll still have cars that utilize gas. The Leaf at $40k is still too damn expensive. The Prius, however, is closer to where an alternative energy car (but one that still uses gas) should be and probably priced higher than the Camry at $22.8k though probably to maintain segmentation. But I’m sure prices will come down soon enough.
I’ll be in the market for a new car maybe 5-6 years down the road or even 8 if gas prices remain stable and I decide to live super frugally. By that time, my next car will probably be a mid-sized with better fuel efficiency. Hyundai by then will no longer be a bargain basement brand as they’ll be competing outside of it with the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Ford. I sure hope we see mid-sized hybrids in the $19k range by then! I’d love to configure a Prius-class car with a bunch of bells and whistles such as an iPod dock and an improved suspension for $25k.
August 9th, 2010 at 2:07 am
GDI+Hybrid System=
60-65 MPG Smaller Car like i20
55-60 MPG Accent
50-55 MPG Elantra
45-50 MPG Sonata
40-45 MPG Azera
35-40 MPG Genesis
33-37 MPG Equus
50-55 MPG Small CUV
45-50 MPG Tucson
40-45 MPG Santa Fe
=50.2 MPG
Yeah they need the i20 and an Accent based crossover in America to make this happen. Hyundai has the tech now. I say do it by 2020, as some of these models will not be replaced until 2026-2027 at the current 5 year cycle.
August 9th, 2010 at 2:12 am
Hyundai should be the company that finally makes a hybrid powertrain standard in a car. Ford is starting to try to price its hybrids the same as its regular products now.
If Hybrids were spread to the entire range except for performance products, then economy of scale would be broken down to a much lower cost. Thus, Hybrids would natually be the same prices as regular, or be even cheaper than regular.
A combined system with: a Solar Panel on the roof, a braking regenarator, Li-Po battery, and a plug-in all rolled up in one would be nice too.
August 9th, 2010 at 9:11 am
“A combined system with: a Solar Panel on the roof, a braking regenarator, Li-Po battery, and a plug-in all rolled up in one would be nice too.”
That would require an enormous investment of billions of dollars to set up the economies of scale of that level. The technology is there indeed.
It would be extremely risky and expensive to set up new R&D centers and factories to build whatever comes out of those R&D centers. But with risk comes reward. A Hyundai Motor that has strung all of those technologies to lower prices across the ENTIRE lineup before other companies would be a scary one to behold. It would catapult them out of their so-called underdog status and put them in leadership for years to come. I love how they first introduced D.I. technology to the mid-size segment before other companies. Even that Sonata hybrid is a nice addition to the mix. It’s not the most fuel-efficient, but it sure looks fun to drive. But I hope Hyundai holds back on trying to sell those in large quantities.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Jack I think of DI as a stop gap to and an aid for full hybridization.
I then see full hybridization as a stop gap to electric or whatever.
This makes me think of that KIA Ray Concept with the 1.4 Gamma (A Chinese Verna Engine) with GDI, CVT, and 78 KW Electric Motor attached. It had 202 MPG in Plug in Mode, and 76 MPG in Mild Hybrid Mode. It also had 153 Ponies.
This system is small enough to put in Accent if they play around with it more. The way I see it, they should sell the system as the base Accent in 10 years.
Hyundai isnt all that far from this either. The Accent Hybrid probably will use the same system as the Soul hybrid shown in Paris 2008. Soul Hybrid had: 1.6 Gamma, ISG (Idle Stop and Go), 15 KW Electric Motor, and CVT. It returned 57 MPG.
It also returned 143 HP. I will hold off my Accent RB (US Model) Purchase until a Hybrid Hatch is offered.