Hyundai Opens Up About U.S. Hybrid: It's A Sonata, Due in 2010
By John O'Dell August 20, 2008
Hyundai Motor Co. has long talked about introducing a hybrid
for the North American market, but until now has not offered any detail.
But in Michigan during a media event today, Hyundai Motor America product development chief John Krafcik pulled the wraps off the South Korean automakers U.S. hybrid plan.
The car, a lithium-ion battery-powered version of the sonata sedan, will hit the market here "as early as" 2010, Krafcik said.
A prototype model is expected to start testing late this year.
He said the Hyundai hybrid would use "cutting edge" lithium-ion batteries, but didn't provide details about chemistry, weight, power or energy capacity.
Krafcik did say, however, that the Sonata hybrid would not be a plug-in.
Hyundai previously said it will introduce a hybrid version of its compact Avante in the Korean and other asian and possibly European markets in 2009.
That car is expected to use liquefied petroleum gas rather than gasoline to fuel its internal combustion engine.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
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