Hyundai Hopes to Hit New U.S. Fuel Economy Standard 5 Years Early

Hyundai Hopes to Hit New U.S. Fuel Economy Standard 5 Years Early

Hyundai Motor Co. plans to meet the proposed U.S. fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon in 2015 -- five years earlier than required -- and do it without relying heavily on hybrid vehicles, The Wall Street Journal reported today.

The South Korean automaker intends to reach that standard for its Hyundai and Kia brands by building smaller cars and using lighter materials as well as new engine and powertrain technologies such as gasoline direct injection, dual continuously variable valve timing and eight-speed automatic transmissions, the Journal reported, citing an interview with Lee Hyun-soon (right), head of Hyundai's research and development division.

The declaration comes at a time when most automakers, including Detroit's Big 3, are whining to U.S. regulators that an interim step in boosting fuel standards -- to 31.6 mpg by 2015 -- would pose a hardship for them.

"With just conventional gasoline engines, we think we can hit 35," Lee said in an interview at company's research and test center. "We have the technology to improve fuel economy. The problem was it increased the cost of the vehicle. Now, with higher oil prices, we can justify the technology."

In December, President Bush signed a law that requires automakers to boost their fleetwide gas mileage, for cars and light trucks, to an average of 35 mpg by 2020. The standard this year is 27.5 mpg for cars and 22.5 mpg for light trucks.

Since the law's passage, automakers have tried to influence new regulations being developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency, which is responsible for enforcing the new standard.

Asked whether Hyundai may be able to gain a marketing edge by meeting the 2020 target early, Lee said: "Everybody has the same homework. Maybe we are a little bit faster. Our engineers are working hard on this."

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.