Hyundai To Hunt The Prius

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: April 22nd, 2011

Hyundai updated its web-only “save the asterisks” video for the New York Auto Show, as it continues to highlight fuel economy as a key brand value. And the brand didn’t miss the opportunity to talk about future fuel-efficient products either, as InsideLine reports that Hyundai is promising two more vehicles rated at 40 MPG highway or above in the “next couple of years.” One is the Prius competitor, which was previewed with the Blue Will concept, and which appears to now be a dedicated hybrid-only model, after having been initially tipped as a plug-in hybrid. The other? Hyundai won’t say, but an exec does tell the Edmunds blog that

The strategy of further developing the internal-combustion engine, with significant increases in fuel economy, is where we see the market going

So, something non-hybrid… perhaps the i10 A-segment hatch that Hyundai USA recently let us drive? The Europe-only i40 wagon? What about the Euro-market ix20 subcompact MPV? Or are we waiting for something brand new?

#Engines #FuelEconomy #FutureVehicles #Hyundai

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6 comments

David C. Holzman on Apr 22, 2011

I suspect there's a lot that could be done yet to make the gasoline ICE more efficient. this may well be the least expensive option for the moment. I thought Honda saw itself as the fuel economy leader. Anyway, good for Hyundai. I hope they do well, and force the rest of the market to chase them.

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- PrincipalDan on Apr 22, 2011
  
  Yeah every time some one predicts that the ICE has yielded it's maximum efficency, someone proves that person wrong. (Thank god.)
  
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- Mcs on Apr 23, 2011
  
  @PrincipalDan Look at the past and the BMW M12/13-1 engine. It was 1,300 hp and only 1.5 liters in 1986. With advances in materials I think it will be possible at some time in the future to build an engine with that level of power output and long term reliability. At that level of power output you can get 200 hp out of a 230 cc engine. Once you create an engine that small, you also gain packaging advantages that give you lighter weight, better aerodynamics, and more space. I think it's an easier target than building an affordable electric with a long range battery. Unlike the EV, it's something that's already been done and it's just a matter of making it more reliable and mainstream. A 230cc engine in a midsize probably won't be happening anytime soon, but I think we'll see a steady progression in that direction. http://www.gurneyflap.com/bmwturbof1engine.html
  
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Carlson Fan on Apr 22, 2011
"The strategy of further developing the internal-combustion engine, with significant increases in fuel economy, is where we see the market going" Sorry but your pretty much there unless you plan to get away from pistons and crankshafts. Of course "signifigant" is a somewhat relative term.

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- Don1967 on Apr 23, 2011
  
  Seems a bit premature to speculate that 100 years of steady ICE progress is about to arbitrarily stop in 2011.
  
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OldandSlow on Apr 22, 2011

With one or two well placed hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico at the end of this summer and continued troubles in the Middle East, Hyundai might have some trouble keeping up with demand.

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