Hyundai Unveils 2016 Sonata Hybrid
Hyundai recently unveiled its 2016 Sonata Hybrid at an unveiling ceremony in Seoul, where it was showing off the new model’s powertrain upgrades, increased cargo-space, improved fuel-economy, and new looks.
The specifics of the new system have yet to be disclosed publicly, and it’s not completely certain if this power train will be the one included in the upcoming US release (mid to late spring). That information is expected to be made clear in early 2015, at the Detroit Auto Show, which CleanTechnica will be attending.
As well as an improved engine, the company has added an upgraded six-speed automatic that is home to the majority of the car’s components and utilizes a redesigned clutch to limit drag. The redesign also includes the switch to an electric oil pump, and the enlargement of the hybrid’s battery pack — from 1.43 kWh up to 1.62 kWh. The cargo space has been increased as well, by about 10.5%.
Furthermore, the fuel-economy of the hybrid has been improved, via a redesign of the car’s body — a redesign that has given the new model a fairly different appearance to that of its predecessors. Perhaps a fair but more “traditional” looking?
The new fuel economy rests somewhere around 18.2 km a liter (~42.8 miles a gallon). Which represents an increase of around 1.5 km a liter (3.2 miles a gallon) over the last model released in South Korea.
As well as the hybrid version, Hyundai will be releasing a plug-in hybrid electric version some time later in the year. That plug-in hybrid Sonata will actually be Hyundai’s first, so it’ll be interesting to see its specs. Details on the Sonata PHEV are expected at the Detroit Auto Show in January as well.
Image Credit: Hyundai
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