Hyundai May Be Fuel Economy Leader By Meeting Standards 5 Years Ahead Of Deadline

Hyundai Motor Co. can meet the proposed US fuel efficiency standard of 35 miles per gallon in the fleets of its Hyundai and Kia brands by 2015, five years ahead of a U.S. deadline, without relying heavily on hybrid vehicles, the company's research chief said Tuesday.

The declaration is a bold statement of technical confidence by the South Korean manufacturer, which has trailed behind Japanese and U.S. manufacturers in the development of fuel-sipping hybrid vehicles. It also distinguishes the company from competitors that have argued to U.S. regulators in recent weeks that an interim step in boosting fuel standards -- to 31.6 mpg by 2015 -- is too aggressive.

Hyundai will focus on building smaller cars 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 to hit the new U.S. fuel-efficiency standards, said Lee Hyun-soon, president of Hyundai's research and development division. The company is also unlikely to enter the gas-guzzling U.S. pickup-truck market, he said.

Read Article

thstone - 9/3/2008 3:55:33 PM

-5 Boost

So? Who cares?

bigmotov - 9/3/2008 4:55:59 PM

+6 Boost

Who cares?!?! I'm sure ALL of the automakers care! ...and you should too when you are old enough to drive.

Agent63 - 9/4/2008 4:42:20 AM

+1 Boost

Lexus fans should be worried. How does BMW factor into this? Hyundai targets ToyoLexus more than any other company. You're just hiding from the fact that Hyundai is stepping things up despite their recent loss in sales for August (which other companies have lost as well).

1fstmach - 9/4/2008 3:22:38 AM

+1 Boost

Yes Hyundai has a V8 in the lineup in the Genesis Sedan, which from my driving of just the V-6 version of the car I was impressed, and I spent a couple days just driving cars ie: BMW 335XI, Infinitis etc. so it was a pretty good comparison for me to go test the new car from "an underdog" such as Hyundai. I was impressed by the car.

I will be back to drive the V8 version of it as well.

WorldofLuxury - 9/3/2008 9:29:32 PM

0 Boost

It's not a surprise, though. Hyundai and it's subsidiary, Kia, have it quite easy. Their lineup doesn't consist of may gas guzzlers.

The Tundra has to be powerful, or else, there's no point of it. Right? Isn't that why people in the early 90s bought F-150s instead of Toyotas?