Staff Reporter
“Hyundai-Kia expects to secure an edge in technologies on eco-friendly vehicles with the successful release of these models.”
At the conference, Hyundai-Kia made a presentation about the two vehicles, as well introducing current global research and development of hybrid vehicles.
Hyundai and its affiliate Kia will both launch their first-ever commercial hybrid models in tandem. Following the debut of Hyundai’s Avante LPI this month, Kia plans to introduce the Forte LPI compact sedan in August.
While their major rivals use gasoline, including Toyota’s Prius and Honda’s Insight, Hyundai and Kia’s hybrid products are powered by liquid petroleum gas and lithium polymer batteries. Both models are equipped with an LPI engine, which generates 114 horsepower, and a 15-kilowatt electric motor.
The Avante LPI runs 17.8 kilometer per liter of fuel. Even though the Avante hybrid lags behind its Japanese competitors in fuel economy, it could still appeal to customers with the price edge of LPG fuel, Lee of Hyundai-Kia said.
Hyundai looks to sell 8,000 Avante LPIs, priced between 20 million won ($15,832) to 23 million won, domestically by the end of the year.
On the same day, the carmaker said pre-sale orders for the Avante have surpassed 1,000 since it began to receive them on June 15.
*source: The korea Times
*All photo by Hyundaibuzz.com(c) @2009 Seoul Motor Show
Big Deal, Iam tired of seeing these things. You have gas Hyrbids, and have been testing them for years. Get them out on the market soon, Please? The fact that I know you have a 1.6L Gamma Hybrid Engine/Small Car Petrol Hybrid System, and youre keeping the details under wraps while showing this LPG crap is really starting to bother me.
These things dont even apply to the average person who lives outside of Korea or China where LPG is widely available. You guys talk about Bringing up fuel efficiency with smaller displacement engines. Us here in America will have a hard time swallowing the Idea of 89 or even 103 HP Accents and Rios. That might be a great Environmental move, but not a great sales move. Have good Turbos and put them on your 1.2L Kappa, 1.4L and 1.6L just for the North American, Korean, and Austrailian Markets. And bring your 1.6L Hybrid Small car system over.
By the way, in 2005 when you guys announced that the Accent and Rio were coming with a Hybrid system many Americans got very excited to only be dissappointed in the delays. Just go to some of the US environmental Car Fourms where comments like these are prevalent:
1. “I would have bought the Accent or Rio if it was a Hybrid, but I bought the Honda Fit instead.”
2. “The Hybrid Accents and Rio are taking too long, so Iam going to get a Prius.”
The demand for Hybrid small cars is here, you guys arent delivering and yet again and again the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive cars are kicking your asses. I want to trade my 2007 Accent for the 2011 Accent, but you guys are going to have to deliver; especially since Toyota is getting ready to drop the Hybrid Corolla.