Hyundai sees diesels as better option than hybrids, may offer some in US soon

Hyundai may soon begin offering oil-burners in the US market instead of hybrids. According to Hyundai COO Steve Wilhite, getting diesels into US Hyundai models are his highest personal priority. Wilhite would like to see diesels available in all of Hyundai's US models and considers them a more elegant solution than hybrids which add a great deal of complexity to a vehicle.

Honda has already announced plans to offer new clean diesels in the US in 2009. Wilhite says diesel engines would cost about $1,000 more than gas engines compared to $2,000-3,000 more for a hybrid system. He feels that the cost of a diesel can much more easily pay for itself in fuel savings than a hybrid.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

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