REPORT: Hyundai to offer plug-in hybrid in U.S. for 2012
Click above for high-res gallery of the Hyundai BLUE-WILL concept
Hyundai reportedly plans to put a plug-in hybrid into production for the U.S. by late 2012 that will be based on the oddly-styled BLUE-WILL concept that's currently being shown off at the Seoul Motor Show. We're not sure if features like the rooftop solar panels and headlamp bezels made from recycled drink bottles will make it to the sales floor, but a variant on the concept's plug-in parallel hybrid drivetrain sounds like a lock.
The BLUE-WILL is said to be capable of traveling about 38 miles on battery power before a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injected powerplant kicks in to keep the party going. Hyundai says it expects the hybrid to earn an equivalent rating of 106 miles per gallon when running in EV mode and an overall rating of 55 mpg when the gas engine is in operation.
Though the Korean automaker isn't ready to talk price, Yang Woong-chul, Hyundai's president of R&D, says, "We want to show our technological image to get people to the dealerships to drive our cars. We are not necessarily trying to make money on hybrids." Based on Hyundai's recent success in entering new markets and taking on new competitors, Toyota, General Motors and Honda may have good reason to be worried.
Gallery: Hyundai BLUE-WILL hybrid concept
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cellien 2:05PM (4/02/2009)
I hope it looks close to that. :)
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Luis 2:07PM (4/02/2009)
I think this is the least of GMs problems. Toyota doesn't need to worry as much. They are years ahead of Hyundai.
Of the concept - I like the lines on the side. Very cool.
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geo.stewart 2:19PM (4/02/2009)
yep, just like Beta was ahead of VHS
Jj 2:25PM (4/02/2009)
Just because this would be Hyundai's first hybrid dosen't mean that they are back where Toyota was with the original Prius back in 1997.
They will use consultants and maybe even some of the same suppliers.
Not to mention that have probably already dismantled and reverse-engineered several Prius' and other hybrids, a common practice that Autoblog has reported on.
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/04/a-rare-glimpse-inside-gms-reverse-engineering-facility/
another_one 3:17PM (4/02/2009)
This was once said of Japanese auto makers versus US as well.
Hyundai is willing to be more bold (read: take more risk) in design as Toyota gets more bland. It is entirely possible that history will repeat itself.
hypermiler 4:35PM (4/02/2009)
@ Luis
> Toyota doesn't need to worry as much.
Toyota's experimental plugin Prius has an electric only range of only 7 miles. Of course they are worried as Toyota is unable to source a Lithium Ion battery that lasts more than 10 years. Japanese bet it all on NiMH battery and were caught off-guard when Li-Ion, which they thought wasn't feasible for automotive applications, took off.
jsjs 8:39PM (4/02/2009)
Hyundai already has a limited no. of LPG hybrids w/ lithium ion polymer batteries used as fleet vehicles for govt. agencies in SKorea.
the_MVP_X 2:09PM (4/02/2009)
In the same year with the Volt.....
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Nico 2:12PM (4/02/2009)
Plug-in hybrid: good, let the torque come! :D
That design: bad. They should use the coupe body!
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Jason 2:23PM (4/02/2009)
BLUE-WILL? Looks more like a blue WHALE with that front end.
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Will 2:28PM (4/02/2009)
I'd buy one if it said "Blow Will."
typhoon5000 2:24PM (4/02/2009)
They borrowed the wheel design from the Toyota FT-HS Concept: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-ft-hs-concept/131975/
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Josiah 2:35PM (4/02/2009)
That's a stretch to say they 'borrowed' them. The design is similar but how many original wheels designs are there anyways? The production version will look nothing like this.
R. 9:01PM (4/02/2009)
Are you kidding?
a 2:25PM (4/02/2009)
looks like a whale
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Aaron 2:32PM (4/02/2009)
great, another stupid looking hybrid
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Josiah 2:36PM (4/02/2009)
Buy a Fusion, Camry, Escape or Civic hybrid. Hell you can even take the hybrid badges off for all I care. People want (the market has spoken clearly on this one) unique designs, not just their same car with hybrid tech bolted on.
Aaron 2:56PM (4/02/2009)
really, is that why every concept has been totally redesigned and watered down?
Tesla is the only company putting out good looking electric/hybrid cars.
The ones you mentioned are normal cars with different engines.
Why do they need all the extra body work down the sides and the dumb looking wheels and the huge grill on the front? Why not something sleek and not something so far out there that 90% of people wont buy them because of the way they look?
Hyunadi has been doing REALLY good in the styling dept lately, then they came out with this.
JZeke 3:37PM (4/02/2009)
Don't forget the Fisker Karma.
And yes, that Hyundai is hideous.
abcd 3:56PM (4/02/2009)
Chinese auto maker BYD is already selling plug-in hybrid with lithium phosphate battery - BYD F3DM. And they want to come to USA and Europe in 2011 with plug-in hybrid. And I would not worry about its quality becouse BYD is one of world's liders in number of battery sales.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/12/detroit-2009-byd-e6-is-worlds-first-production-dual-mode-plug/
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