Autoblog

Kia bringing EV to market this year

Zach Bowman — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hyundai, Kia, Electric, South Korea

Automotive News reports that Kia will launch a small electric vehicle by the end of this year, and that it will be the first car in a wave of forthcoming Korean EVs. It's not known if or when the new electric cars will eventually arrive in the U.S., though it would hardly be surprising if they did. Hyundai Motor Group calls this EV initiative the TAM project, and that the first vehicle to come out of it will ride on the subcompact Hyundai i10 platform.

All told, Automotive News says that Kia will produce 2,000EVs for 2012. A small group of BlueOn Hyundai i10 EVs has been ongoing in South Korea, and it's thought that the lessons learned will be applied to the upcoming Kia vehicle.

This is Hyundai's first real push into the electric vehicle segment. While Japanese and domestic automakers have already brought production EVs to market, Hyundai and Kia have contented themselves with offerings like the Sonata Hybrid and Optima Hybrid.

Kia bringing EV to market this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Preview: Hyundai reveals diesel-hybrid i-Flow

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:39:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Hyundai, Electric, Diesel

Hyundai's home office in Korea has dropped the first frontal image of a new concept that will be shown next week at the Geneva Motor Show along with some technical details. The i-Flow is a D-segment sedan meant to go up against cars like the Ford Mondeo in Europe. Under the hood, the i-Flow has Hyundai's first diesel hybrid powertrain including a new 1.7-liter inline-four. The diesel has dual stage turbocharging and is paired up with Hyundai's Blue-drive system using a new six-speed dual clutch gearbox. Like the upcoming Sonata hybrid, the i-Flow uses a lithium polymer battery pack. With its drag coefficient of 0.25, the i-Flow is claimed to achieve 78.4 miles per gallon (U.S.) and CO2 emissions of just 85 grams/kilometer.

Joining the i-Flow onstage will be a refreshed version of the i30 (badged as the Elantra Touring in North America) and low emissions "blue" versions of the i10, i20, i30 and ix35 (Tucson). These models receive automatic start-stop, low rolling resistance tires and aero tweaks. The four cars all achieve CO2 ratings under 100 g/km while the crossover ix35 gets 135 g/km. Finally, Hyundai will also show a fuel cell version of the new ix35/Tucson for the first time. Hyundai still plans to produce fuel cell vehicles in the thousands annually by 2012.

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Hyundai reveals diesel-hybrid i-Flow

Geneva Preview: Hyundai reveals diesel-hybrid i-Flow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai considers sourcing city car from India

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Hyundai, India

Click above for high-res gallery of the Hyundai i10.

Since last October, Hyundai has been selling the i10 minicar in 70 countries throughout the world. The diminutive sedan is just over 140 inches long (about 20 inches shorter than the Honda Fit), powered by an 80 hp, 1.2-liter four that returns up to 56 mpg and retails for between $7,800 and $11,200 in India. Those specs could be enticing for American consumers looking for a simple runabout that's smaller than the Fit/Yaris and larger than the smart fortwo, so Hyundai is seriously considering bringing it to the States.

According to a Hyundai source speaking with Automotive News, the i10 would retain its name and could be badged either a Hyundai or a Kia. Output would be increased, and its curb weight would grow by around 400 pounds in order to meet U.S. safety standards. But with features like keyless entry, ABS, dual airbags and fog lamps, the i10 could be a serious consideration for consumers looking for a cheap commuter with the amenities they've grown to expect.

Gallery: Hyundai i10

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Hyundai considers sourcing city car from India originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai i10 Ice Cream van hits sweet spot

Noah Joseph — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Work, Hatchback, Hyundai, Toys/Games

Click to view more of the Hyundai i10 ice cream van

We can come up with all manner of criteria for evaluating a car at any level: design, performance, spec sheet, ride, features, technology, value... but the one factor that trumps all others, what it all really comes down to, is how it appeals to our inner child. At the heart of it, that's why we love Lamborghinis and HUMMERs and Mustangs... and this particular Hyundai i10. It's just a treat.

The ice-cream van conversion wasn't made for Good Humor, although it certainly put us in that state of mind. It was created as a promotional tool for the British launch of the i10 by auto innovator Andy Saunders, the same guy who gave us the neo-Picasso Citroen 2CV and the ground-hugging Fiat 126, among others. While the Poole, England-based customizer has come up with many creative designs before, we doubt any of them would get children running after it down the street like the Pied Piper. Have a look at the images in the gallery below and pick out something delicious on us.

Gallery: Hyundai i10 ice cream van

[Source: theCarfanatic.com and AutoTrader.co.uk]

Hyundai i10 Ice Cream van hits sweet spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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