Hyundai Kia To Launch New Electric Gasoline Hybrid

Thinking of buying a hybrid? Then I have good news for you. You have one more choice now! Hybrid vehicles are soon becoming a trend of market. They offer a better technological advantage over conventional gasoline fed vehicles. With rising cost of fuels, hybrid cars provide a golden mean between totally electric and totally gasoline fed vehicles. These vehicles will facilitate a smooth transition between the two.

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Keeping the same thing in mind, Hyundai-Kia group has started selling hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles. Its main features include, when it is running below 20Km/h, the vehicle automatically switches to electric power, thus saving a lot of gas. Company thinks that this hard type parallel system will be a key feature will be a very good ‘plus point’. The price for two different models viz. Premier and Royal varies from W29.75 million to W30.95 million respectively.  This car will be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

Hyundai-Kia spokesperson said, “Compared to combined hybrid systems, the parallel system features a simpler layout but boasts much improved performance”.

Recently, Hyundai-Kia group has outpaced Toyota in European market. The group sold 2109 vehicles more than Toyota’s 72,232. Hyundai-Kia group could repeat this feat for 2 months continuously in February 2011 and then in March 2011. Hyundai is also planning to introduce a plug-in hybrid by the year 2013. Company very recently has produced a prototype of its Sonata Plug in hybrid electric vehicle. Company is thinking of this as its first steps in producing electric vehicles.

Company spokesperson said, “Practically, full electric vehicles have a long way to go before commercialization due to short-distance driving and a lack of charging facilities. So we decided to commercialize a PHEV first”. This means that there are also a few more hurdles to be cleared before we can find a successful PHEV. Company will have to establish whole infrastructure regarding various charging facilities.

This year, Hyundai is also awarded as the most trusted car of the year in US market. The nominations were from 528 different models from 79 different firms in the list of Brand Keys Loyalty Engagement Index.  Again Hyundai could repeat this feat for second time in a row. Continuing on this successful note, Hyundai is actually eyeing to be in top 5 automobile companies in terms of sales. Hyundai-Kia group wants its sales to increase by about 12% to 6.4 million vehicles as compared to 5.22 million last year.

Choi Dae-shik, a researcher with HI Investment & Securities said, “The sales gap between Hyundai-Kia and Renault-Nissan last year was just around 600,000 units”. He further added, “As Renault has been focusing on developing new technologies such as electric vehicles rather than quantitative expansion, the two automakers could see their ranks swap as early as next year”.

So the company’s successful debut in new technology would actually mark a tough competition in market. It would also mean a consumer satisfaction oriented market condition.

Source: #-Link-Snipped-# Hyundai-Kia Eyes No. 4 Spot in Global Auto Sales - The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea - Business > Business