Soon to be a hybrid: Hyundai Santa Fe
At the Paris Auto Show, Hyundai has rolled out their newest small SUV: a hybrid version of the popular Santa Fe. The Korean auto giant plans to release the car first in Korea in the summer of 2009, with a possible U.S. release later on. There hasn’t been an official word on that just yet.
In the meantime, there is plenty that we do know about the car, and so far, so good! The hybrid Santa Fe will boast a 2.4 liter gas engine coupled with a 40 horsepower electric motor that can produce up to 151 pounds of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission will deliver the power from the motor and engine to the wheels.
One of the most exciting aspects of the hybrid Santa Fe is the battery. While lithium-ion batteries have had the industry all abuzz for some time, the Santa Fe’s battery will be made of a lithium-ion polymer. This material is more dense, which essentially equates to the batteries ability to handle more recharging cycles. Hybrid car batteries using the lithium-ion polymer are also much cheaper to manufacture.
Once built, the hybrid SUV is expected to get 38 miles per gallon (some report this hybrid Sante Fe will reach 44 MPG). For a larger vehicle, that is an almost inconceivable number. Even more impressive is the fact that Hyundai plans few changes to the exterior and design of the SUV, this boost in fuel economy comes almost 100% from the change in the drive train.
These numbers, if they are still true when the car hits the market, will really beef up the competition in the hybrid SUV market. If a change in the battery can have such a significant impact on one SUV, we may start to see it crop up in other types of vehicles as well.
In addition to saving gas, the Santa Fe will also make a significant reduction in its CO2 emissions. The hybrid version of this SUV will produce just over a half pound of CO2 per mile driven. It will be fun to have another player in the hybrid vehicle race, so we will keep you updated on what we hear from them (a hybrid Hyundai Sonata is planned for 2010 or 2011 as well).
More coverage of the hybrid SUV from Hyundai:
