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2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric reportedly getting more range

With the introduction of the Hyundai Kona Electric, Hyundai's first full EV on the market, the Ioniq Electric, has seemingly been neglected. But that doesn't seem to be the case according to Inside EVs. The news outlet spoke to someone from Hyundai who revealed that for 2020 the Ioniq Electric will get a boost in range, but it won't match the Kona Electric. For reference, the current Hyundai Ioniq Electric has a range of 124 miles, and the Kona Electric is rated at 258 miles. That leaves a lot of room for Hyundai to decide how much range the new Ioniq will have, and makes it hard to estimate what the final figure will be. It would seem a safe bet that the range will at least be 150 miles, maybe a bit more, since that would put the Ioniq Electric on par with the base Nissan Leaf for range. This is especially likely since both cars compete at the same price point of between $30,000 and $36,000 before incentives. There's a chance Hyundai could offer more range, or perhaps an optional long-range model with over 200 miles, but that might raise the price, and Hyundai will probably point buyers that need more range to the Kona anyway. We'll also be curious to see if Hyundai ups the power of the Ioniq. Its current 118 horsepower is pretty low, even in the EV segment. The standard Leaf produces 147 horsepower. Apparently the Kona Electric's 200-horsepower motor can fit in the Ioniq, as proven by the Hyundai team racing a Kona-powered Ioniq in the Optima Ultimate Street Car competition. But again, if Hyundai isn't going to give the Ioniq as much range as Kona, there's not much reason to give it a bigger motor either. Especially when the Ioniq Electric buyers probably aren't that interested in speed. Related Video:

Hyundai CVVD engine brings another dimension to valve timing

A new technology from Hyundai Motor Group places another marker on the march to more efficient internal combustion engines. Called Continuously Variable Valve Duration, the innovation permits two options for how long the intake valves remain open during the combustion cycle. The feature adds a third take on valve chicanery, atop variable valve timing that changes when valves open, and variable valve lift that changes how far valves open. Hyundai says the feature returns a 4% improvement in performance, a 5% increase in fuel economy, and lowers emissions by 12%. Hyundai applied for two patents on the valvetrain process in South Korea in 2011 and again in 2015. The altered valve duration in this latest iteration is made possible by two movable arms inside the camshaft. Each arm is anchored at its base to a pin at the center of the camshaft, while the end of each arm extends toward the edge of the camshaft. Changing the position of the pin in the center of the camshaft changes the angle of the arms relative to one another, which moves the camshaft along its mounting rod. Voila, a new intake cam profile that either lengthens or shortens valve overlap.   During low-speed spells at low load, CVVD opens the intake valve from the middle to the end of compression stroke. The weaker detonation isn't a factor at low load, and the reduced friction during compression improves fuel economy. During heavy engine loads, the intake valve closes at the beginning of the compression stroke to maximize the amount of air mixed for detonation, boosting torque. Four additional features enhance the benefits of CVVD. A more powerful direct injection system increases fuel spray pressure from 250 bar to 350 bar. Hyundai doesn't go into details on its Integrated Thermal Management System, but says the ITMS "quickly heats or cools the engine to the optimal temperature." Low-friction components lower overall engine friction by 34 percent. And a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation layout diverts low-pressure exhaust gas from the traditional EGR route to the turbocharger compressor under high load for better fuel efficiency.   The first engine to boast the new tech is the Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi four-cylinder, which produces 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It will appear in the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Turbo going on sale in South Korea later this year.

Hyundai's new fuel-cell vehicle will get dramatic price cut, more range

They say you can't be too rich or too thin, but Hyundai may be shooting for both with its plans for the successor to the hydrogen-powered Tucson Fuel Cell. The South Korean automaker says it's working on a fuel-cell vehicle that will not only be cheaper than the Tucson, but will have a larger full-tank range, the Korea Herald says. Hyundai disclosed details at a conference last week where the South Korean government said it wanted 10,000 fuel-cell vehicles on its roads by the end of the decade. This car, if it arrives as advertised, should help. Hyundai needs it. Since the hydrogen Tucson was unveiled in 2013, it has moved just 544 units worldwide. The new hydrogen vehicle will be priced at about $54,000 in Korea, about half the price of the Tucson Fuel Cell compact SUV. Factor in subsidies that the government is planning, and that price tag would drop to about $30,000. Hyundai is also planning for a full-tank range of about 373 miles, a 45-percent increase from the Tucson's 258. Hyundai has steadily been dropping hints about its next fuel cell car. The automaker debuted its Intrado fuel-cell concept (pictured) at 2014's Geneva Motor Show and said at the time that the car would have a full-tank range of about 375 miles. And last month, Hyundai Motor Group's Ahn Byung-ki spoke of a fuel-cell vehicle that's larger than a compact SUV that would also have a bigger battery but a smaller motor than the Tucson. Additionally, the automaker said it may launch the new model in time for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Seoul. Related Video: Featured Gallery Hyundai Intrado Concept: Geneva 2014 View 16 Photos News Source: Korea Herald via Green Car Congress Green Hyundai Hydrogen Cars