2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited on 2040-cars

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Hyundai, Kia expanding plug-in vehicle line-up in Korea

Hyundai is shedding a bit of light on its electric vehicle plans. About time, too, since the company has spend a long period being quite vague about plugging in while touting its hydrogen plans. The Hyundai and Kia brands will both release their first plug-in hybrid vehicles next year in Korea; an all-electric version of the Kia Soul will roll out in May of this year and a mid-size electric vehicle will be launched as early as next year. Test versions of the Hyundai i10 electric vehicle have been on Korean roads since first being used at the G20 summit in Seoul in 2010. There have been hints about an electrified Hyundai coming to America, and at the Washington Auto Show last week, Michael O'Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning for Hyundai Motor America told AutoblogGreen that a new EV will be coming to the US market sometime within the next three years. A Hyundai executive told Korean national daily The Chosunilbo that the company will be significantly increasing its investment in hybrids and EVs to roll out a few eco-friendly models starting in 2015. It's hard to say which of these might come to the US market – a new LF Sonata will be coming out in both a regular gasoline and hybrid system in Korea; the US already has the Sonata Hybrid for sale. As for plug-in hybrids, Hyundai said that there will be both Sonata and Kia K5 (Optima) models coming out next year. These will also be the first-ever plug-in hybrids in the Korean market. Featured Gallery 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid View 13 Photos News Source: The Chosunilbo Green Hyundai Kia Electric Hybrid Hydrogen Cars PHEV

Recharge Wrap-up: Elio unveils E1A, Hyundai UK prices Ioniq

Russia could launch a hyperloop project as early as December 2016. Hyperloop One recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Summa Group to explore the possibility, but now, Moscow's Deputy Mayor and head of transport Maxim Liksutov says that the project will begin by the end of the year. "In the next few years we'll see a major breakthrough in the development of technologies which will facilitate our lives," says Liksutov, speaking at the Moscow Urban Forum. "Hopefully, hyperloop technology will be developed, and, as far as I know, the pilot project will be launched in December. We will see how the theory works in practice." Read more at Electrek, or learn more from RT. Hyundai has revealed specifications and pricing for the Ioniq EV and Hybrid for the UK. The Ioniq Hybrid SE will start at GBP19,995 (about $26,093 as of this writing), with the Hybrid Premium and Hybrid Premium SE starting at GBP21,795 ($28,442) and GBP23,595 ($30,791), respectively. The Ioniq Electric starts at GBP28,995 ($37,838) for the Premium trim level, placing it in competition with the Nissan Leaf, while the Premium SE starts at GBP30,795 ($40,187). The Ioiniq Electric should be also be eligible for a discount of GBP4,500 ($5,872) through the UK's Plug-in Car Grant. Hyundai will announce prices for the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid before it goes on sale in 2017. The Ioniq Hybrid goes on sale on October 13, 2016, with the Ioniq Electric beginning a limited rollout before expanding sales to all UK dealerships in 2017. Read more at Electrek, or in the press release from Hyundai. India is launching a bus route fueled by 100-percent biodiesel. In an effort to help reduce air pollution (with the added benefit of saving on fuel costs), the Karnataka State Road Transport Corp. will operate the country's first all-biodiesel bus between the cities of Bangalore and Chennai. Last year, India's Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas removed its 20-percent biodiesel restriction on bus operators. Read more from Biofuels International. Elio Motors has built its first E-Series test vehicle, dubbed the E1A. Elio is touting the unveiling of its test car as a major milestone toward the launch of a fuel-efficient, three-wheeled production vehicle with a target price of $6,800.

Hyundai pickup truck sounding more likely

Hyundai looks poised to get into the pickup market, according to the latest report from Automotive News. The Korean automaker revealed the Santa Cruz concept at the Detroit Auto Show this past January, previewing a vehicle that combines the best attributes of a pickup truck with those of a small crossover – sort of like a Honda Ridgeline, but smaller. It's an idea whose time has come, says Hyundai's US chief Dave Zuchowski. "We're assuming that it's going to get done," he told AN. "It's just not officially done yet." He expects it to be approved sometime within the next decade, and when it does enter production, Zuchowski said it could emerge as the first diesel-powered Hyundai offered in America. The biggest challenge, however, may not lie in convincing the head office in Seoul to give it the green light. The company's plant in Montgomery, AL, is strained enough producing the Sonata, Elantra and Santa Fe. In order to produce the pickup as well, Hyundai would need to either expand the current plant or build a new one.