Hyundai jumps on the go-green bandwagon with “Blue Drive”
Hyundai has joined in on the go-green campaign and trend that pervades the automobile industry today. During the Los Angeles auto show, the Korean auto-making company Hyundai announced more details about its green plan and alternative fuel strategy. Hyundai calls their green plan “Blue Drive” and it includes vehicles with extended mileage, hybrids, and a crossover model that uses a turbocharged direct-injection engine. This crossover model is aiming of reaching a fleet average of 35 mpg by 2015.
Hyundai’s first hybrid model is a gasoline-electric version of their Sonata model, and is expected to reach North American shores in 2010. The hybrid model will have lithium-polymer battery technology and use a parallel-hybrid drive system. It will also have a 2.4-liter engine coupled with six-speed automatic transmission which will work with an electric motor of 30 kilowatts.
The HED-5 i-Mode, Hyundai’s crossover model, has enough room and space for six passengers. This model was put on display at Geneva, and has received a go signal for release in the United States. The engine that came with the display model can make 286 hp and get over 30 mpg when driven on the highway. This engine will also be used in the other vehicle models to be released in the US.
In addition to the hybrid and crossover model, Hyundai has also unveiled its Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, which has just recently shown to be successful in completing a 4,300-mile cross-country trek. In solidarity with the go-green campaign, Hyundai revealed that it also has plans of participating in a program that would offset the carbon dioxide emissions of the Genesis, the company’s new luxury sedan, by joining others’ efforts in preserving a Brazilian tropical forest.
The “blue” versions of the Elantra and Accent will be launched the next year, both models having recalibrated engines, low-rolling resistance tires, and other fuel-efficient technology.
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