2017 Hyundai Hybrid Electric Vehicle

 What it is: A supremely aero-focused Hyundai hatchback with the familiar proportions (especially if you live in California or Ann Arbor) of the Toyota Prius. While most of the car is obscured by black tarps and duct tape, it is clearly wedge-shaped, with a low, beak-like nose and a high, stubby tail. The wheels are almost comically tiny, the sides are vertical slabs, and the arcing roofline peaks above the front passengers—all classic Prius stuff (and yes, we did just use the phrase “classic Prius”). Even the headlamps, DRLs, and taillamps appear to be in the same position as they are on Toyota’s dowdy soul-drainer. Our sources say that more than one body style will be offered, so expect a Prius V clone, as well.

Why it matters: For all of its wild popularity, the Prius has few direct competitors, and none of them are dedicated hybrid models (the Ford C-Max is a dedicated hybrid only on this continent). The last manufacturer to meet the Prius head-on was Honda with its tinny, uncomfortable Insight, which was better to drive but made the Prius feel like a luxury car by comparison. To have a chance, Hyundai’s hybrid will need to be better equipped than the Insight. We shall see if Hyundai can succeed where Honda failed.

Platform: We expect the new hybrid to be built on the compact-car platform that will underpin Hyundai’s next-generation i30/Elantra, which are at least a year away.

Powertrain: Little is known about the powertrain, but our sources say that Hyundai’s hybrid likely will combine a 1.6-liter inline-four with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. As such, it will probably be less powerful but more efficient than the upcoming 2016 Sonata hybrid, and it could easily match or surpass the Prius’s sterling 51-mpg city/48-mpg highway fuel-economy ratings. We can’t tell by looking whether this is a hybrid of the plug-in variety or just a plain-old hybrid, but don’t be surprised if Hyundai offers both at some point, just as Toyota does with its Prius now.

Competition: Ford C-Max, Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

Estimated Arrival and Price: We expect this new Hyundai hybrid to appear sometime next year as a 2017 model. And being a Hyundai, it’s likely to cost somewhat less than the Prius, which currently starts at about $25K.

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