Hyundai has pulled the wraps off its
second-generation Sonata Hybrid this week and it gets
some unique touches to set it apart from the normal Sonata models
in the line. Those unique touches include unique wheels, and unique front and
rear fascias. Those unique front and rear fascias are there to do more than
just make the car look visually different from the other Sonatas in
the range they also improve aerodynamics.
The
2016 Sonata Hybrid uses a smaller 2.0L
Nu GDI four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The
combustion engine is mated with a more powerful 38 kW electric motor and clutch
where normal cars have a torque converter. That larger battery and the transmission-mounted
electrical device are able to deliver fuel economy and the feeling of a larger
motor.
The
fancy transmission has an
electric oil pump to improve efficiency and the car is able to operate solely
on electricity as speeds of up to 75mph. It does that by decoupling the gas
engine from the rest of the drivetrain. The engine itself produces 154hp and
140 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor makes 51hp and 151 lb-ft of torque and
they combine for 193 net hp.
Hyundai says that the Sonata Hybrid is
expected to achieve 40 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway with a
combined rating of 42mpg. That is a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency compared
to the 2015 model. The lithium-polymer battery pack is mounted in the trunk
floor and is a 1.62 kWh unit. The car can be fitted with a wealth of safety
features including blind spot detection, lane change assist, and lane departure
warning. Pricing is unannounced at this time.
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