Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2011.

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

Please... NiMH is the only proven (most economical) battery for hybrid. Going by their logic, lithium-polymer is an interim technology until lithium-air battery.

Hyundai Blue Drive (HBD) seem to be better than Honda's IMA because it has two motors. Although the second motor is anemic, it does a good enough job. Hyundai is focusing on the highway MPG because their city MPG sux. HBD wastes more energy in the city than having it to push through air at high speed. That tells how bad or little HBD recaptures the energy from braking (or ICE inefficiency at low load).

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

Six months from launch, but no MPG figures ? Color me unimpressed.

As for using Li-x rather than NiMH, the space savings is too small to be the real reason, and the small capacity makes the higher power rating mostly mute. I'm more inclined to believe that Hyundai did not have much choice, because Toyota has dibbs on most of the NiMH battery production, with the sliver left over going to Ford. Perhaps Li-x also helps Hyundai circumvent Toyota patents?

Hyundai has proved itself capable of playing a fast game of catch-up, and I'll be surprised if their hybrid cars do not follow the same path. But purchase a 1st gen offering ? Not me. I also wonder if Hyundai is not hurrying the cars to market in order to catch the remaining months of the US hybrid credit before it sunsets in Dec 2010.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

Well I've been interested in Hyundais Hybrid offering. Seems like it has taken them long enough.

It will be interesting to see 2 things. First of all, if the product sells well at all. Secondly, how supportive Hyundai is of the product. I admit, I like the looks of the Hyundai Sonata...hope they don't change the looks too much for the Hybrid.

Toyota has a real advantage. Having the history they have with the Prius, gives them instant legitimacy in PHEV or Hybrid marketing. Hyundai will have to earn that.

I'm interested in what the MPG's will be as well. I wonder if any other major mainstream automaker will ever offer a hybrid that comes close to Prius MPG. Seems odd that Honda, Hyundai don't even seem to try.

I think Toyota has been smart. There are numerous reasons people desire to own a Hybrid, so I don't mean this as a blanket statement, but I think Toyota rightly knows that there is an ideal ecological, social, enviromental and sometimes political reasons people look to hybrids (soon PHEV and full electrics) but beyond that idealism, I think Toyota also realizes that MPG's are important. Witness Toyota's determination to be first to the 50 mpg rating.

Meanwhile it seems like everyone else is happy with an improvement, but they don't even seem to be trying to catch Toyota in that regard.

IMO, after over a decade there is still no real, tangible direct competitor to The Prius, and given Prius's success? I find that strange.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

Toyota has about a gazillion patents, many of them related to software control of the drivetrain. It is not by chance that the "1% left" in Volt R&D is just that area. In fact, this was the obstacle that Ford could not independently overcome and forced them to license Toyota THS.

Between it being a really hard technical challenge, and Toyota's IP, I am not surprised at all that no real competition has surfaced.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

True. I agree. But I'm still suprised that "better" competition hasn't manifested.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

Korean technology is as good or better than Japanese. Samsung, for example, now makes the best LCD TVs. Hyundai has excellent technical leadership--engineers, not marketing types-- and is competitive as well. We'll see how their hybrids stack up vs Toyota and Honda.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

yawn.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

I will not be purchasing one yet I am still excited about it. I tell everyone that is looking for a fuel efficient sedan to keep an eye on this car.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

I like the Sonata hybrid. The car has so much style compared to the bland Prius. But for me I still want the great MPG numbers... Now that I've had a Prius I don't know that I could replace it with something getting even 10 mpg less....

Nice car though, if there was no Prius I would buy a Sonata Hybrid.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

The sonata hybrid has a cd of .25, the same as the prius. I like the looks of it other than the grill.

The sonata/infiniti/bmw approach to hybridization can easily drop a hybrid into their other cars. Toyota not so much. Toyota seems to be making a hybrid yaris and matrix in the rumored cars. I'm not sure how much more they can do without reducing costs of their hybrid system.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

remember the combined MPG for these cars falls WAY short of the Prius...38 and lower is NOT 50. just crowing about the highest number (highway for most other cars and hybrids) is not apples to apples. and a 13 year head start with proven HSD tech figures in the equation. Sales numbers don't lie about proven high MPG/low emissions.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

Way short might be a bit strong. When you get up in the higher MPGs, differences in fuel usage are not a big as the numbers make them seem. For instance, the difference in the amount of fuel used by a car getting 40MPG and one getting 50MPG, is slightly less than the difference in fuel use of two cars getting 18 and 20MPG.

 

Re: Hyundai's hybrid hybrid Sonata coming Oct-Nov 2010. Dedicated Hyundai hybrid model anounced for2

no way you can show that 20 MPG is better than 50. And yes i know you are not showing that. C'mon. that's just silly to say the difference in fuel use is the number to focus on. Using less is using less...50 mpg combined is a far cry from 38 combined. period. the whole "improvement" numbers from a lower mpg vehicle rating is just green washing to justify a 20 mpg vehicle that was 'improved' from 18. that is still WAY less MPG than a 50 MPG vehicle, no matter what crazy math is spun.