Hyundai announces LPG Hybrid Elantra
18 Jun, 2008
35 Comments 
What do you do when LPG makes the most sense, yet hybrid is the way to go? Make a Hybrid LPG car of course.
Korean manufacturer Hyundai has announced plans to launch a hybrid electric version of the Elantra sedan next year, with or without support from the Korean government.
Although some media outlets reported earlier that Hyundai will receive funds from the Korean government for research into lithium ion battery technology, the company says that’s not the case.
“We don’t get any subsidies to that effect,” Hyundai spokesman Oles Gadacz said.
Initially the hybrid Elantra will only be available in Korea, where it’s known as the Avante and should hit showrooms by 2009.
The big news of course, is that it runs on electricity and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), subtly named the Avante LPI (liquefied petroleum injection).
Hyundai says Gasoline-liquefied petroleum gas versions should follow in mid-2010 while larger vehicles such as the Grandeur are in the long-term plans.
The Korean manufacturer, which many analysts see today the same way they saw Toyota in the 90s, does not expect to sell many hybrid electric vehicle, aiming for just 50,000 in 2011, and that’s factoring in the launch of a hybrid electric vehicle in the United States.
It does make us wonder though, how can Hyundai have such low expectations given the benefits and relatively cheap cost of LPG?
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not including dealer delievery taxes... by Markie is BORED
June 18th, 2008 at 4:44 am
*****PRIMO!*****
I take my hat off to Hyundai!
Forget DIEsel rubbish, do the math they cannot work in fisical sense, this IS GENIUS it would be the cheapest vehicle [without being a tiny little buzzbox] to run on the planet, AND without doubt the cleanest.
If its priced right WILL be a winner, the price will be the key, n o stupid 25 year payback/save like DIEsel rubbish please Hyundai.
Think about what they have achevied, even beat BIGT to the punch!
Impressed!!
Cheers,
F-0
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June 18th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Hate to say it I’m still not convinced on this one.
What does an LPG kit cost unsubsidised? $2-3k?
And how much does it weigh? 70-80kg? I’m guessing - happy to be corrected by someone who knows…
The point of a hybrid vehicle should be that the IC engine rarely gets used and when it does it operates at its peak efficiency point.
Put $2-3k worth of additional batteries on board instead of LPG kit and I reckon fuel efficiency would be on par with this.
Having said that, I could be wrong, and I applaud Hyundai for trying something different.
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June 18th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Good, I like the sound of it, especially with Hyundai using LPG injection, but I must ask, is there any boot space at all with a LPG tank and batteries, or have they managed to hide atleast one of them under the floor? Thats the one thing that puts me off LPG-the loss of cargo space. If either the LPG tank or batteries are hidden under the floor, then I think that Hyundai will be on a winner with this car, just hurry up and get it over here before the LPG exise kicks in!
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June 18th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Good work Hyundai. A winner for sure with the purse strings. An i30 LPG Hybrid would have been better. The Elantra is an awful car to drive, but when it will be this clean and cheap, it would foolish not to rate this a better choice than most of the current hybrids.
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June 18th, 2008 at 11:35 am
the might chuck the lpg tank when the fuel tank was.
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June 18th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Finally, a hybrid that makes sense.
One thing though.
The elantra looks like the sandwich I sat on the other week. Can we attend to the styling?
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June 18th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I would like to see this on the Terracan or the Tiburon! But they have to start somewhere. Hyundai is making toyota look silly now, the cost per kilometer would be close to a motorbike… no, moped…no, old people gofer mobiles. Brilliant hyundai! Will they do drive away no more to pay deals on this Hyundai?
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June 18th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Oh yes and on the styling, not the prettiest of cars, but then look at the Prius.
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June 18th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
LOL……………..this is old news CARADVICE as known for ages!
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June 18th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Do they come with a bench seat.
If not, they are no good.
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June 18th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
bench seat lol, column shift anyone? its not old school is it?
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June 18th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Hyundai is going to whip Toyotas arse!!!
Hyundai deserve success like LG/Samsung they just keep delivering more value.
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June 18th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
^Yeah in Sales!
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June 18th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Yeah there should be column shift optional on some cars! It would be cool! Imagine a Commodore of Falcon with Column Shift.
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June 18th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Go Huyndai show the world how its done.I knew there was a reason why I have 2 of them in my garage.
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June 18th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Wont be the best to market… as the efficiency on paper will be 8L or so per 100km… but it will be faaaaaar cheaper given LPG is cheaper by a fair bit.
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June 18th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
take your sour grapes else where TP.
Duck,
you can get a falcon ute with a column shift
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June 18th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Dont you mean rotten grapes! LOL
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June 18th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Sour grapes… You telling me LPG is more fuel efficient then petrol? Who has sour grapes… you cant hack LPG not being that great
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June 18th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Reading some reports its said that it needs 5-6 Litres of LPG per 100KM. That alone is an amazing figure considering the price of LPG compared to petrol/diesel.
This engine/LPG system should be installed on the i30 also or Hyundai’s future Hatch models. It would be a real winner here in Australia considering how much LPG we have that its also very cheap.
I honestly see potential for it but because LPG is not used world wide for cars the market for it would be smaller.
Hopefully it only comes in at around $2000 when and if it comes to Australia over the Petrol/Diesel models. Considering you will get $1000 back from the government it should make it a winner.
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June 18th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
^^
and thats coming from he who thinks our LPG is made from oil……..
yep you surely are the learned one
i wouldnt call 13L/100k on a duel fuel (compromised) Territory that bad.
but hey,
if you want to go around living in denial and kicking the can because toyota isnt into LPG, then knock yourself out.
werent you the one who suggested LPG hybrid would be a good idea?
its not that sweet now that the once kicked in the guts korean manufacturer beat the might of toyota to it hey?
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June 18th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Excellent news, Id love to see the weekly savings on this car.
This is not of matter of how far u can travel on a single tank, its about the $$$ saved, if LPG was as expensive as petrol or that it milks 20ltr/100km then yes its stupid, but being 60c, its a real cost saver and a real short term solution for Australian motoring.
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June 19th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Hyundai are claiming it would cost 10 dollars a week at 70 cents a litre and for 300Ks of city driving…….what’s wrong with that? Toyota and all the other PETROL hybrids can’t compete with that!!!!
i think i’ve already said it but i think Hyundai will do to Toyota in the next 10 years what Toyota did to GM a Ford in the last 10!!!
the game is changing forever!!!LOL
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June 19th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Thats great hyundai, but it would of been nicer if they didn’t waste such an economical drivetrain on such an average car. i30 would have been a better pick, but I guess they need a elantra sized car to fit the lpg tank.
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June 19th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
lol, if Hyundai would do to Toyota as Toyota did to GM, Ford, where does that push GM and Ford to?
I think car manufacturers are smarter these to respond quickly to something new in the market, if Hyundai proves well, I sure Toyota, GM, Ford or anyone will follow suite. and bring equilibrium to the market.
and damn just over 30$ for 1000kms
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June 19th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Joober…….GM and Ford will be up SH*T creek if they don’t pull their collective fingers out and start building cars that are cheap to run!
i currently drive an E-gas Falcon and am very happy with my fuel bills that are cheaper than a petrol Yaris BUT if Ford is going to ignore hybrid technology then it will need to vastly improve the E-gas fuel consumption or it will be left behind! and Holden will need to make the hybrid commodore available on LPG or it will still be too expensive to run!!
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June 19th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
carl,
i agree mate.
but on the other hand i dont think ford should head to hybrids (which are just as much of a short termer as LPG).
they really need to get serious about their E-Gas range. i mean if you had a large car pumping out the same 195kw and banging aroung getting 10L/100k on official figures (bear in mind they can already achieve that on HWY cycle)
then why would you buy anything else if fuel bills were of the focus?
all ford need to do is offer a sequential system and offer it with something other than the 4speeder.
mine goes great on the 5sp manual box
but yep, i say pull your finger out too
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June 19th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Andrew M, on the new Falcon?
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June 19th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
^^^
whats that suppose to mean Duck?
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June 19th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Does the new falcon have column shift? Optional?
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June 19th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Carl Hyundai still cant match Toyota for durability and they still fail in simple things. The evidence is in the sales, despite all these “attractive” Hyundais on offer they aint selling that great
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June 19th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Duck,
yes it does
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June 19th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
TP….i agree Hyundai can’t match Toyota yet but if they continue improving at the current rate and think out side the square like the i30 diesel or a range of LPG hybrids then in ten years time they might be very close to Toyota and so will VW by then…..and that will force Toyota to lift it’s game and offer cars that use fuels that are cheaper than petrol and diesel!!
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June 20th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Carl & TP that is just rubbish I left Toyota and now buy Hyundai because there build quality is so much better then Toyota.If looked after a Hyundai can do 300000k’s plus with very little if any trouble.Open your minds and eyes a little.
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June 20th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Garry…..if you’d bothered reading my previous posts you would have realised that i am a fan of Hyundai and not a fan of Toyota for too many reasons that i care to explain again BUT to claim Hyundai has caught up with the Japs is being a little one eyed and optimistic!! if you ask me if i think Hyundai will catch Toyota in quality i’d say very very soon because Hyundai is improving and the Thailand Toyota’s are nothing to wright home about! BUT let’s not bash Toyota more than they deserve (which is a lot already!!)
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