Hyundai takes pre-launch orders for hybrid
June 17, 2009 by David Twomey
Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest carmaker, has begun taking pre-launch orders for its Avante LPI Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), its first hybrid vehicle for commercial sale.
Hyundai will accept pre-launch orders until July 7, a day before it officially introduces the car in the South Korean domestic market.
The car, which is the world’s first hybrid electric vehicle to be powered by a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) engine, was first unveiled at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in April.
To be sold under the Avante badge in Korea, the LPI HEV will ensure eco-friendliness as well as economical operating costs and differentiated design.
A Hyundai Australia spokesman said the car would be evaluated in conjunction with head office in Korea before any decision was made on bringing it to Australia.
He said it was too early to say if, or when, the car would be released in Australia.
Powered by an LPI ‘Gamma’ engine displacing 1.6-litres, plus a 15kW/105Nm electric motor and using a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the Avante LPI HEV emits just 99g/km of CO2 and 90 per cent fewer emissions than an equivalent standard 1.6-litre petrol powered Avante to qualify as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV).
In addition Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a low carbon emitting hydrocarbon fuel which burns more cleanly than petrol or Diesel.
In addition, the Avante LPI Hybrid is a mild-type hybrid, with a fuel economy rating of 5.6 litres/100km.
This represents a 47 per cent improvement over a conventional 1.6-litre Avante with automatic transmission. It’s even cheaper to operate as the average price of LPG in Korea is 50 per cent less than that of petrol.
Avante LPI Hybrid is also the world’s first hybrid vehicle to adopt advanced Lithium Ion Polymer rechargeable batteries that have higher energy density, lower manufacturing costs, are more robust to physical damage and can also take more charge-discharge cycles before storage capacity begins to degrade than Lithium Ion Batteries.
Hyundai and its local partners have developed the technology and all key components in the Avante LPI HEV including the motor, battery and low DC/DC converter.
Print it: 
UGLY!
Hmm (okay I’m biased I know) but a hell of a lot of expense for that sort of economy when compared to the Econetic Modeo featured today. There is still a long way to go with ICU’s and these Hybrids aren’t getting as far ahead as they should for their related Hype ;-)
Ugly or not, it makes sense. Regardless of which way you look at it, it’ll be a ton cheaper than a Prius, it’ll probably drive the same (ho hum) and it’ll be cheap to run regardless.
Plus the fact that it can run on LPG makes even more sense; given LPG’s cost etc.
CA well done on the edit feature, thank you!! 3 Cheers…
I wonder why they didnt base it on the i30. LPG-hybrid seems like a much more cost effective option than diesel here in australia, just depends on that RRP. Be interesting to see if it makes it to Aus.
P.S. Cheers for the new commenting system guys!
If you believe some people, we won’t be able to get petrol in Australia, somewhere between 4 and 16 years time. LPG is the only real viable alternative currently available. Then again CNG and LNG may come online as well.
Gee a hybrid that looks like a real car…..
Excellent idea. One problem, it isn’t Priusey enough. It needs the teardrop shape and the smug pipe out the back.
Commenting system improvements are welcome, but can we get a nested structure going now please? :)
this really is the right kind of car for australia
As much as I love to bag Korean cars, this is a great car for Australia. And Big T is not going to like its arrival. Its good to see some forward thinking from the underdog. (If I can call them that considering they are one of a few making money at present!)
But what happened to the in-roof solar cells which featured in the concept car??
“If you believe some people, we won’t be able to get petrol in Australia, somewhere between 4 and 16 years time. LPG is the only real viable alternative currently available”
I think there will be petrol available for longer than that. The question is how much you will be willing to pay for it. If the peak oil prediction of 2014 is correct then we’ll be seeing huge price hikes making us switch slowly to alternatives.
“But what happened to the in-roof solar cells which featured in the concept car??”
Because the benefits don’t meet up well with the costs…
With LPG going for less than 45 cents/ltre and petrol at 115 plus this is brilliant.
Do the sums and this thing will cost less than half the price to run as a Priarse and less emissions!!!
I wonder why they decided to use a car that looks like it was designed in 1999 by the ‘old’ Hyundai?
Kia are using a similar LPG hybrid w/ CVT transmission but they are using the new Cerato body.
Not only does that look better on pure aesthetics but it also helps satisfy people who do not want to ’stand out’ but driving an ‘obvious’ hybrid like a Prius or Insight.
I think I am not unique in that I do not want to be Randy Marsh or Al Gore and drive around ’saving the planet’ stewing in my own smugness.
How about a normal looking car for once?
samrt car that we actually would drive, not like that fugly prius or the less fugly insight
Cool,now there can be a Hybird Supercar series.This, Toyota Prius and Honda Insite can battle for Bathhurst Honours.6mins a lap,Cool looking foward too that.
Looks nicer than the hideous Honda Civic & Toyota Prius
Realcars Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
“With LPG going for less than 45 cents/ltre and petrol at 115 plus this is brilliant.
Do the sums and this thing will cost less than half the price to run as a Priarse and less emissions!!!”
Actually, that’s not right. I did your sums for you RC. At your stated fuel prices, for every 100km, the Priarse will cost you $4.49 and will emit 89g/km. This Korean thing will cost you $2.52 per 100km and emits 99g/km. Not quite half, but more emissions for your Korean thing, eh?
C’mon CA, you don’t give much time to edit!
Another thing too, further to my comment above, how long will it be before LPG ends up being the same price as petrol? If that was the case, the above maths would equate to the Korean thing costing $6.44/100km to run.
“Do the sums and this thing will cost less than half the price to run as a Priarse and less emissions!!!”
Close but not quite, the next gen Prius is about 92g/Km of Co2, which just beats the Hyundai’s 99g/Km. But certainly the LPG factor would make the monthly fuel bill cheaper.
“Because the benefits don’t meet up well with the costs…”
Thats a shame,because i liked their concept of see through solar roof panels. Would have been a nice touch for a premium model. But I guess Hyundai don’t quite do premium yet.
Running on LPG is practical. Gas price now is increasing everyday and it can definitely help people save on expenses. It’s not that ugly, looks nice actually.
Nice article. :-)
I think Hyundai should put those headlights and that front bumper on the Elantra, but use bigger wheels.
I think the fact it doesn’t look like it’s trying to be some futuristic-super-car is part of its’ appeal. Keeping it simple is probably a good thing, it’s a nice looking car!
Be interesting to see how much Hyundai undercuts Toyota with this.
There is one-word, GENIUS!!
Question is whats its cost in Korea v a std. edition of same, ie what sort of premium are they going to charge?, if they can sell it for say the same amount extra as a diesel, then its game-over for diesel.
Will they export it to Aus, i think i would be VERY happy with it, will this powertrain be fitted to others in the range, ie the i30?
Sheel use to have easy to squeez nozzle at servos [blue coloured] but they removed them any reason why? The std nozzle is very hard to squeeze sometimes, i dont think a oldie or female would be able to do it?
Cheers
F-0
PS/ Best story listed today!!
Lazybones, I agree that petrol will be available for a lot longer than that timeframe, however, ther is a strong argument to support that Australia just wont be able to source offshore petrol “at any price”, because high demand for large volumes (China etc) will put Australia off the suppliers list.
#2
What’s a Avante, is it a Sonata here?
Is it dual-fuel [LPG/ULP] or just LPG only?
Love this enginepack in a i30, where do i sign up?
Cheers
F-0
It’s Elantra here, and LPG only.
@ Frugalone, the Avante is Elantra here.
Thanks guys.
Of which the i30 is the hatch version.
Only LPG is ok [as per my Falcon], but old habits die hard i still like dual-fuel [Thanks Holden!]
New law to car manufacturers, keep the SAME name all over the world.Avante is ok for us, yes?
And perhaps keep the old name on a new model, eh Nissan, hows the Tiida going! lol
Cheers
F-0
Put this system i a Mazda 3 ( A car people want ) and it would sell like hot cakes!
Put it into an Elantra and meh! Its an Elantra! you want to drive a shoebox on wheels that’s fuel efficient? I dont!
I drive the 2005 Kia Cerato and it is great value for money so bring on the LPG model Hybrid Cerato to Australia and I will be ready to trade up without a second thought..10 out of 10 for KIA/HYUNDAI for their great Engineering Inovations