Car Advice
  • Home
  • »  Hyundai-Kia enters diesel hybrid race

Hyundai-Kia enters diesel hybrid race

By Tim Beissmann |

Hyundai-Kia AG is aiming to be among the first manufacturers to enter full-scale production of diesel hybrid cars with blueprints for a new drivetrain unveiled earlier this week.

Hyundai-Kia managing director, Kim Hae-jin, said his company would focus on diesel hybrid technology rather than electric vehicles in the short term.

“[Diesel hybrid] commercialisation will be established around 2011.

“Electric cars will be produced in 2011 as well, but it will take five or six more years to churn them out.  So the company will concentrate more on diesel hybrid models,” he confirmed.

Kim would not reveal which models would receive the diesel hybrid system first, but did explain that it would be a “mild-type” hybrid (with the motor and engine running together) rather than a “full-type” hybrid like the Toyota Prius (where the two operate separately).

KIA_hybrid

Kim said his company would forge ahead with the technology despite dwindling demand and government surcharges on diesels in South Korea, citing the efficiency gains international popularity of diesels as reasons to pursue it.

“Combustion efficiency will surge 30 percent in hybridised diesel engines, over the 25 percent rise expected in gasoline hybrid engines.”

So far no manufacturer has released a mass-produced diesel hybrid vehicle.

peugot-308-hybrid-hdi

Peugeot will be among the first next year with its 1.6-litre 308 HDi, capable of 3.4 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of just 90g/km.

Mercedes-Benz has also invested a significant time and money into its BlueTec concepts, which are nearing production-readiness.


 
  • Mitch

    why is it so hard to make a diesel hybrid? petrol ones have been out for so long now.

  • Andrew M

    Their Outlander rip off SUV looks good.

    Also? what is the Impreza rip off in the photo?? is that the new Rio?

    I reckon they should stick to the LPG hybrid path they just landed on.

    • Martin

      It looks nothing like the Outlander, nor does the face lifted Cee’d look like the Impreza.

      We get it, you hate KIA, don’t need to keep reminding us on EVERY article posted about them.

      • Andrew M

        No I dont hate Kia,
        I actually think the Cerato looks the best in its class, especially the Koup.

        But I still see previous mod Outlander styling traits in the SUV, which isnt a bad thing so dont take it personally

        • Martin

          Well lets be clear, theres a big difference between similar styling traits (which can be seen in quite literally every car) and rip off.

          • Andrew M

            Rip off is pretty much just slang for something being similar.

            Of course its not the exact same thing, Ill try to be more politiclly correct in the future ;-)

            So no denying similar traits??

            Oh and thanks for being mature about your difference of opinion, unlike old mate below

          • Martin

            Actually, I would deny that they are similar to be honest. Tell me though, what is it exactly you see in the Sorento from the Outlander? I’d be quite interested to find out actually.

          • Andrew M

            initially its the head lights.
            I know the Outlander has the extra step in them, but the general shape with the orange reflectors reminds me of outlander.

            If I were to say to you if the Kia looked like any other SUV, which one would it be, what do you say

          • Martin

            I can’t really think of any other SUV that it reminds me of except the KUE concept all those years back and the KND-4…

          • Andrew M

            Fair enough

          • Martin

            I think some people could learn a thing or two about how we handled ourselves in this disagreement, wouldn’t you agree Andrew? haha.

          • Andrew M

            I agree mate,
            carrying on like a pork chop proves nothing

            I just tune out when people want to have a spit

        • Callous Aussie

          What a goose.

      • ggf

        @Andrew M
        stfu, stu pid tro ll.
        Seriously, It is NOTHING like a outlander, Impreza.

        • Andrew M

          Thankfully we are all allowed our own opinions and minds other wise we might all be as rude and childish as you.

          seriously, cut the insults, opinions differ, leave it at that

    • Robin Graves

      Who in their right mind would rip off an Impreza? The C’eed looks OK, the impreza looks rubbish. I’m sure Schreyer would love to be commended with his designs as rip-offs of an ugly hatch and a last-model soft roader.

    • ggf

      @Andrew M
      stfu, stupid troll.

      • Andrew M

        once again insults are un called for.

        Just say “I disagree” if you dont agree

  • Rhys

    C’mon mate there is barely any similarities between the Mitsubishi Outlander and Kia Sorento and between the Subaru Impreza and the Kia Cee’d.

  • Shak

    Back on topic. Im sort of with andrew, they should give the LPG cars to countries with good LPG infrastructure(AUSTRALIA) and Diesel hybrids for the european markets

    • Andrew M

      LPG is cleaner and cheaper to run, why push it aside for diesel???
      Especially in OZ as you say.
      I think the Cerato LPI gets around 5L/100k, I cant see the diesel version getting much better than that

      • Shak

        No im just saying that is what Kia said in a previous article. They said they will only give the LPG system to countries with above average LPG infrastructures. They said Europe is their main target for the diesel due to the massive popularity

        • Gilly

          Australia has more than 3200 LPG Autogas retailers! Pretty good infrastructure in my books! Considering we produce our own LPG in surplus to consumption, there is another case to why these cars should come here.
          Pity our Government has deregulated LPG pricing as what we currently pay (65.9/L) is a rip off and blatant profiteering by the oil giants, deregulation just to ensure they meet local supply/demand, and not sell overseas at more profitable margins!(Saudi rates), sounds like blackmail to me!
          Meanwhile the Government strikes massive export deals with China and India with CNG for 6cents/per Ltr !!!!!

          • Shak

            Thats what i was saying, Australia is high on their agenda.

          • Andrew M

            Actually, I dont believe LPG price was ever regulated.

            Taxi fares used to be, and many years ago when we saw a spike here and there in LPG prices the Taxi drivers would cry foul because they never used to be able to pass on increased fuel costs.

            In order to keep the “lobby group” (taxi owners) quiet, the government found it easier to de regulate fares to shut them up rather than investigate the real issue of profiteering on LPG prices

          • Gilly

            Apologies Shak!

            Andrew, the Feds deregulated LPG in 1991 so it could be traded as an international commodity as we were exporting over 30% of our production.
            The deregulation was put into place to ensure that all of the LPG production off our shores did not get sold to overseas markets instead. The price parity would make little difference to the Oil companies if they sold the majority od LPG to domestic markets instead.
            But in perspective that sounds like blackmail from the corporates to me, and considering they are getting the LPG from federal land/waters a better deal than price deregulation could have been struck by the government to ensure our domestic market supply was subsidised by other means.

          • Andrew M

            Apologies, I thought you must have confused it with the more recent regulations surrounding it.

            LPG for vehicle use was almost un heard of back then.

            LPG used to be just something in cylinders on the side of your house to fuel the stove.

  • o

    Im pretty sure that the ceed was out before the impreza anyway and the schreyer didnt design it.

  • Callous Aussie

    If that’s the rio replacement my misses will be happy. I like it . She will want to trade up no doubt.

    • http://www.caradvice.com.au Rhys

      No, it’s in a larger class then the Rio – Golf or Focus etc. It’s not likely that Australia will see this model in the near future even though it has been out in Europe for a while now.