Reports: Hyundai and Kia to build Prius rivals

Having taken on the likes of Mercedes-Benz with its new Genesis luxury car, Hyundai has reportedly set its sights on the Toyota Prius.

The South Korean concern has revealed plans for stand-alone hybrid models sold by both Hyundai and Kia.

Reuters quotes Hyundai chief executive Kim Choong-ho saying it will make more of its hybrid technology with a dedicated model.

"We will take the lead in the future by raising the competitiveness of our environment-friendly cars like hybrid-only cars, plug-in-hybrid cars and fuel cell hydrogen cars," he said.

The Hyundai chief did not say when a standalone hybrid model would go on sale.

UK motoring specialists Autocar quote sources inside Kia saying Hyundai's sister brand will produce its own five-door rival to the Prius that will not share sheetmetal with other models such as its Rio or Cerato.

The car will reportedly be offered as a conventional hybrid followed by a more-advanced plug-in model.

Hyundai has strong links to alternative-fuel vehicles such as its fuel-cell-powered electric ix35 which is on sale in South Korea and the US.

A preview drive of the ix35 Fuel Cell in Hyundai's Namyang proving grounds earlier this year found the machine was impressively quiet and refined with dynamics compromised by the additional weight of its hybrid system. The car has a top speed of 120km/h, a range of 600 kilometres and emits only water.

Hyundai offers several hybrid models overseas, but none locally.

The brand's Australian chief operating officer, John Elsworth, said in June that hydrogen power was more attractive than conventional hybrid drivelines.

"If we do something it would probably be hydrogen," he said.

"We'd just jump to the end game and leap over hybrid.

"If we do something with clean energy, initially it would be more of a PR exercise."

Hyundai is rumoured to be considering a local trial of the ix35 Fuel Cell in a in a bid to win support for the technology.