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Hyundai is gearing up to release a new Toyota Prius-fighting hybrid and the Korean automaker is promising big things from its new electrified car.
Speaking with Automotive News, Hyundai’s global R&D chief Yang Woong-chul claimed that the Ioniq will be more efficient than the Toyota Prius on the highway. That means it get better than 50 mpg while cruising on the highway.
The Ioniq will be offered in one body style with three electrified powertrains to choose from including a traditional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric version. “It’s totally different from Toyota’s or any other company’s,” said Yang of the Ioniq, which sports a one-motor, one-clutch setup unlike the twin-motor Prius.
SEE ALSO: 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Revealed in Spy Photos
The challenge with Hyundai’s chosen powertrain is managing synchronization between the spinning motor and engine through the clutch, though Hyundai adopted a new powerful central processor which solved the issue. “That’s the hurdle which no company had overcome,” Yang said. All three versions of the car use lithium polymer batteries.
Around the world the traditional hybrid version of the car is expected to be the top seller according to Yang, while Europe is expected to be the top market for the plug-in model. Projections suggest that the U.S. will buy more EVs than plug-in hybrids.
Korea will host the debut of the Hyundai Ioniq in January, while the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March of next year will host the car’s world debut. After that, the Ioniq will travel to the New York Auto Show for its North American reveal.
[Source: Automotive News]
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