[See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]
Hyundai has partially taken the wraps off its new Ioniq hybrid, a car that the Korean automaker hopes will give the Toyota Prius a run for its money.
Here’s what we know so far about the all-new 2017 Hyundai Ioniq:
1. It is Promising Performance
Hyundai says the Ioniq “was created with dynamic ride and handling at its core.” The lithium ion polymer battery is kept lower to the ground and closer to the middle of the car, giving the car a lower center of gravity, which helps handling and stability. A rear multi-link suspension is used and Hyundai says a new smooth-shifting six-speed dual clutch transmission will help with fuel economy and performance.
2. Here are the Specs we Know
The Atkinson-cycle 1.6-liter direct-injection gas engine will output 105 horsepower and about 108 pound-feet of torque and electric motor gets 43.5 hp and about 125 lb-ft for a total system output of 148.5 hp and 233 lb-ft. Hyundai claims its engine has class-leading thermal efficiency. Official fuel economy hasn’t been released yet, but Hyundai has said that it wants the Ioniq to beat the Prius’ highway fuel consumption of 50 mpg.
3. Three Powertrains Will be Available
The Ioniq will come as a full electric car, a plug-in hybrid, and a gas/electric hybrid, something Hyundai claims is a world first for a single model car. This is one of the benefits from building a car from the ground up to be a dedicated green car. The gas/electric hybrid model will be the first to hit the market.
4. It Uses a lot of Aluminum
As a material usually reserved for higher-end cars, the new Ionic uses a lot of aluminum to keep the car’s weight low, which helps maximize fuel economy and range. Using aluminum instead of the traditional steel in non-structural body parts reduces the car’s weight by nearly 45%. The hood, tailgate, front and rear back beam and some suspension components are made from aluminum.
Unfortunately, that’s all we know about Hyundai’s new hybrid. Expect more information, specs and photos to be revealed in the near future.
Here are some spy photos that reveal the car’s front end, which wasn’t officially unveiled yet.
[See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]
Discuss this story at our Hyundai Forum
The post 2017 Hyundai Ioniq: 4 Things You Need to Know About the New Hybrid appeared first on AutoGuide.com News.