Renewable Gossip

Hyundai i10 Electric City Car

The 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show won’t start until September 17, but Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company is already establishing itself as the company with perhaps the boldest vision for a green car future. The list of Hyundai and Kia eco-models—one of the strongest hybrid showings in Frankfurt—provides mounting evidence that the company will deliver on promises to lead the world in fuel efficiency.

Vehicles with Hyundai and Kia badges on display in Frankfurt will include hybrid city cars, a hybrid crossover SUV concept, an all-electric city car, a plug-in hybrid, diesel vehicles with micro-hybrid stop-start technology, and mid-size lithium-battery-powered sedans running on liquid petroleum gas.

Last November, when we spoke with John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, he said, “We’re taking fuel efficiency higher and faster than any other carmaker. We’re going to pass Toyota and Honda by 2015.” He spoke like a man on a mission, promising that Hyundai Motor America will achieve a US fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2015, a year ahead of the timetable for new fuel economy regulations. The concepts on display in Frankfurt give some hints how Hyundai will achieve that goal, and reach its target of selling 500,000 hybrids annually by 2018.

Hyundai in Various Shades of Electric

Hyundai ix Metro

read more

Related posts:

1. Hyundai Takes the Lead in Fuel Efficiency
2. Frankfurt Auto Show Will Debut Diesels, Some Hybrids
3. Frankfurt Auto Show Preview: Lotus Range-Extender Engine
4. Green Highlights from 2009 LA Auto Show
5. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Road Manners: First Reviews