APD | Sonata turbo model added to Hyundai’s lineup

By APD writer Alice

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co., said on September 20 it has added the turbocharged Sonata model to its lineup to meet diverse customer demands.

The 1.6-liter turbo gasoline model is equipped with the company's Smartstream T-GDi engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, according to Hyundai Motor, South Korea's biggest carmaker by sales.

Hyundai launched the Sonata in 2.0-liter gasoline and 2.0-liter liquefied natural gas versions in March and the Sonata 2.0-liter gasoline hybrid model in July.

The hybrid model has a solar roof that boasts a fuel economy of over 20 kilometers per liter. The solar roof system can generate enough electricity to allow the car to travel about 1,300 kilometers a year, Hyundai said.

The car maker in December 2018 that it will invest 7.6 trillion won (US$6.7 billion) in hydrogen car-producing facilities and related R&D activities by 2030.

Under the plan, it will establish two separate plants to churn out 500,000 hydrogen vehicles in 2030. A hydrogen car is considered to be environment-friendly since it emits only water vapor as it generates electricity.

Hyundai Motor had sold about 2,400 Nexo hydrogen cars in global markets as of the end of July.

In April this year, Hyundai Motor set up a joint venture with the Swiss-based hydrogen energy firm H2E to supply 1,600 hydrogen trucks to the country by 2025.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)