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The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group spent the past three years developing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for its hybrid models. The auto company announced last week that this CVT would be incorporated into the Hyundai Elantra LPI Hybrid and the Kia Forte LPI Hybrid. The Hyundai-Kia CVT may be used in future hybrid and traditional models with retooling according to the automaker’s representatives. The introduction of LPI hybrids with CVTs along with the long-planned unveiling of a hybrid Hyundai Sonata model in 2010 will put this company in good position for the future.
The centerpiece of both LPI hybrids produced by Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group is a 1.6-liter Gamma LPI engine. The LPI engine is powered by a 15kw magnet synchronous motor and a 180-volt lithium-ion polymer battery. The lightweight materials used to produce the Hyundai Elantra and the Kia Forte allow both vehicles to squeeze out greater fuel efficiency than standard models. Hyundai-Kia claims that its upcoming LPI hybrids are capable of a gas-equivalent EPA rating of 53 miles per gallon, which is a 47% increase of standard models. The automaker attributed this increase to the standard 7% increase in fuel efficiency for CVTs along with the use of LPI.
Beyond the fuel mileage gains, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group hopes that the LPI and CVT combination appeals to eco-conscious consumers and traditional drivers. The company’s LPI hybrids will create 90% less carbon dioxide emissions than the standard Elantra. This emissions reduction qualifies both vehicles for the Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) distinction. Hyundai-Kia is appealing to drivers accustomed to smooth rides by pointing out the seamless transition from gear to gear in its CVT models.
The upcoming additions to the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group promise to bring cleaner vehicles to the average consumer. The Hyundai Elantra and most of Kia’s traditional vehicle lineup are popular among first-time car buyers and budget-conscious consumers. Hyundai, in particular, has developed a strong reputation for quality vehicles among consumers in the United States. The availability of LPI nationwide and increasing familiarity by consumers with CVTs should get prospective drivers past their skepticisms about new drive technology. These past experiences with Hyundai and Kia should translate into good sales numbers for the LPI and hybrid-electric models hitting the market in 2010.
