{"id":123224,"date":"2018-02-08T11:30:55","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T16:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=123224"},"modified":"2018-02-08T12:29:10","modified_gmt":"2018-02-08T17:29:10","slug":"hyundai-to-add-hybrid-plug-in-versions-of-latest-sonata-sedan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2018\/02\/hyundai-to-add-hybrid-plug-in-versions-of-latest-sonata-sedan\/","title":{"rendered":"Hyundai to Add Hybrid, Plug-In Versions of Latest Sonata Sedan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The new Hyundai Sonata comes as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid version for the 2018 model year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There may be plenty of white stuff swirling around the frigid Windy City, but it\u2019s green inside Chicago\u2019s McCormick Place convention center \u2013 at least if you\u2019re at the Hyundai stand.<\/p>\n

The Korean carmaker has been slow to embrace new battery technologies but it\u2019s making up for lost time. It\u2019s planning to add a veritable blizzard of battery and hydrogen-powered models during the next five years, and the rollout gains momentum with the launch of both conventional hybrid and plug-in versions of the midsize Hyundai Sonata sedan at this year\u2019s Chicago Auto Show.<\/p>\n

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News Now!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWhen combined with Hyundai\u2019s outstanding value and efficiency, the new Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in are sure to attract even more eco-focused buyers,\u201d said Mike O\u2019Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning at Hyundai Motor America.<\/p>\n

To further enhance the appeal of the battery-based pair, O\u2019Brien noted, Hyundai is also making a number of exterior and interior upgrades, and adding more features to the Sonata Hybrid and Sonata Plug-in Hybrid models.<\/p>\n

(Hyundai showing off new Santa Fe. <\/em>Click Here<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for the story.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The new Sonata hybrid reflects the company's effort to offer diverse powertrains throughout its line-up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The HEV model pairs a 2.0-liter direct-injection inline-four gas engine making 154 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque with a single electric motor producing 51 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. Overall, the system is rated at a peak 193 hp.<\/p>\n

The electric motor is housed within the body of a newly-designed six-speed automatic transmission, replacing the conventional torque converter. It can completely decouple the gas engine to save fuel. To further enhance the drivetrain\u2019s efficiency, Hyundai opted for an electric oil pump.<\/p>\n

Unlike past hybrids, the new model opts for a more energy-dense 1.76 kilowatt-hour lithium-polymer battery that allows for a flat cargo load floor.<\/p>\n

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is rated at an estimated 39 mpg City, 45 Highway and 42 Combined. And the automaker estimates a range of 650 miles between fill-ups.<\/p>\n

As for the 2018 Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, it upgrades the battery pack to 9.8 kWh, allowing up to 27 miles of driving in all-electric mode. And it can charge up, Hyundai claims, in \u201cless than three hours\u201d using a 240-volt Level 2 charger.<\/p>\n

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The interior of the new Sonata features an 8-inch touchscreen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The basic design of the drivetrain is similar to that of the new Sonata Hybrid but it opts for a more powerful, 67 hp electric motor \u2013 almost one-third more than in the standard hybrid \u2013 allowing the PHEV version to drive entirely on battery power even at highway speeds.<\/p>\n

(<\/em>Click Here<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for details about our first drive in the 2018 Sonata.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The new, electrified Sonatas come standard with a range of conventional and advanced safety gear, starting with seven airbags and adding things like blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert. Lane Keep Assist and Automatic Emergency Braking are optional.<\/p>\n

Other tech upgrades range from a slew of USB ports to a hands-free trunk system that can pop open automatically. An 8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new models also feature an upgraded BlueLink telematics system and can be integrated with both Google and Amazon voice assistant technologies.<\/p>\n

Visually, the two hybrids get a number of tweaks, starting with unique front and rear fascia, unique hood, front fenders, deck lid and front and rear lamps. The LED headlights feature cornering capability to improve visibility during a turn.<\/p>\n

There are even some updates to improve ride and handling, including a stiffer front anti-roll bar and tweaks to the rear suspension.<\/p>\n

(To see more about Hyundai reporting lower profits in 2017,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Click Here<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Though most Hyundai Sonata models sold in the U.S. are currently being produced locally, the two electrified versions will be imported from a plant in Asan, Korea. Look for the hybrid to roll into American showrooms in the coming weeks, with the plug-in to follow during the second quarter of this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Though it may seem like Hyundai’s sole focus lately has been on expanding its SUV offerings, the South Korean automaker is also growing its portfolio of hybrids, including the new Sonata hybrid and plug-in hybrid on display in Chicago. Get a look at TheDetroitBureau.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":123254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7,8,5,10,12,9],"tags":[],"make":[64],"post-state":[],"category_old":[149,150,151,123,267,319,142,236,132,139,291,288],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123224"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123224\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123224"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=123224"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=123224"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=123224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}