Hyundai introduced the Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid versions of its seventh-generation Sonata at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Both will go on sale as 2016 models at a price that has yet to be announced.
Those who buy a new Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid can expect to travel up to 22 miles (35 kilometres) on electric power and charge the battery in as little as 2.5 hours using a Level 2 charger.
The powertrain consists of a 6-speed automatic transmission, Hyundai’s Transmission-Mounted Electrical Device (TMED), a 50 kW electric motor that's 32% more powerful than the one in the regular Sonata Hybrid, and a direct-injected 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. Total system output is 202 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Let's not forget the 9.8kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, which is roughly five times larger than the Sonata Hybrid’s battery.
The Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid should achieve the equivalent of 2.5L/100km in EV mode based on internal estimates. In charge sustaining mode, the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid is expected to burn 5.9L/100km on average. Charging times range from 2.5 hours at a 240V Level 2 charging station to five hours using a standard 120V outlet.
As for the new 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which features specific wheels and fascias, it promises even more fuel economy than the outgoing model.