Sun-Powered Boat Completes Round-The-World Trip

2013 Nissan Altima: 31-MPG Combined Rating For Mid-Size Sedan

Artist Paints Fluorescent Chevy Volt With RC Cars As Brushes
2012 Lexus CT 200h F-Sport Drive Report

Senate To Get Electric-Car Charging Stations (No Tax Dollars...

2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Gets Updated Full Hybrid Powertrain
Vintage Electric Cars Benefit From New Electric Car Sales Too

Healthy Engine Oil Helps Gas Mileage: But Do You Know How To...

2012 Volt Electric Car Brings Chevy Whole New Type Of Customer

Hyundai Green Effort = Blue Drive

Robert Scardino

Author BIO

I'm a writer stuck in an engineer's brain with a debilitating case of autoholism. While studying at the University of Illinois I discovered my... More

LATEST ARTICLE
Toyota Dealers to Give Away 2010 Prius at Chicago Auto Show
As widely reported yesterday, Toyota has suspended sales of 8 models due to a faulty accelerator... Read More

N/ALEADERBOARD RANK
232ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
9COMMENTS POSTED

1,084 views Nov 20, 2008

Enlarge Photo

Hyundai Sonata

Remember that South Korean automaker with a reputation for producing the cheapest econoboxes ever? These were the people who brought us the deplorable "Excel" in the early 90s . That was Hyundai then. This is Hyundai now. This is the company that channeled the Lexus RX with the midsized Veracruz SUV. This is the company that put Mercedes Benz and BMW on notice with the new budget conscious Genesis Luxury Sedan. Now they're saying they want to be the world's most fuel efficient automaker - and if they think they can do it, I believe them.

Their first step is a new line of "Blue" vehicles which are essentially existing models in Hyundai's lineup optimized for fuel efficiency. Hyundai plans to offer lower priced Accents and Elantras with modifications to aerodynamics, gearing and tires to improve fuel economy. Direct injection will also be utilized in new Hyundai models and by 2011, a hybrid Sonata will be released. The hybrid powertrain, called, "Blue Drive" is a smaller, lighter, parallel system which Hyundai believes will out perform the Toyota Camry Hybrid.