Hyundai, Kia Launching Seven Electrified Vehicles by 2017
Hyundai and Kia plan to launch seven new electrified vehicles by 2017.
Hyundai will have a total of five electrified vehicles in its lineup by model year 2018: Sonata hybrid, Sonata plug-in hybrid, a dedicated hybrid, a dedicated electric vehicle and the Tucson Hydrogen Fuel Cell.
Meanwhile, sibling brand Kia will have four electrified vehicles in its lineup by model year 2018: Kia Optima hybrid, Kia Optima plug-in hybrid, Kia Soul EV and a dedicated Kia hybrid.
Between model year 2016 and 2018, a total of four hybrids, two plug-in hybrids and an electric car will launch in the U.S. from the two Korean brands with the first dedicated hybrid debuting as a 2017 model.
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The dedicated hybrid models are expected to be built on a modified version of the companies’ compact-car platform that will underpin the next-generation Elantra and Forte models. Powering those hybrids will be a direct-injected 1.6-liter gasoline engine paired to an electric motor. As the spy photos have shown, the Hyundai and Kia models will be quite different in design with the Kia model sporting a hatchback shape heavily inspired by crossover design. Hyundai’s dedicated hybrid appears to look more like a liftback sedan, similar to the Chevrolet Volt.
On the EV front, Hyundai will use the same hybrid platform for a dedicated EV, while Kia has no plans of expanding its electric vehicle offerings beyond the current Kia Soul EV.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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