Hyundai plug-in hybrids coming to the U.S. in 2012

Speaking at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show, Hyundai’s president of R&D Yang Woong-chul said that Hyundai will launch its first plug-in hybrid in the U.S. in late 2012. Yang said that the Hyundai’s plug-in hybrid vehicle will compete with the Chevrolet Volt and the upcoming Toyota Prius plug-ins.

“We want to be the world leader in fuel economy and alternative fuels,” he said at the company Seoul press conference, reports Automotive News.

Hyundai unveiled its new Blue-Will concept in Seoul. The concept is powered by a gasoline direct-injected 1.6L engine mated to a CVT transmission and a 100kw electric-motor which is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. The Hyundai Blue-Will can travel 38 miles on battery power alone and can return a fuel-economy rating of 106 mpg in plug-in mode and up to 55 mpg in hybrid-electric mode.

Yang said that almost “every part on this car has been developed in-house.” He said that will allow Hyundai to make its plug-in hybrids affordable.said. “That will make it possible to make this vehicle affordable.”

Hyundai BLUE-WILL Concept:

– By: Omar Rana