2010 New York: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets 39 mpg on the highway

March 31, 2010April 4, 2010 Omar Rana 2010 New York Auto Show, 2011, Green News, Hybrids, Green News, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Sedans

Hyundai today took the wraps off of its first hybrid for the U.S. market at the 2010 New York Auto Show – the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

“The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is the new kid on the block, but it”s not a follower,” says John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “Its full parallel hybrid configuration and breakthrough lithium polymer batteries offer a new take on traditional hybrid design, while its unique design sets it apart from the mid-size hybrid pack.”

What does Krafcik mean? The Hyundai-developed Hybrid Blue Drive architecture underpinning the Sonata Hybrid is a full parallel hybrid drive system, which can operate on an electric motor, gasoline internal combustion engine, or a combination of the two depending on how the owner of the car drives. Nothing new, right? Just wait until you see what the system is capable of.

So let’s get down to the geeky side of it. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is powered by a 2.4L Theta II engine making 169-hp at 6,000 rpm and 156 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. It is mated to an electric motor that makes an additional 40.2-hp and 151.2 lb-ft of torque. Working together side-by-side, both units develop a total output of 209-hp at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is capable of achieving a fuel-economy of 37/39 mpg (city/highway). It can also operate in EV-only mode at speeds of up to 62 mph.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid will go on sale alongside the Sonata 2.0T later this year.