Hyundai Motor Corp. says it will bring a gas-electric hybrid version of its Sonata sedan to the U.S. Vice President of Product Development John Krafcik said Wednesday that Hyundai will display a hybrid version of the midsize Sonata at the Los Angeles Auto show in November. The South Korean automaker says it will announce at the show the date that the hybrid will be sold in the U.S. Krafcik says the hybrid Sonata can be powered by both gas and electric motors and will have new lithium-ion batteries. Hyundai plans to sell gas-electric hybrid in US - International Herald Tribune
Excellent !!!!! I hope they have just as much demand as the Prius, and Kia and Subaru get jealous and start making hybrids. One auto manufacturer at a time ... until one day, all manufacturers will be producing hybrids. It is up to consumers to keep favoring hybrids over conventional gas guzzlers when it comes time to buy a new car. Did they say Lithium-Ion ??? This will put pressure on Toyota to introduce the Lithium-Scion! . .
This is great news! Hopefully it is time that lithium-ion batteries can finally be safely mass produced.
If I had the choice: Prius with NiMh-Batts or Sonata with LiIon-Batts. (Both full-hybrid - not PlugIns!) I´d take the Prius, wouldn´t you?
Too many yet unknown factors to answer this question (price being one.) Still, it's good to hear someone mention Lithium-Ion. BTW, for those living in the US: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com...ID=/20080821/BUSINESS/808210312/1003/business
i drove the sonata new model that came out this year on my holiday in CA venice and did a more then 3000 miles trip ( venice, grand canyon , las vegas ) It a really nice car to drive! 5 speed automatic and 2.4 liter 4 cyl 170hp.. smooth.. and lots of room to.
Two years ago hubby got a Tiburon and I got a Sonata (daughter worked at the Hyundai dealer) and they told us then that Hyundai was "working on" a hybrid. My Sonata was a nice car and I miss the sun roof but I got rid of it for a year older Prius and am quite glad I did. Hubby just dumped the Tiburon for a Pri. Nothing wrong with the Hynundais but they didn't come close to the Prius.
I bought my daughter a Sonata mostly due to the 100,000 mile warrantee. I do not recall the exact reason given but they would not honor the warrantee when it was needed. The Sonata quality wasn't up to the Prius quality. So I would have to agree with the above poster. Quality and warrantee are inportant to me. Manufacturer's that don't live up to their warrantee's loose my business.:rant:
Hyundai 100K warranties only apply to the original purchaser. If the car is used, then only the 36K mile warranty is adhered to. Did you buy the car used or new?
