IT’S 2011.
SO WHY IS THIS OUR FIRST HYBRID?
It’s not a question you’d expect from the world’s
fourth largest automaker.
Especially when technology like hybrid cars, aug-
mented reality and even jetpacks have been around
for years. To some it might imply that we’re late to the
game. To others, that we’re merely following a trend.
At Hyundai, we don’t see it that way.
Truth is, we could have followed other car companies
and licensed an existing hybrid platform years
ago. But making progress is not about following. We
wanted to make something better. And, like a lot of
people when it comes to hybrids, there were certain
perceptions we held, too.
“Hybrids are weird looking.”
Most hybrids are designed to be invisible to the wind.
But when it comes to style they’re also pretty invisible
to the eye. We think if you’re doing something good
by driving a hybrid, you should get to look good, too.
So we found a way to work with the design qualities
we built into our Sonata to create a coefficient of
drag of 0.25, equal to that of the Prius.
“Hybrids are too small.”
Achieving greater mileage in a hybrid typically
meant giving up interior space to accommodate a
bulky battery. We didn’t think that was a sacrifice
that people should have to make. Ten we discovered
a new battery technology that would provide more
than a little wiggle room. Lithium polymer properties
allow us to shape the battery to the car, not the other
way around. And the Sonata Hybrid, with the largest
interior in its class, is the first non-plug-in hybrid to
feature this technology.
“Hybrids have no guts.”
Drive a hybrid and surrender power. Until now,
that’s been the conventional thinking. But it’s hardly
a fair trade. Tat’s why every Sonata Hybrid also
comes with a class-leading 206 net hp and our
proprietary 6-speed automatic transmission to
enhance performance. But it’s not just a show of
strength, considering that the Sonata Hybrid is
equally gentle when transitioning from engine-powered to hybrid-drive mode, while also delivering
better highway MPG than any other vehicle in its class.
So why is this our first hybrid?
Because we’re not ones to jump on a bandwagon,
no matter how fuel-efficient it may be. And because
technology has caught up to where we can build a
hybrid that not only goes beyond what’s expected, but
is also more like what we’ve wanted all along: a
comfortable, roomier, more stylish car that’s also
better for the environment. Te Sonata Hybrid.
To learn more, visit HyundaiSonata.com
