Hyundai shows off new hybrid powertrain, 8-speed auto

Hyundai has shown off an advanced 1.6-litre hybrid petrol it will offer in its small cars in 2016, plus an all-new eight-speed automatic that will replace its current, ageing six-speed auto.

The new 1.6-litre ‘Kappa’ GDI engine will be available as both a PHEV and a conventional hybrid and standalone engine.

Said to be its first ever engine that combines the Atkinson cycle, cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), plus a long stroke specification that ensures the new engine has a thermal efficiency of 40 per cent - 10 per cent better than its rivals.

The new engine also comes with Hyundai’s latest six-hole, laser drilled GDI injection that injects fuel into the combustion chamber at 200 bar. This alone ensures, says the car-maker, a cleaner, more efficient burn.

In its first application the new petrol 1.6-litre engine will produce 77kW/147Nm.

As well as the new engine, Hyundai has also teased a new eight-speed transmission that will replace its existing 6-speed auto.

Said to improve fuel economy by around 7.3 per cent over the old transmission, the new 8-speeder has been designed to work with its Lambda, Theta turbo GDI and R family of engines and end up in larger vehicles like the recently introduced Tucson.

Created and engineered in-house, the new transmission offers better performance than the outgoing transmission thanks to more gears and short gear ratios. The new ‘box is also 3.5kg lighter than the old 6-speed.

Inside, parts like a re-engineered oil pump is one of a whole host of improvements that reduce friction loss. An all-new new multi-disc torque converter, meanwhile, allows the torque converter to ’lock-up’ earlier providing a direction connection between the engine and gearbox, boosting fuel economy and drivability.