Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid coming this year
Kia Sorento and Santa Fe plug-in hybrids also confirmed as Korean car giant banks big on electric cars with $124 billion R&D investmentAs demand for hybrid vehicles continues to grow globally and in Australia, the Hyundai Motor Group has confirmed it will launch mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of its best-selling SUVs.
Taking aim at Toyota's continued success with hybrid models, Hyundai will launch dual hybrid versions of the Tucson and Santa Fe – and Kia the Sorento – ahead of schedule this year, as the brand seeks to become a 'game changer' by diversifying its product portfolio.
Hyundai Australia and Kia Australia wouldn't confirm the electrified vehicles' arrivals in Aussie showrooms just yet, but it's clear there's interest.
"We're investigating all electrified powertrain options, but nothing is confirmed for the Australian market," public relations manager Guido Schenken told carsales.com.au when asked about the Tucson and Santa Fe hybrid models.
The new-generation 2020 Hyundai Tucson - previewed by the Vision T concept - will break cover and arrive in Australia this year.
Kevin Hepworth, Kia Australia's corporate comms boss, had a similar response to the Sorento hybrid vehicles announcement from Seoul. He noted that it's unclear if the SUV will be offered in right-hand drive required for Australia, or just left-hand drive for Korean, US and major European markets.
"We will consider any new technology," said Hepworth.
The next-generation 2020 Kia Sorento will begin rolling into Aussie dealerships from the second quarter of 2020 but Hepworth said the new hybrid Sorento models "…haven't been discussed with us, but as always we never say never."
Also announced by Hyundai Motor Company were plans to offer 44 electrified vehicles by 2025, with more than half (23) to be pure electric vehicles.
No mention was made of the new Hyundai Santa Cruz ute.
As the Korea car-maker plumps up its hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV offerings as part of a $124b investment over the next five years, Hyundai Motor Group – which includes Kia – will also use its colossal R&D budget to get into the flying car game, fast-track its autonomous car technology and diversify its hydrogen fuel-cell program.
The plan for the next five years and beyond for the Korean car giant was outlined by Hyundai Motor Group boss and billionaire businessman Euisun Chung, in a company-wide New Year's speech in Seoul.
As well as revealing plans for its first personal air vehicle, or PAV, at CES later this month, Hyundai is also plotting several high-performance models, including its first EV supercar developed with a little help from Croation EV specialist Rimac – in which Hyundai has invested $130m.
"Hyundai Motor Group enters 2020 as the inaugural year for securing its future industrial leadership," said Chung.
He stated that the company's goal in the new decade would be to take "…a leap as a game changer," that ensures the company becomes a trend-setter in the automotive space.
"In recent years, due to the rapid development in technology and networks, what had only been imagined is becoming an everyday reality, and this trend is accelerating in the automotive industry," he said.
"To consolidate our leadership in vehicle electrification, we plan to operate 44 electrified models by 2025 …. by bolstering the development of EV platforms and core components," he explained.
The brand's first 'dedicated' BEV or battery electric vehicle will be launched in 2021, followed by a new EV platform architecture that will underpin new models from 2024 onwards.
In 2019 the Hyundai Motor Group offered 24 electrified models globally and while there are only four electrified models offered in Australia at present (Hyundai Kona Electric, Ioniq Electric/PHEV/hybrid), the number is set to expand with the arrival of hybrid variants of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson and the Kia Sorento.
Not unlike the Volkswagen Group, Hyundai's expanded electric vehicle product plan is aimed at a growing number of buyers keen on EVs and although Hyundai hasn't put a number on how many it hopes to sell – VW reckons 1.5 million EV sales by 2025 – it's clearly favouring EVs over its hydrogen fuel cell passenger car offerings.
Compared to the 23 EVs that will be offered by 2025, Hyundai Motor Group will sell only two hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles.
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