Hyundai promises 50 mpg average fuel economy by 2025

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Hyundai promises its entire lineup will average 50 mpg by 2025, using its Blue Drive technologies to boost fuel economy across the board.

"We're committed to setting the pace in this industry on fuel economy," said John Krafcik, Hyundai America's president and CEO, speaking at the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich.

Other automakers have made broad fuel economy promises, only to back off them as the final date approached. Most notably, Ford Motor in the early 2000s promised to increase its SUV fuel economy by 25% over five years. Then-CEO Bill Ford had to back off that promise two years before the 2005 deadline, citing financial difficulties.

Krafcik admitted the goal is a stretch:

"We don't know specifically how to get there, but we do have a roadmap," he said. That roadmap will use mostly existing technology that the automaker modifies to get better fuel economy, he said.

About 75% to 80% of its lineup will continue to be standard internal combustion engines, and about 10% to 15% will be hybrids. The other 5% or so will be hydrogen fuel cells or battery electric vehicles.

Hyundai doesn't yet have a hybrid car on the market, yet leads the auto industry in overall corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) numbers. In 2008, it lead the industry with a CAFE figure of 30.9. The final figures aren't in yet for 2009, but Krafcik says Hyundai expects to keep its leadership position.

The new Hyundai Sonata demonstrates the automaker's commitment to fuel economy, Krafcik said. The 2011 model comes only with a four cylinder engine, because that's what most sedan customers want, he said.

When automakers put together a vehicle with a 6-cylinder option, they have to add in extra weight to meet crash standards for the larger engines even on the cars with the smaller engines. So taking out the 6-cylinder option enabled Hyundai to take out 130 pounds of weight in the new Sonata, making it lighter and more fuel efficient.

-- Sharon Silke Carty/Drive On
 
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