Hyundai readies Elantra LPI Hybrid for 2009 Korean launch

'Tis a shame we North Americans, Europeans, Australians, et al. won't be seeing the Elantra LPI Hybrid in 2009, but those in South Korea have a reason to celebrate. Hyundai is gearing up to launch the company's first LPG-electric hybrid vehicle next July, which also happens to be the planet's first hybrid vehicle to be "powered by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and adopt advanced Lithium Polymer (Li–Poly) batteries." Said automobile will pack a 1.6-liter Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) Gamma engine, a 15kW electric motor and a continuously variable transmission, and while the outfit isn't releasing hard mileage numbers just yet, the car should prove to be around 50% cheaper to operate than a gas-only Elantra (pictured). C'mon Hyundai, we know you've got plans to take this thing worldwide -- just let it out of the bag already.

[Via FarEastGizmos, image courtesy of Autoblog]

[Flashpoint @ Jul 9th 2008 5:46PM]

Why hasn't Engadget mentioned the Lincoln MKS?

That car has comparable technology in it as the new Lexus LS460 and costs just $45,000.

Hyundai SUCKS. If you can't cover better automobiles you should leave this to AUTOBLOG.

[Dan @ Jul 9th 2008 5:52PM]

Well you kinda said it yourself in a way. Engadget is more on the technology side of things. Why they cover automobiles is beyond me when they havea Autoblog site under their wing.

Hell they mentioned 14 words I dont know what the f*ck they mean.

[jorvay @ Jul 9th 2008 6:52PM]

Hyundai sucks? Last I checked they were making cars as reliable at Toyotas for a lot less scratch. I did a solid 2 months of research before purchasing and strongly suggest other car buyers check out Hyundai's cars.

[Will @ Jul 9th 2008 7:31PM]

I agree, Hyundai's are great. After a lot of research, I also ended up with one.

[BigD145 @ Jul 9th 2008 8:14PM]

Most 'foreign' cars use more US parts than anything out of Detroit. "Hyundai sucks." What, do you hate America? Are you a communist, or something?

This car looks nifty and seems to have quite a bit of space inside. Make it an all electric and it'll be even better.

[Za @ Jul 9th 2008 9:33PM]

The MKS isn't a hybrid using new technology, ya moron.

[happy_penguin @ Jul 9th 2008 10:25PM]

Hyundai as dependable as Toyota?? Even though Toyota slipped five places as a brand last year, Hyundai is below average as a brand and doesn't even top the internet's favorite whipping boy, Chevrolet.

http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2007130

More US parts than Detroit?? I think y'all need to cite where you get this information.

The fact is, all auto companies use parts from all over the world. I seriously doubt that Hyundai, Toyota, Honda or any other company uses more US domestic content than Detroit automakers. If you have proof you need to cite it.

[Anthony @ Jul 9th 2008 5:55PM]

I don't wanna say I'm down on the car coverage & know that if batteries are powering cars they by default become gadgets I do want to question why this sort of thing seems to be coming up daily. Won't AutoBlogGreen fill this need?

[Domenick Yoney @ Jul 10th 2008 1:20PM]

AutoblogGreen is fillin' already.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/09/hyundai-hybrid-first-to-have-lithium-polymer-battery/

[Dan @ Jul 9th 2008 5:59PM]

Awesome Snake Voice: Arrrgh WTF are you talking about?
You usually talk about EEEs and iphones, and your talking about some south korean car I don’t give a f*ck about!!

Awesome Oatcon/Engadget: Waaaghh haahaa haaa...

I kid engadget.. by now you realize my sarcasm in which I only have good things to say....

Engadget... keep doing what you do best.

Signed but not dictated
-Dany F.

[Richy @ Jul 9th 2008 6:04PM]

How is that a shame? The more ugly cars we keep off the road, the better!

[retro77 @ Jul 9th 2008 6:05PM]

gadgety?

[Tony Xia @ Jul 9th 2008 6:12PM]

I don't like the look though.

[Mr Farts @ Jul 9th 2008 7:46PM]

It looks like it has Down's Syndrome. Take a second look at it.

[Brian Lang @ Jul 9th 2008 6:25PM]

Let them test it in Korea for a year before sending it to us. Work out the bugs.

[x3qt0r @ Jul 9th 2008 6:30PM]

Can this car come to India?
Or should the TATA's come and get it here?

[Big Al @ Jul 9th 2008 6:58PM]

It's about damn time that Korea got off its butt and produced a hybrid here. Korea has some pretty high tariffs for imported cars (essentially double the price back in the US), so most people drive Korean made cars. The Prius virtually unknown here.

[TomP86 @ Jul 9th 2008 7:35PM]

Polymer lithium ion (PLI) batteries really do have a lot of potential, and they may soon replace traditional lithium batteries in current hybrids. This car may be better than the pruis (in terms of gas mileage) after a couple years of fine tuning the design. BTW, a good PLI battery stock play is Advanced Battery Technologies Inc (ABAT).

[Erik @ Jul 9th 2008 9:02PM]

The Korean government commissioned some Kia Pride hybrids in 2007, which were probably used to test the technology that will go into the new Hyundai Elantra hybrid (Avante in Korea.) As I've never seen a wagon version of the Elantra/Avante in Korea, I think their LPG hybrid will probably be on a sedan platform.

Unfortunately this technology will never make it to the US. There simply aren't enough filling stations with LPG.

[Bill @ Jul 10th 2008 9:29AM]

Easier to find a LPG refilling station here in my area of the U.S. (most private propane companies) than to find a compressed natural gas filling station (all government-owned, no private vehicles allowed)

[Gikku @ Jul 10th 2008 12:37AM]

One word, beige.
just saying