Elantra
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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]
2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring to feature USB port
It's no secret that vehicles hoping to get Microsoft's Blue&Me system integrated in aren't scared of rocking a USB port, and while Hyundai hasn't stated whether or not the technology will indeed be a part of the 2009 Elantra Touring, the USB port will still be along for the ride. Deemed the first Hyundai to come equipped with such a connector, the vehicle will also come standard with an auxiliary jack and XM radio, which is apt to be called something a bit different by the time it's released. Nevertheless, it's refreshing to see such a nicety being added to a lower-end ride, and while we can only assume that it will enable MP3 playback, Hyundai's remaining mum on the details for now.[Via GetUSB]
