Hyundai’s good-looking new i45 mid-size sedan will be powered by a choice of petrol direct injection, full hybrid and twin-scroll turbocharged engines when it is launched in North America.
Replacing the Sonata, the i45 goes on-sale in Australia in May.
Hyundai’s hybrid uses lithium polymer batteries which the company says deliver the battery technology used in laptops and cell phones, with a level of robustness normally associated with nickel metal hydride and lithium ion batteries. Drive is not the usual Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) – Hyundai is going with parallel drive system which is claimed to allow a higher top speed when in full EV mode.
At the i45’s heart is a 30kW electric motor delivering 205Nm of torque, matched with Hyundai’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine is good for 204kW at 6,000rpm and peak torque of 365Nm between 1800-4500rpm. Drive is via a six-speed automatic transmission with electronic sequential mode.
Locally, the nicely-styled i45 will replace Hyundai’s competent Sonata lineup which is priced from $27,990.
