HYUNDAI

Hyundai Plans Rear-Wheel Hybrid

New electrified tech is coming to Genesis(Hyundai’s Genesis sub-brand). When the new Hyundai Palisade debuted in the U.S. last week, it finally filled a gap in the lineup with a hybrid powertrain.

The setup pairs a 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a tandem of electric motors, integrated into a six-speed automatic transmission for a total of 334 hp and 460 Nm of peak torque.

Interestingly, Hyundai plans to launch a rear-wheel-drive variant in 2026 that will feature the powertrain in question. Meanwhile, the Korean brand’s premium division, Genesis, is also entering the hybrid space, but only select, “key models” will get electrified powertrains.

While no vehicles have been officially confirmed to adopt the new hybrid system, the G70 is unlikely to be included, as Mark Choi, Hyundai’s global product chief, has suggested that the focus will be on larger, more premium models.

Compared to the outgoing petrol engine, the new one is 2.9 percent more efficient. When the hybrid components are factored in, fuel efficiency improves by an impressive 45 percent over the non-hybrid version. Power also increases by 19 percent.

For lower-end cars, Hyundai is developing a second hybrid system that uses a smaller, 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. In this case, efficiency improves by four percent, and peak torque is also slightly increased, from 367 to 380 Nm. While no model has been specifically named, the Hyundai Tucson is a likely candidate to adopt the system, as the current hybrid version produces the lower peak torque of the two.

The Hyundai Group’s hybrid lineup will range from compact to full-size vehicles, including the Genesis lineup. Combined power outputs will range from 100-plus to 300-plus horsepower.

Hyundai’s Next-Generation Hybrid Technology…As with the new Palisade, the dual-motor hybrid setup has a dual purpose: one to handle starting, battery power generation and utilization, while the other handles propulsion and regenerative braking.

In related news, Hyundai confirmed it will continue to offer a mechanical all-wheel drive system, with select models using e-AWD, which uses an electric motor on the rear axle.

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