Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Previewed

With the upcoming official unveiling of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid at the New York Auto Show, the auto company releases a teaser image of the vehicle to further up the hype.

The Sonata was designed at Hyundai’s design studio in Irvine, CA. Although there were reported heated debates over what the styling direction the new Sonata will be taking, it’s good to see it sport a much sleeker, coupe-like roofline.

The hybrid model of the Sonata will use lithium polymer batteries instead of the ubiquitous lithium-ion. The polymer batteries are said to be more durable and cheaper to make. The test group consisted of Hyundai’s well-known hybrid battery specialists who tested the Sonatas alongside a variety of competitive hybrids could attest to that.

Hyundai also can boast experience with the non-traditional polymer batteries as Hyundai already produces polymer-based hybrid vehicles in South Korea.

While the regular Sonata should start production for the U.S. in the summer of 2010, the hybrid model may follow as early as October 2010 as a 2011 model.

Posted in Hybrid