Hyundai says a local rival for the Prius is on the company's wish list.
Bruce Newton -
SMH - November 3, 2009
Will Hyundai succeed as well in this market as they have in the conventionally powered segment? --Ed.
Hyundai Australia is looking at importing a stand-alone petrol electric hybrid model to compete with Toyota's Prius and Honda's Insight.
The company has set its sights on selling one of two forthcoming petrol-electric hybrid models here within two years. It is also considering a petrol-electric version of a new sedan called the YF, which is scheduled to go on sale in the first half of 2010.
"There is a stand-alone car coming, a petrol-electric hybrid," said Hyundai Australia marketing and sales director Kevin McCann.
"And then there will be a petrol-electric hybrid for the states based on the YF.
"We don't know which one of those we will be getting but it will be one of those two.
"I think we need it in the next couple of years otherwise we risk missing the hybrid boat. Hybrid, I think, is a transitional driveline, you can already see the transition to plug-in is happening."
To that end, the company intends to bring in demonstrator versions of the freshly-announced i10 plug-in electric vehicle, although there are no...
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