Hyundai unveiled its 2021 Santa Fe hybrid recently, but the automaker has only now released additional details. Joel Stocksdale at Auto Blog reports, “the regular hybrid powertrain combines a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a 44-kW electric motor… [with] 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The plug-in hybrid uses the same gas engine, but gets a bigger 67-kW motor along with a 13.8-kWh battery… [with] 261 horsepower [combined], and torque… at 258 pound-feet.” These details are specific to the European market, but the U.S. market is expected to be similar. Read more.
VW launches PHEV Tiguan
Volkswagen has released a plug-in hybrid version of its Tiguan model in select markets. The non-hybrid Tiguan was VW’s most popular model for 2019 and the Tiguan PHEV, known as the Tiguan eHybrid, is expected to be an attractive buy for consumers as well. Green Car Congress has the story. Read more.
Mercedes S-Class PHEV’s 62 miles of all-electric range
Mercedes has confirmed the all-electric range of the plug-in hybrid version of its new S-Class model will be 62 miles (100km). This stat puts the new S-Class PHEV from Mercedes near the top of the list for all-electric range from PHEVs. Details are scarce, but Inside EVs has a round-up. Read more.
Round-up: Well-priced Hybrid SUVs
Motor Biscuit has released a list of the five most affordable hybrid SUVs for 2020. At the low-end of the prices listed are Honda’s CR-V and Toyota’s RAV4, both coming in below $29,000 for a basic model. The Subaru Crosstrek and Toyota Highlander are at the high-end range of the list with prices over $35,000. Ford’s Escape hybrid also makes the list for its mid-range affordability priced around $30,000. For the full list, read more.
Bronco Hybrid on the way from Ford
Ford will re-release its Bronco SUV model, this time with a hybrid option. Details on the powertrain are not yet available, but the model is expected to have the same set-up as “the Ford F-150 Hybrid and Ford Explorer Hybrid… [with] a modular electric motor system and a disconnect clutch to the 10-speed automatic transmission, with a V-6 engine” according to Green Car Reports. The vehicle will be priced under $30,000. Read more.
PHEV variant joining VW’s Arteon line
Volkswagen is set to launch a plug-in hybrid version of its updated Arteon product line, according to a report from Green Car Congress. The PHEV powertrain will feature “a 1.4-liter TSI engine paired with an electric motor and fed by a 12.7 kWh battery,” powering the vehicle to 160kW and 34-miles all-electric range. The product line also includes a number of other technical upgrades. Read more.
Jeep Wrangler Hybrid to arrive by end of year
Jeep’s long-awaited entrance into the electrified vehicle market is near. The automaker has announced it will offer its Wrangler as a plug-in hybrid by the end of 2020 in the U.S., with Europe and China to receive the vehicle in Q1 2021. The Detroit Bureau reports the electrified Wrangler and others from Jeep are expected to feature “up to 31 miles [of] range and the ability to operate at speeds up to 62 mph in all-electric mode… [with] about 240 horsepower.” Jeep has committed to offer an electrified version of each of its models by 2022. Read more.
2021 Audi Q5 PHEV Gets Power Upgrade
Audi will launch its 2021 Q5 models this fall in the US. Details of the models are beginning to emerge, with Car and Driver reporting the Q5 plug-in hybrid variant will feature 362 horsepower powered by a 14.1-kWh battery and an electric motor. Both the PHEV and the standard version of the Q5 feature updated tech and exterior offerings. Read more.
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid to Lead Model Line-Up
Ford is releasing its F-150 model with six powertrain variants for the 2021 model year. Of the powertrains, the PowerBoost Hybrid version is expected to lead the pack, according to AutoBlog. Byron Hurd at AutoBlog notes, “Based on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and a specially calibrated variant of the 10-speed automatic, [the PowerBoost Hybrid] is going to be the range-topping powertrain for the 2021 model… while exact figures have not been released, we can comfortably say that the PowerBoost model will produce at least 420 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.” Read more.
Study: Hybrid NYC Fleet Performs Better than Expected
Green Car Congress reports that in a study of fleet-wide performance for NYC’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) vehicles, “hybrids performed better against their EPA ratings than non-hybrids—i.e., hybrids are even more fuel efficient as compared to regular fuel vehicles than expected.” The study looked at the fleet’s performance in 2019, and determined “the hybrid vehicles should have been 118% more fuel efficient than non-hybrids… [but] were 155% more fuel efficient.” Read more.