Hyundai Motor, at the company’s annual International Powertrain Conference, announced a new 1.6-litre GDI engine, a new addition to the Kappa engine family, and an advanced front-wheel drive 8-speed automatic transmission.
The new Kappa 1.6-litre GDI engine is designed to boost power, performance and fuel economy, while driving down production costs and CO2 emissions in the growing mid-class hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) segments. The new Kappa 1.6-litre GDI engine produces 105 PS (77.2 kW), 15.0 kgf.m (147 Nm) and will be fit for future hybrid models. The engine is scheduled to arrive in the markets in early 2016 and will mark the company’s first combination of the Atkinson cycle, cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and a long stroke specification to maximize thermal efficiency.
Along with this new engine, Hyundai also announced the addition of an advanced front-wheel drive 8-speed automatic transmission. The new front-wheel drive 8-speed automatic transmission is claimed to have improved the fuel economy by 7.3% when compared with the existing 6-speed automatic transmission unit. The new transmission is based on a unique layout, with an additional clutch to Hyundai Motor’s 6-speed automatic transmission.
The new transmission also features a three-pronged approach to friction loss, ultimately boosting economy. The groove patterns are engineered to optimize the clutch for low drag, while a refined baffle plate minimizes the churning losses of transmission oil.