Hyundai Sonata and Kona Electric Simultaneously Win WardsAuto 'Top 10 Engines' Award

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Two powertrains from Hyundai Motor Company have been selected among the top 10 engines by a prestigious American automotive media outlet.

According to Hyundai Motor Group on the 17th, at the '2020 WardsAuto 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems' held in Detroit, USA, the Sonata's Smartstream 1.6 Turbo engine and the Kona Electric's powertrain were both awarded simultaneously.

The '10 Best Engines,' selected annually since 1995 by the American automotive media WardsAuto, is regarded as the most prestigious award in the field of automotive engine technology with worldwide recognition.

In this 26th evaluation, WardsAuto's panel of journalists selected 10 powertrains with excellent performance and technology through test drives from among 26 powertrains applied to new vehicles sold in the United States this year.

Following last year's simultaneous selection of two powertrains from Nexo and Kona Electric, Hyundai Motor was recognized again this year for its excellent technology as both the Sonata and Kona Electric won awards simultaneously.

The Smartstream 1.6 Turbo engine, equipped with the world's first continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) technology developed by Hyundai Motor Group, was first installed in the Sonata. When CVVD technology is applied, engine performance improves by more than 4%, fuel efficiency by more than 5%, and emissions can be reduced by more than 12%.

Tom Murphy, editor-in-chief of WardsAuto, commented on the Sonata, saying, “Hyundai's new 4-cylinder turbo engine technology is truly advanced,” and added, “It secures powerful performance and high efficiency, making it perfect as a daily car, and it features the world's first developed CVVD technology.”

The electric vehicle powertrain installed in the Kona Electric secured a maximum driving range of 406 km per single charge (based on domestic certification standards) through a high-capacity 64kWh lithium-ion battery, a high-efficiency high-voltage system, and a regenerative braking system, which was a major factor in winning the award for two consecutive years in this category.

Christy Schweinsberg, senior editor at WardsAuto, said, “The Kona Electric has secured a sufficient driving range that is not inferior to internal combustion engine vehicles,” and added, “Although several expensive new electric vehicle models were released in 2019, Kona's driving range remains the best.”

A Hyundai Motor official stated, “Through the WardsAuto 10 Best Engines awards for the new turbo engine and electric vehicle powertrain, we have been recognized for our powertrain technology not only in internal combustion engines but also in eco-friendly vehicles,” and added, “We will lead the future automotive market by continuously developing technology and expanding various lineups.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.