Hyundai Grandeur Hybrid adds green credentials to lineup SEOUL , April 5 ( Yonhap ) -- Hyundai Motor Co . has launched the Grandeur Hybrid that will add green credentials to its lineup as the South Korean carmaker competes with its Japanese rivals in major markets . The Grandeur Hybrid is the carmaker ' s latest gasoline - hybrid model based on the all - new Grandeur large - size sedan . The previous hybrids were based on the Avante compact , the Sonata midsize sedan and an earlier version of the Grandeur sedan . There is also the Ioniq hybrid developed from the bottom up as a eco - friendly vehicle . As the demand for environmentally - friendly and fuel - efficient vehicles is expected to rise further , the country ' s biggest carmaker plans to introduce more hybrid and electric cars for a share in the technologically advanced car markets . Hyundai unveiled the Grandeur Hybrid mated with a 2 . 4 - liter gasoline engine during the Seoul Motor Show that began last Friday and runs through this coming Sunday . On Wednesday , the company held a test - drive event that allowed the local press to experience and evaluate the car on a 40 - kilometer course near Seoul . Hyundai Motor ' s Grandeur Hybrid ( Yonhap file photo ) The hybrid Grandeur ' s fuel efficiency is rated at 16 . 2 kmpl using 17 - inch tires . The car has a 1 . 76 kWh battery and can operate longer on electric drive mode that saves gas . The engine and motor can generate 159 horsepower and 21 kilogram - force meters of torque combined , with the power sent to the front wheels via a six - speed automatic gearbox . The new hybrid car is also equipped with the " Hyundai Smart Sense , " a package of advanced driver assistance systems , which was adopted for the first time in the new Grandeur sedan late last year . Hyundai acknowledges that such safety features in vehicles are nothing new as they are often seen in countless other high - end models , but what is different is the concerted effort being placed on car safety to win over more consumers . Faced with stiffer competition , Hyundai has joined bigger rivals to gain a share of the technologically advanced car market , as safety is the first thing many customers think about when buying a new car . Hyundai aims to sell more than 10 , 000 units a year of the hybrid car in the domestic market at prices between 36 million won and 40 million won ( US $ 32 , 000 -$ 36 , 000 ) . Hyundai has yet to decide on the timeframe for exporting the Grandeur sedan and the Grandeur Hybrid to markets like the United States . kyongae . choi @ yna . co . kr ( END )