Hyundai Motor Group unveils next-generation hybrid system
23 April 2025
Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled its next-generation hybrid powertrain system. With the new system, Hyundai plans to offer a range of industry leading new products within the hybrid vehicle segment.
The next-generation hybrid system features a new transmission with two integrated motors that can be paired flexibly with a range of internal combustion engines, allowing for optimized performance and fuel efficiency across a range of vehicle classes. Additionally, various electrification-focused technologies have been incorporated into the new hybrid system to enhance driving performance, refinement and ride comfort.
The newly developed transmission includes a new P1 motor that handles starting, battery energy generation and energy deployment to assist propulsion. The transmission’s P2 driving motor is responsible for propulsion and regenerative braking. This integrated dual-motor setup improves power, performance and fuel efficiency while achieving smooth shifting and reduced noise and vibrations.
The transmission can be paired flexibly with internal combustion engines across Hyundai’s lineup, delivering a system output from the low-100 hp range to the mid-300 hp region, allowing for broad application from sub-compact to large vehicles.
Improved Engine Design. The first powertrain to use the next-generation hybrid system uses a newly developed gasoline 2.5-liter turbo hybrid unit, enhancing the design and control technology of the existing 2.5 turbo gasoline engine to maximize efficiency. A new gasoline 1.6-liter turbo hybrid powertrain will also be available.
By reassigning the 2.5 engine’s starting and generating tasks to the newly added P1 motor, the turbo hybrid powertrain minimizes power losses. Combined with enhanced cylinder flow within the engine and the adoption of a high-efficiency cycle optimized for hybrids, fuel efficiency has been improved.
The 2.5 turbo hybrid system utilizes an ‘over-expansion cycle’, a.k.a. Miller or Atkinson cycle, intentionally delaying intake valve closure during compression to lower the effective compression ratio of the mixed gas in the cylinder while maintaining a high expansion ratio during the combustion process.
This technique reduces power consumption during mixture compression while maximizing energy generated after combustion, significantly enhancing engine efficiency.
Additionally, an improved piston design and a significantly expanded triple fuel injection range enhances combustion speed, stabilizes combustion and suppresses detonation, further improving engine efficiency.
Increased Fuel Efficiency. Focusing on the P1+P2 parallel structure and combustion engine improvements, fuel efficiency and power performance have been enhanced while achieving smoother shifting and improved powertrain refinement.
By connecting the P1 motor directly to the engine, the system reduces engine start time. Precise control of engine load and the driving force of the P1 and P2 motors ensure that the engine operates within a high-efficiency range, improving fuel efficiency.
The gasoline 2.5 turbo hybrid system used in the new Palisade model delivers maximum fuel efficiency of 14.1 km/L (7.092 L/100 km), a maximum system output of 334 PS, and maximum torque of 460 Nm, offering approximately 45% greater fuel efficiency, 19% more maximum power, and a 9% improvement in maximum torque compared with a 2.5 turbo gasoline model—according to Hyundai data.
The next-generation gasoline 1.6 turbo hybrid improves fuel efficiency by more than 4% in a mid-size SUV compared with previous models, increasing the system’s maximum rated torque output from 367 Nm to 380 Nm and improving acceleration response.
Additionally, by incorporating the P1 motor into the Active Shift Control (ASC) hybrid transmission logic, the system achieves faster and smoother shifting performance than before.
Electrification Technologies. Alongside the next-generation hybrid powertrain, Hyundai will integrate advanced electrification technologies to enhance performance of its new hybrid vehicles, such as Electric All-Wheel Drive (e-AWD), Electrification-Vehicle Motion Control (e-VMC 2.0), e-Handling 2.0, Electrification-Evasive Handling Assist (e-EHA 2.0), e-Ride 2.0, Stay Mode, V2L, and Smart Regenerative Braking.
- The e-AWD system adds a P4 driving motor to the rear axle on vehicles equipped with this technology, enhancing driving performance and acceleration response. Hyundai plans to offer both e-AWD and conventional mechanical AWD.
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e-VMC 2.0 is available on hybrid vehicles fitted with e-AWD, enhancing driving stability and ride comfort through independent torque control of the front and rear driving motors. It comprises e-Handling 2.0, e-EHA (Electrification-Evasive Handling Assist) 2.0, and e-Ride 2.0.
- e-Handling 2.0 enhances roll prevention during cornering by independently controlling the front and rear motors, applying motor torque in opposite directions to lower the vehicle’s center of gravity.
- e-EHA 2.0 is an emergency steering assist technology that utilizes vehicle radar and camera sensors to detect potential frontal collisions.
- e-Ride 2.0 maximizes ride comfort by minimizing vertical movements during speed bump crossings. It leverages changes in the vehicle’s center of gravity through opposite directional control of the front and rear motors during speed bump entry and exit to minimize pitch and bounce motions.
- Stay Mode adapts the ‘Utility Mode’ of EVs for hybrid vehicles, enabling a more pleasant time inside the vehicle when stationary by utilizing the high-voltage battery. Stay Mode allows the use of all in-vehicle convenience features, including air-conditioning and multimedia without starting the engine, and can be used for up to one hour when the battery’s state of charge is between 70 and 80%.
- The next-generation hybrid system’s V2L function offers a maximum output of 3.6 kW, similar to EVs, allowing users to charge and power external appliances and personal electronic devices.
- Smart Regenerative Braking automatically applies optimal regenerative braking force based on navigation data and distance to other vehicles ahead, reducing brake pedal inputs and increasing battery charge through regenerative braking to improve fuel efficiency.
Hyundai plans to combine the new hybrid transmission with various engines across a system output from the low-100 hp range to the mid-300 hp region, introducing a diverse lineup of hybrid vehicles from compact to large and luxury classes.
With this expanded system output coverage, the hybrid powertrain lineup will increase from three models to five, with the latest 2.5 turbo hybrid powertrain making its debut in the all-new Palisade hybrid, which began mass production this month. This system will be applied to other Hyundai and Kia models, as well as the Genesis luxury brand in the future.
Source: Hyundai Motor Group