The next Hyundai Tucson will be the first model from the Korean brand to be equipped with a mild hybrid drivetrain.
The revamped compact SUV – Hyundai’s best-selling model in Europe – launches later in the summer, and as well as the powertrain changes will also offer design changes and upgraded technology.
Hyundai already offers a full hybrid model in the Ioniq, but the Tucson unit is said to be not only the first for the brand but one of the first in the industry. It matches a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a mild-hybrid starter generator to the 2.0-litre diesel engine.
Under acceleration the generator supports the engine with up to 12kW of energy, reducing the pulling power needed and therefore improving fuel consumption. It cuts the load on the engine under light acceleration and provides extra torque when the engine needs it for hard acceleration.
The system automatically switches between assisting the engine and recovering energy to the battery, which is carried out when coasting and braking. This again aids fuel economy and reduces CO2 emissions – Hyundai claims savings of up to 7% and adds that all Tucson engines will meet the new Euro 6d Temp emission standards.
Initially, the technology is being paired with the 186hp diesel engine that is the most powerful in the Tucson line-up. Versions employing the unit also include all-wheel-drive and either a six-speed manual or the new eight-speed auto transmission. By Spring 2019, the new mild hybrid unit will also be combined with Hyundai’s new 1.6-litre Smart Stream diesel engines.
