It’s no idle boast, especially as many lithium-batteries are said to have a maximum life span of around 7-8 years, yet until now Hyundai hadn’t released any specifics on its lifetime warranty for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid’s battery pack.

As result, there’s been much speculation in regards to exactly what this battery warranty covers and doesn’t cover, though Hyundai, in an attempt to address these rumors has finally set the record straight.

In a statement issued from the company, it declared that, “the Hyundai Lifetime Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee ensures that if the 2012 Sonata hybrid lithium-polymer battery fails, Hyundai will replace the battery and cover recycling costs for the old battery pack free of charge to the original owner. The coverage is not transferable, and does not apply to lease and commercial vehicles or vehicles serviced outside the U.S.”

Note how the above doesn’t mention the battery system’s integrated hardware, software and controllers. These are covered by a warranty, though in this case it’s the Sonata’s Powertrain warranty which is good for 10 years or 100,000 miles, which ever comes first.

Hyundai’s US CEO John Krafcik, has already stated that Hyundai is able to offer the battery warranty because after extensive durability testing, failure rates for the battery system have proved to be minimal.

That said, if owners do experience major battery failure on their Sonata Hybrids, they might want to consider the car’s mileage and condition before looking to cash in on the warranty program, as depending on the circumstances, it could still work out to be quite expensive.

[Source: Car & Driver]

Hyundai appears to be strengthening its position in the hybrid marketplace, announcing that the Sonata Hybrid will get a lifetime warranty on its battery pack.

Hyundai hopes that by offering a lifetime warranty on the Sonata Hybrid’s battery that it’ll persuade buyers still skeptical about the long-term life of a hybrid battery. Hyundai CEO John Krafcik recently told Car and Driver that they “can afford the program because the failure rate is so low.”

Through some rigorous testing, Hyundai has seen “minimal degradation of its output or duration of operation” of its Sonata Hybrid’s battery pack, even after 300,000-miles of use.

Those were the only details that the Korean automaker announced, so it’s unsure whether or not the coverage will extend to other hybrid components. Either way, it’s a big step up from Toyota, which only offers an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on its hybrid batteries.

[Source: Car&Driver]

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Review Here

Hyundai is slightly increasing the price for their 2012 Sonata Hybrid, bumping the MSRP by $55 to $26,610 compared to the 2011 model. Also new for the 2012 model will be a Leather Package, priced at $1,500, offering leather seats, steering wheel and shift knob.

The Leather Package will also come with front and rear heated seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink and a compass. The Leather Package was previously only offered on the top-of-the-line Sonata model.

Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system will also come standard on the hybrid model and drivers will be able to download the phone app in order to lock and unlock their car and to control other functions remotely.

Those looking to splurge on their Sonata Hybrid can also opt for the Ultimate Package, priced at $5,500. That package includes everything in the previously mentioned Leather Package but also adds 17-inch wheels, a sunroof, navigation, backup camera, premium sound and a few other luxurious trim options.

The Sonata Hybrid will remain with a 2.4L Atksinson-cycle engine under the hood with 166-hp while the electric motor will add 40-hp for a total output of 206-hp. Fuel economy is still rated at 40-mpg on the highway and 35-mpg in the city.

Hyundai will apparently launch a competitor to the Toyota Prius in 2013, but the new hybrid Hyundai will be a plug-in hybrid vehicle from the get-go, unlike its Japanese rival, which is slowly rolling out its own plug-in variant.

While the news came from an anonymous source within Hyundai, the Korean automaker is making a strong push in the hybrid segment, as rising gas prices and the launch of the Sonata Hybrid sedan have put Hyundai in an excellent position. Hyundai is also buoyed by Toyota’s hamstrung hybrid lineup, which has seen production difficulties due to Japan’s March 11th earthquake. Hyundai is projecting annual sales of 18,000 units for the Sonata Hybrid in South Korea.

[Source: Reuters]

With the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delayed due to a change to the pedestrian warning system, the Kia Optima Hybrid will face similar delays, with units expected to arrive at dealers sometime in the summer, a full 5 months later than planned.

The Optima Hybrid, being mechanically identical to the Sonata Hybrid, must also undergo the removal of a switch to disable the pedestrian warning system, which emits a sound to alert bystanders that the vehicle is running while the silent electric motor is online. Hyundai also wants the Sonata Hybrid to debut first, and with supplies trickling to dealers at a very slow rate, the Optima Hybrid must wait on the sidelines until the Sonata has made its presence known.

[Source: Wards Auto]

Hyundai is partnering with technology company NAVTEQ to offer drivers a “green” option for route guidance. The “green” choice will apparently yield a 6 percent bump in fuel economy, which should dovetail nicely with Hyundai’s new Sonata Hybrid and their Elantra, Veloster and Accent small cars, which are capable of 40 mpg on the highway.

Of course, driving in anger during a high traffic stop and go commute is the worst way to conserve fuel, but also the most common mode of driving for many people.

[Source: Translogic]

Hit the jump to read the press release

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The Hyundai Sonata’s production delay due to the removal of an on-off switch for its sound emitting device looks like a smart move now that the federal government is looking to not only make the devices mandatory for hybrid and electric cars, but bar automakers from allowing drivers to cancel the systems via a dash mounted switch.

Since vehicles with electric propulsion systems are silent at idle, or when the electric drive is engaged, regulatory bodies fear that pedestrians are at risk if they are unable to hear the vehicles. With some hybrids able to operate at up to 62 mph before the gas engine engages, their fears may not be unfounded.

NHTSA expects a definitive ruling within the next three years, but in the mean time, don’t expect automakers to hedge their bets any time soon, with new hybrids and EVs likely featuring a mandatory chirp or other noise when they hit the market.

[Source: Automotive News]

After the United States legislated mandatory pedestrian warning systems for hybrid and plug-in vehicles, Hyundai was forced to go back to the drawing board, and modify their Sonata Hybrid sedan to comply with the new legislation.

The Sonata Hybrid was originally equipped to give drivers the ability to turn off the “chirping” sound emitted at low speeds to let pedestrians know that a car was approaching (at low speeds, hybrid and electric vehicles are virtually silent), but with Congress legally mandating the systems, Hyundai had to make changes to the Sonata Hybrid, with the wiring harness, driver interface and owners manual all had to be changed to ensure compliance.

The first Sonata Hybrid was delivered in January, 2011, a couple weeks behind schedule.

[Source: Green Car Reports]

A report from PlugInCars.com suggests that Hyundai‘s  endless march towards global domination isn’t letting up, and the next phase of their product strategy involves both a Prius competitor and a plug-in variant of the Sonata Hybrid.

According to Mike O’Brien, Hyundai’s head of product planning, the Sonata plug-in Hybrid would require little in the way of engineering to make it ready. “Other manufacturers’ hybrid systems were developed in such a way to not allow them to easily develop plug-in hybrids,” he said. “For the Sonata Hybrid to become a plug-in hybrid, really all we need are bigger batteries—the basic technology platform is already designed to support a plug-in variation.”

According to O’Brein, we’ll see something within the next 12 months at one of the major auto shows. Let the speculation games begin!

For more information on news, pictures, and more, please visit http://www.sonataforums.com/

[Source: Plug-in Cars]

To help promote just how fuel efficient the new Sonata Hybrid is, the folks at Hyundai employed the expertise of hypermiler Wayne Gerdes. Known for achieving 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas in a Ford Fusion Hybrid and for traveling 1,065 miles in a Hyundai Sonata 4-cylinder, Gerdes was able to travel across America on just less than two tanks of fuel.

In total, the trip stretched 2,269.3 miles from San Diego, CA to Jekyll Island, GA – resulting in an average of 59.58 mpg. Getting 1,221.2 miles on the first tank and 1,048.1 miles on the second tank (with 2.5 gallons remaining), Gerdes far exceeded the 700 miles per tank and 40-mpg rating of the EPA.

In a statement released about the trip Hyundai was also eager to point out that the Sonata Hybrid was driven in less than ideal conditions, over mountains an on interstates. That helps to explain why the 59.58-mpg rating is less than the 66.285 mpg rating the non-Hybrid Sonata achieved.

Hit the jump to see the Sonata Hybrid in action and get a few hypermiling tips from Gerdes.

GALLERY: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Across America

Read AutoGuide’s Review of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid by Clicking Here

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