L.A. Auto Show: Hyundai aims for 35 mpg fleet average by 2015

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Hyundai today declared it’s on a mission to become ‘the most fuel efficient automaker on the planet.’ Its goal is to beat the upcoming 2020 35-miles-per-gallon fleet fuel economy standard by five years, an early offering in this campaign is a hybrid Sonata sedan in 2010.

It claims its ‘Blue Drive’ Hybrid system uses a smaller, lighter battery and performs better overall than current systems while costing less.

In 2009, it will offer more fuel-efficient versions of its Accent and Elantra sedans. The more efficient models also will be priced lower than other trim levels, Hyundai said.

The company said research continues on hydrogen fuel-cell systems as well, with plans to offer a fuel-cell vehicle in the Korean market in 2012.

Also in L.A. is a new crossover model, the ‘i-mode’ with a 286-hp gasoline engine that also achives more than 30 mpg. A diesel version of the car was shown at the Geneva auto show. Hyundai says the U.S. version, gasoline-powered model will be on sale soon.

Hyundai recently introduced its first V-8 luxury sedan. They announced in their auto show news conference funding for Brazilian re-forestation they claim will offset the carbon emissions of the first year’s run of the large Genesis sedans.

-- Peter Y. Hong

For photos of production cars from the show, click here.

For photos of concept cars from the show, click here.