Hyundai Motor Group is already working on the next generation Sorento and future Santa Fe facelift and for the first time ever, it will lack of pure gasoline engines. In response of EU’s Euro 7 emission regulations, the South Korean automaker will offer only hybrid or plug-in hybrid in their future line-up in Europe.
Santa Fe, which is already on sale in South Korea, has a variety of powertrains such as gasoline, gasoline turbo and hybrid while the recently refreshed Sorento its available with the same line-up and also a diesel variant. Currently, in selected overseas markets, both brands offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.
Hyundai Motor Group is expected to promote electrification sequentially from the SUV lineup, which has relatively higher pollutant emissions than sedans. Starting with Santa Fe and Sorento, hybrids are expected to be provided as a standard. Sedan line-up including Elantra and Grandeur will follow up. Remember that Hyundai is already developing a Grandeur PHEV to be added by 2025.
Hyundai Motor Group is rushing to switch to electrification because the EU Commission is setting a deadline for the implementation of the Euro 7 by July of 2025, which significantly tightening restrictions on car emissions. According to the Euro7 draft issued late last year, all passenger cars to be sold to Europe by 2025 will have to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from the current 80 mg/km (Euro 6) to 60 mg/km. The period of compliance with emission requirements more than doubles to a maximum of 10 years. Currently unregulated brake particle discharge, tire microplastic discharge standards, etc. will be added.
When the Euro 7 is implemented, the manufacturers will have to add a gas reduction device to the gasoline model, increase its durability, and bear the burden of rising vehicle costs. Because of this, the European Association of Automobile Industries (ACEA), which has members such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, has strongly opposed the cost-reduction effect and is less realistic. The EU Commission is even looking at ways to ease the details of the Euro7.
