Orders for first Hyundai hybrid car

Hyundai Motor Co. will receive pre-launch orders for its first hybrid electric vehicle from today, the company said yesterday.

The price of the car will be disclosed before its launch on July 8, it said.

Based on the compact sedan Avante, the car is powered by a 1.6-liter liquefied petroleum gas engine and electric motors powered by lithium polymer batteries.

The hybrid Avante`s fuel economy clocks in at 17.8 kilometers per liter, which according to the company is equivalent to 22.2 kilometers per liter in a gasoline-powered vehicle.

"The LPI hybrid was designed specifically for the local market to take advantage of the fuel`s low price in Korea," Hyundai Motor said. According to the Korea National Oil Corp., the average cost of gasoline was about 1,622 won ($1.30) per liter on Saturday while that of LPG was recorded at 753 won per liter.

(cheesuk@heraldm.com)