Hyundai Motor Co. and its corporate cousin, Kia Motors Corp., said Thursday that they will strive for a 25 percent improvement in the fuel economy of their cars by 2020. 
   
The "2020 mileage improvement roadmap" calls for revolutionary improvements in the powertrain lineup, measures to reduce the weight of vehicles and the launching of more eco-friendly hybrid, electric-powered cars and hydrogen fuel-cell models.
   
The move comes after Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo called on the two carmakers last year to achieve industry-best fuel economy ratings by 2020. Hyundai Motor and Kia are the flagship companies of the world's fifth-largest automotive conglomerate.
   
In the gasoline engine field, the two carmakers said they will revise and improve the capabilities of its Nu and Kappa engine families.
   
Kappa engines with displacement ranging from 1 liter to 1.25L are used mostly for small cars, while the Nu engines with displacements ranging from 1.8L to 2L are for midsize passenger cars.
   
Besides revamping these engines, the carmakers said they will start making more turbo powerplants that offer excellent performance on smaller engine displacements.
   
They added that efforts are under way to launch a completely new engine to replace its R-series diesel mills that have received acclaim for their efficiency and environmentally friendly performance characteristics.
   
To improve the mileage of its vehicles, the companies said they will also revise the existing six-speed and eight-speed automatic gearboxes so more power can be delivered from the engine to the wheels in an efficient manner.
   
"Hyundai and Kia's 1.6L engine family and 4.6L V8 Tau engine have been rated as the world's best engines for four years in a row, so the carmakers can make good engines," a corporate insider said.
  
He said the goal calls for an 11 to 13 percent improvement in gasoline engine efficiency, 16 to 18 percent gains in diesels and a 2 to 9 percent boost in mileage with the help of better transmissions.
   
Besides engines and transmissions, Hyundai and Kia will use more high-strengthened steel in the construction of its cars that will not only make them lighter, but safer for passengers.
   
At present, 33 to 52 percent of Hyundai and Kia cars use high-tensile steel, with these numbers set to go up to between 48 and 62 percent by 2018. The business group enjoys an edge in this area vis-a-vis its rivals because it has its own large integrated steel mill. 
   
In addition, the companies said they will employ more aluminum wheels and foamed plastic on doors that can all save weight.
   
The two carmakers then said they will introduce eco-friendly models for all of their vehicles. 
   
"Work is under way to ensure the goal is implemented in a timely manner," the company said.
   
It said that by meeting the goals, Hyundai and Kia will be able to comply with future fuel economy rules in its home market and those in the United States and Europe.
   
"The strategy will strive to make fuel economy a clear-cut advantage for the brands in 2020, and all the conglomerate's resources will be centered on achieving the target," it said. (Yonhap)