Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, introduced the 2011 model of its hybrid compact sedan, the Avante LPi, on Wednesday as the first of its new lineup to help bring up its domestic and overseas sales.
The 2011 Avante LPi Hybrid comes with four side curtain airbags, which were only available for an additional charge in previous models, as well as
an optional Hi-Pass non-stop electric toll collection system for added convenience, the automaker said.
"The Avante LPi Hybrid 2011 model is the most competitive and environmentally friendly vehicle with the efficiency of a hybrid car that runs on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and also has the highest safety and convenience features of its category," the company said in a press release.
The starting price of the new Avante LPi was set at 20.5 million won (US$16,645) and the price can go up to 23.2 million won, depending on the
model of the vehicle and optional features added.
Hyundai's domestic sales plunged 22.7 percent to 49,228 units in May from a year earlier mainly due to increased competition, especially from its
affiliate and biggest rival Kia Motors Corp., whose local sales rose 5 percent on-year to over 40,000 units last month.
The automaker is set to introduce a series of new and revamped vehicles in the second half of the year, including the all-new Grandeur luxury sedan that is sold as the Azera in overseas markets, to help further solidify its market leadership.