We’re starting to lose count of all the launches that Hyundai have done this year alone. If anything, they’re one of the busiest automakers in the country, and they’re making all the right noises.
We’re pretty sure that Hyundai Philippines has more in the bag, and publicly-available government files can only show so much. That said, we did see a file that caught our attention, and it’s one that can be of interest for luxury van shoppers.
A few months ago, we saw the LTO file for the Hyundai Staria Lounge Hybrid. More recently, we stumbled upon the DOE’s listing for the hybrid van. With that, it appears to be inching closer to its local launch.
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On top of that, there’s more information to be found in DOE’s listing. Aside from engine displacement, power output is mentioned, as well as its battery capacity. It’s a 1.6-liter turbo mated to a single motor and a sizable (for a hybrid) 1.49kWh battery. Engine power is rated at 178hp while the motor puts out 73hp. Per specs based on the South Korean model, we’re expecting 245hp and 367Nm.
As it’s the Lounge variant, it’s the range-topping variant of the Hyundai Staria range. It has the potential to replace the diesel model, but we reckon it’ll hang around for quite some time.
It will be interesting to see if the hybrid powertrain will be offered in the lower variants of the Staria lineup. We doubt it’ll be an option for the utilitarian trim levels, but we think it’ll be a good addition for the 11- and 9-seater models. However, it might step on the toes of the smaller (but more car-like) Custin minivan.
So far, Hyundai Philippines isn’t giving any hints about launching this van. Then again, the company is great at putting its cards close to its chest. Still, it’s something to look forward to should the company push through with launching this model.
