Vice Chairman Chung Ui-sun of Hyundai Motor Group introduces the new hybrid Sonata sedan model at Detroit Motor Show which opened on Jan. 12 in Detroit, Michigan, the U.S.(Photos:HMG)

Hyundai Motor Co. and its sister company, Kia Motors, unveiled their new crossover truck, tentatively named, Santa Cruz HCD-15, a new Hyundai Motor environmentally friendly car model, and other new car models. The auto maker plans to develop them for sale in the U.S. market, but the timing of their introduction depends on the market’s reaction for the new models. Vice Chairman Chung Ui-sun of Hyundai Motor Group presented the new car models at the 2015 North American International Auto Show — a.k.a. the Detroit Motor Show — held at Cobo Center, which kicked off on Jan.12.

Vice Chairman Chung said this is the 10th year since Hyundai Motor began to assemble the Sonatas at its auto plants in Montgomery, Alabama, and he would like to thank the Alabama state government and local employees who worked hard to assemble the cars and maintain their superior quality. He also thanked the customers who love their cars. He recalled that its been four years since he announced the introduction of Hyundai Motor’s new brand of cars to the global market to put brand management of Hyundai Motor, based on its customers and the policy changes. The strategy is paying off.

The vice chairman said the environmentally friendly cars have become the car models of the future and Hyundai Motor plans to strengthen its competitive edge in the production of those cars, including in areas such as hydrogen fuel, battery and electric vehicles, and hybrid cars to lead the global markets for those cars. He said the plug-in hybrid Sonata model has been developed by Hyundai Motor with its own technology and will show the superb quality of the motor company’s environment friendly car technologies that went into develop the hybrid car model.

The new concept car model is a mixture of passenger, sports utility vehicle and truck, said Vice Chairman Yang Woong-cheol of Hyundai Motor’s of the R&D Department, adding that the introduction of the new concept model to the market would depend on the reactions from its potential customers, the children of the Baby Boomers or the Millennium Generation.

The new Santa Cruz comes with muscular hexagonal radiator grills. It has just two doors. On the roof and trunk are rough pads to prevent skiddings. The new model comes with a 190 horse power 2.OL turbo diesel engine mounted with the H-TRAC four-wheel drive unique to Hyundai Motor.

Hyundai Motor also introduced its plug-in hybrid Sonata model (PHEV) which is powered by a new 154 horse power 2.OL GDI engine and 50 kw electric motor with six automatic gears with 202 horse power output. The new model also comes with 9.8 km/h lithium polymer battery to enable the car to run 35 km by its own electric motor. Mixed fuel mileage is estimated at over 18 km per liter. It also comes with an advanced smart cruise control (ASCC) and automatic warning system for changing lanes (LDWS), among the high-tech safety and ambience equipment.