Nexo, Kona engines recognized

[HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Two Hyundai Motor models were included on the WardsAuto list of the 10 best engines on Thursday, boosting the carmaker’s position as it works to be a contender in the eco-friendly auto market.

Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered sport-utility vehicle (SUV) Nexo’s 120-kilowatt fuel-cell and electric propulsion system and the compact SUV Kona EV’s 150-kilowatt electric propulsion system were included in the 2019 WardsAuto 10 Best Engines edition.

Published by the U.S. magazine since 1994, the list is followed by auto companies around the world.

Editors at the publication generated this year’s list after testing 34 engines in regular commute drives from October to November.

WardsAuto highlighted the Nexo for demonstrating scalability in fuel-cell technology, labeling the vehicle “a time machine you can sit in today and see the future.”

The publication also noted Kona EV’s 258-mile range, saying it could “eliminate range anxiety, ”with magazine editor Drew Winter drawing attention to the electric vehicle’s “neck-snapping power and torque.”

Hyundai’s engines have regularly appeared on the list since it was first awarded a place in 2008. This year, however, marks the first time for the Korean carmaker to win two spots in the same year.

“We will lead the future auto market by developing a wide range of eco-friendly cars,” said a Hyundai Motor official on the awards.

Recognition comes as the Hyundai Motor Group places big bets on hydrogen fuel-cell technology. The group announced Tuesday that it is increasing production capacity to 500,000 fuel-cell electric vehicles yearly by 2030.

Sales figures for the Nexo this year, however, indicate that the carmaker has a long way to go as it only sold 587 vehicles through November in the domestic market.

BY CHAE YUN-HWAN [chae.yunhwan@joongang.co.kr]