Hyundai’s Gamma picked among world’s top 10 auto engines

By Kim Tae-gyu

Hyundai Motor Group’s small-sized engine has been picked as one of the world’s top 10 products for next year, according to a media organization in the United States specializing in the automobile industry.

WardsAuto came up with the 2012 10 Best Engines Winners on Friday, including the 1.6-liter DOHC I-4 Gamma that is installed in such compact cars as Hyundai Motor’s Accent and Kia Motors’ Soul.

As a result, Hyundai Motor Group has been included among the prestigious awards, dubbed the equivalent of the Oscars for the car engine segment, for four straight years since 2009 when its large-sized Tau 5.0-liter V-8 engine was honored.

``Hyundai spent three years on the list with its excellent Tau 5.0-liter V-8, but 2012 brings evidence the automaker can deliver world class small engines as well,’’ WardsAuto said in a press release.

``The new 1.6-liter DI Gamma 4-cylinder engine is powering entry level vehicles such as the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio and demonstrates its versatility in the Kia Soul, a boxy compact (with a fuel-saving stop/start system), and the Hyundai Veloster, a 3-door coupe.’’

WardsAuto praised the Seoul-based group’s two flagship firms of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors for successfully taking advantage of the engine to generate attractive models.

``Matched with an excellent six-speed manual transmission for our evaluation, this package makes the Accent an easy pick for B-class car shoppers. Priced a shade above $14,000, the Gamma-equipped Accent is excellent value that will surprise and delight any first-time buyer,’’ it said.

``We also were impressed by the engine’s efficiency mated with a six-speed automatic in the heavier and less aerodynamic Kia Soul.’’

The 2012 awards were dominated by direct fuel-injection engines, taking up seven of the winning entries, which also included products from Audi, BMW, Ford, Chrysler, Buick, Mazda and Infiniti.

``It is a great honor that our Gamma engine was picked as being competitive in the world market. The award is expected to raise our brand value, which would end up increasing our sales,’’ a Hyundai official said.

Top residual values

Hyundai Motor Group also savored some good news from Europe as some of its models were chosen as best cars in terms of residual value.

Autobild, the industry benchmark for residual value and depreciation data in Europe, said Friday that Hyundai Motor’s Veloster and Kia Motors’ Venga topped the list in their sectors.

Autobild selects a total of 11 vehicles in each segment.

Hyundai Motor said that the achievement is a back-to-back achievement because its 2012 Elantra, known as the Avante in Korea, was picked as the best compact car in residual values in the United States this year.

ALG, the benchmark in the world’s automobile market, named the Elantra as the winner in the mid-compact sector.