South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai has announced that the company's new Ioniq Hybrid Blue, which is expected to hit the market early next year, has an estimated EPA rating of 57 miles per gallon for city, 59 miles per gallon for highway, and a combined rating of 56.

Although Hyundai has dodged several speculations about the Ioniq Hybrid Blue, it is clear that the car is looking to beat the Toyota Prius as America's most eco-friendly car, according to CNet.

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The Ioniq Hybrid is a slipstream five-door car with a direct injected 1.6-liter gas engine capable of outputting up to 103 horsepower and 109 pound-feet of torque, according to Forbes. The mechanical engine is backed up by an electric motor that can give out 43 horsepower. The electric motor uses a 1.56-kWh lithium ion battery. The Ioniq Hybrid has a combined output of 139 horsepower, beating the Toyota Prius which has a rating of 121 horsepower.

Unlike most hybrid cars which use a continuous electronic variable transmission, the Ioniq Hybrid has a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. This type of transmission is more commonly used by performance-oriented cars. Hyundai said that the Ioniq would be available in pure electric and plug-in hybrid configurations.

With the current surge of demands for cars that offer better mileage, the Ioniq is a potential moneymaker for Hyundai. Moreover, cars that run on alternative fuel are yet to dominate the market, and it will be quite a while before they do.

TagsHyundai, hyundai ioniq, ioniq hybrid, hyundai hybrid, hybrid cars, eta, eta rating