Hyundai Unveils Theta II GDI Direct Injection Petrol Four-Cylinder Engine

HYUNDAI THIS WEEK revealed its first-ever direct injection petrol engine, the 2.4 litre Theta II GDI four-cylinder petrol engine.

Based on the existing Theta II engine available with the current generation Sonata, the Theta II GDI is scheduled to debut in the Sonata's successor next year.

With a compression ratio of 11.3:1, the new direct injection engine produces 148kW at 6300rpm and 250Nm of torque at 4250Nm - up from the regular port-injected engine's 128kW and 225Nm.

Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing joins the Theta II's updates, bringing improvements to the engine's breathing, enhancing fuel economy and lowering emissions.

Fuel efficiency is said to be improved by around 10 percent, however Hyundai is awaiting final certification on the new engine's fuel consumption.

Hyundai says its GDI technology, developed over 46 months at a cost of AU$158 million, will be applied across the carmaker's model range (and likely Kia) over the coming years.

Currently available with the R2.2 diesel engine only, the Santa Fe SUV is expected to receive the new Theta II GDI engine late next year - although it's too soon to know if it will be offered in Australia.