There’s been quite a bit of activity going on recently in regards to Hyundai, especially on the retail side. Where once, dealers with deep pockets shunned the Korean company’s automotive franchises, now they’re snapping them up and in ever increasing numbers.

This probably isn’t surprising. Hyundai has significantly increased its U.S. market share during the last decade and expanded it’s product portfolio to include sportier and more luxury based offerings like the Genesis and new Equus. That, combined with increasing profitability has caused many large, successful dealers to have a look at getting a franchise, even if currently, it maybe one of the smaller stores. So far this year, it’s been reported that 40 of Hyundai’s 803 U.S. stores have changed hands with big players like Auto Nation and Penske getting in on the action.

The latter has recently acquired a store in the Phoenix, AZ area, a low-volume dealership, but has big plans for it. “I think [such stores] are viewed as an attractive opportunity, whereas, four or five years ago you were unsure of the footprint the brand was going to garner,” said Penske spokesman Tony Pordon.

Alongside more prestigious product offerings and growing market share (currently 4.7 percent in the U.S.), residuals have also improved: Hyundai was ranked as the 7th overall mainstream automotive brand by ALG in it’s 2011 Residual Value Awards, which is above the industry average, something bigger dealers see as an attractive proposition and an opportunity for growth, even in stores that are currently low volume or under performing.

John Patterson, who owns several Mazda stores in the Orange County, CA area, recently took the plunge and bought his first Hyundai franchise, after originally turning one down in 2003. Since he started running Tustin Hyundai, he’s seen monthly sales quadruple. “I think Hyundai has turned a corner,” he said. “It’s a franchise on its way up.”

[Source: Automotive News]

Apparently to some, the stock performance of Ariel’s Atom 3 300 isn’t enough. Wimmer RS has decided to provide an answer to that market segment by enhancing the Atom’s performance to 340-hp and 280 ft-lbs of torque. Considering that this Atom rendition uses a turbocharged Honda powerplant, it isn’t hard to believe an extra 40-hp could be extracted from the already potent engine.

To get the extra 40-hp, Wimmer RS reflashes the ECU and installs an updated compressor, fuel pump conversion and sport exhaust system. And with the Ariel Atom already weighing in at a scant 1,034 lbs, we can’t even imagine the effect 40 additional horses has on such a lightweight machine. Wimmer RS claims their Airel Atom rendition hits 0-62 mph in merely 2.8 seconds.

Where do we sign up to drive one of these bad boys?

GALLERY: Wimmer RS Ariel Atom 3 300

In the history of automotive transmissions, the CVT undoubtedly ranks near the bottom of the pile, as one of the car world’s poorly thought out inventions.

The CVT offers the worst of all worlds, combining the worst parts of an automatic with the efficiency of a manual. It makes you feel like you’re driving something with an outboard motor, thanks to its ability to hold a constant rpm, but somehow it has survived and is still offered by many companies today.

Now we have word that GM may offer the CVT on upcoming versions of the Chevrolet Cruze, Spark and Aveo, thanks to the fact that it will bump up fuel economy by roughly 10 percent. GM needs to increase mileage by this amount for the next model cycle, and this is simply the most expedient route. Most consumers may not even notice, but color us ticked off.

[Source: Automotive News]

Carlos Ghosn, head of Renault-Nissan, offered a series of very optimistic forecasts regarding electric vehicles during a recent interview with Bloomberg TV, while stating bluntly “There are customers who want really zero emission cars.”

Ghosn predicted that 10 percent of auto sales in the year 2020 will be comprised of zero emissions vehicles, and Nissan seems to be betting heavily on electric vehicles in particular.

With plans to produce 500,000 electric cars by 2012, Ghosn said that profits could be generated within 3 years as the production volumes increase to a level where economies of scale can be taken advantage of.

[Source: Automotive News]

Motorists in the UK are being hit with a one-two punch, after a shortage of winter tires left drivers scrambling to find appropriate tires for the chilly conditions.

Strong demand for winter tires due to last winter’s heavy snowfall has led to a shortage of snow tires. Even with a 400 percent increase in deliveries to the UK, supplies look to be sold out through January.

Meanwhile, drivers are reporting that some insurers are raising premiums on vehicles with winter tires, due to their install being considered a “modification”. Insurers seem to be ambivalent regarding the proven safety benefits of winter tires, and motorists are understandably outraged.

[Source: Auto Express]

Some things are just too precious to adorn the hood of a car. Like the Ferrari‘s iconic Prancing Horse, which is now available as a collectible you can display in your home or office.

A limited edition silver sculpture, the Prancing Horse is a legend in the automotive world. This symbol was born 1923 – Ferrari won his first trophy in Savio, where he met Countess Baracca. She was the one who gave him the idea to use the Prancing Horse as a good luck charm on his own cars.

This limited edition collectible Prancing Horse carries on the luxury tradition. It weighs in at 850 grams, is made entirely in silver and stands 20 centimeters (7.8-inches) high.

Even the wrapping is luxe – the Prancing Horse sculpture comes in an elegant red box and sits atop a plexiglass base complete with an etched and numbered label that guarantees the exclusivity of the limited edition. There are only 99 units available for sale, each costing $6,664. You can buy yours at the Ferrari online store.

Volvo‘s CEO Stefan Jacoby is calling for a new focus for Volvo, and wants to see the Swedish automaker abandon its position as a premium brand meant to compete with Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

“Let’s ditch this talk about premium,” said Jacoby while speaking to Autocar magazine. “It sounds like a pricing strategy and it’s got an expensive ring to it. We need to focus on elegant Scandinavian simplicity, our own unique identity, and not copy our competitors.”

For years, Volvo has enjoyed its own cachet, particularly in the United States, where it became synonymous with upper-middle-class suburbia, but sales have fallen to the point where Jacboy is alarmed.

“We have lost ground in the US,” explained the Volvo chief exec. “We are at the bottom, looking up.”

[Source: Autocar]

Back in 1993, Steve Saleen built a one-off Foxbody Ford Mustang for comedian and car guy Tim Allen. Dubbed the RRR ‘Casper’ it sported pearl white paint, MN12 Thunderbird front light assemblies, some trick wheels, a built driveline (including  a 576 horsepower 302 V8) and a six-point roll cage among other things.

Little has been seen or heard about the car since Allen took delivery, though now, it’s popped up for sale. The current vendor claims they’ve had the car since 1997, but it appears that this one-of-a-kind Mustang has been driven rather extensively (there’s notable wear on the steering wheel and upholstery) and wasn’t even cleaned before pictures were taken. Furthermore, it’s currently sporting standard 1993 Saleen wheels – what ever happened to the one-off phone dial style rims it originally came with?

The car is currently located in the Phoenix, Arizona area and the asking price is $85,000. That seems an awful lot for a Fox Mustang in this economic climate, even if is the RRR!

[Source: Hemmings Motor News]

With Fiat’s 500 about to hit dealers in North America, we’re about to see an influx of aftermarket tuners producing products for the Italian car and all its many variants.

Novitec, a famed Ferrari tuner, has taken the Italian hatch and added its own twist. Starting with Abarth’s high-performance version, Novitec is offering several different tuning packages that offer horsepower upgrades from 164-hp to 212-hp.

The packages are available for the 1.4L T-Jet 4-cylinder powerplant with their NT4-Corse taking center stage. Priced at close to $4,000 the kit comes complete with a new turbo, air filter and air intake box on the intake side. On the exhaust side, Novitec provides a new exhaust system. For fuel, bigger injectors and a fuel pressure regulator are included. And of course the ECU is upgraded with Novitec’s Powerjet 2 unit. The exhaust system is offered separately for those wanting just that for their Abarth 500.

Suspension upgrades are also available from Novitec from sport springs (that lowers the Abarth 500 approximately 1.37-inches) or full coilovers that come with stiffer shocks. For wheels, Novitec offers 17-inch or 18-inch N10 wheels in either silver polished or matte black finishes. The wheels start at $1,460. Those wanting an extra-aggressive setup, Novitec will accompany an 18×8-inch package for Abarth’s 500.

On the outside, Novitec has also developed a new front lip spoiler made of carbon fiber and the turn signals are tinted in black.

GALLERY: Novitec Abarth 500

Get more Fiat 500 News and Info at Fiat500Owners.com

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