Hyundai is taking a bold step into the world of in-car telematics with their BlueLink system. Much like GM’s OnStar, BlueLink can provide directions, schedule servicing, remotely lock or unlock the car doors, notify emergency services in case of a crash and remotely start the car, with the ability to pre-heat or cool the vehicle based on your preferences.

Other cool (and slightly spooky) features include an automatic slowdown feature in case your vehicle is reported stolen and being pursued by the police, and a feature known as “geofencing” that sends the driver a text message of the vehicle strays outside of a demarcated area. Looks like breaking curfew will be a thing of the past for children of Hyundai owners.

BlueLink will initially roll out on the Sonata and a “youth-focused model” (aka the Veloster) this summer, but will extend to the entire Hyundai range by 2013.

[Source: Hyundai]

Press release after the jump

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Hyundai has just released a single teaser image of its new Veloster sports coupe/hatchback ahead of the car’s debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week.

As rumored, the car appears to be a 4-door hatchback, with two doors on the passenger’s side, but only one on the driver’s side.

Positioned as a rival to the Honda CR-Z as well as the VW Scirocco overseas, the Veloster won’t be a hybrid, but will still beat the Honda in terms of fuel economy (on the highway anyway) thanks to a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder mated to a dual-clutch transmission. Power will be rated at 138-hp and 124 ft-lbs of torque. Hyundai hasn’t officially said as much, but the car should get more than 40-mpg on the highway.

Check back for more info soon, plus complete details from the live reveal at the Detroit Auto Show on January 10th.

Get more Hyundai Veloster News and Info at Veloster.org

Hyundai has just released a short teaser video giving us the best glimpse yet and its new Veloster compact sporty car ahead of it’s debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

Positioned as a rival to the Honda CR-Z, the Veloster won’t be a hybrid, but will still beat the Honda in terms of fuel economy (on the highway anyway) thanks to a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder mated to a dual-clutch transmission. Power will be rated at 138-hp and 124 ft-lbs of torque.

Check back for more info soon, plus complete details from the live reveal at the Detroit Auto Show on January 10th.

Check out the video after the jump and get more Hyundai Veloster News and Info at Veloster.org:

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At today’s Michigan tech briefing, Hyundai announced plans for new transmissions, including a 10 speed automatic, and ambitious fuel economy targets.

Hyundai claimed that a 10 speed automatic would be part of their overall strategy for 2016 through 2020, along with cylinder deactivation. Even more enticing, Hyundai confirmed that a dual clutch transmission would be offered shortly, in conjunction with a new 1.6L engine, and strongly hinted that this package would appear on their upcoming Veloster sports car.

Hyundai also affirmed their commitment to achieving a 50 MPG CAFE rating for the year 2025. Sounds impressive, but that figure is only about 37 mpg when measured by traditional EPA standards, so it’s not all that astounding.

Check Autoguide’s Twitter feed for updates from Hyundai’s tech briefing

Recently a report circulated online claiming that the Hyundai Veloster would debut at the LA Auto Show. The folks in Hyundai’s PR department denied the claims and went so far as to say another “very important” model would be the focal point of their LA Show press conference. (That vehicle is believed to be the new Elantra).

The latest report, from the Detroit Free Press, is claiming (without a source) that the new compact coupe will arrive a month later at the Detroit show. Perhaps, however, this news story is just a way to fish out the real truth. After all, if Hyundai denies this one we can almost be sure the debut is coming in Paris.

It’s long been believed that the upcoming Paris Auto Show would be the venue for the new model, which will slot in below the spot formerly filled by the Tiburon. The Veloster is expected to be powered by a direct-injection 1.6-liter engine making 138-hp and delivering as much as 40-mpg on the highway.

[Source: DetroitFreePress]

Get more Hyundai Veloster News and Info at Veloster.org

Contrary to several reports, Hyundai has confirmed that the Veloster compact sports coupe/hatchback will not debut at the LA Auto Show later this year. Speaking about the rumor, Hyundai rep Dan Bedore commented that, “there is no truth to this.”

And while the Veloster will not debut in LA, Bedore did confirm that “We will have a very important North American product debut at the LA Auto Show.”

As for what that product is, we’re expecting debuts for both the new Elantra and the 2011 Accent in the near future. Although rumors have also suggested Hyundai may show a concept car that will set the company on the path towards it’s 50-mpg CAFE goal. This could be a version of the Blue-Will Concept that would rival the Toyota Prius.

The Veloster may beat all these products to market, wit rumors suggesting the 40-mpg highway model will first appear at the Paris Auto Show in a month’s time.

Ward’s Auto is reporting via their Twitter feed that Hyundai North America President and CEO John Krafcik told reporters that their North American arm will have a fleet average fuel economy rating of 50 mpg by 2025.

Hyundai is currently planning the launch of their first hybrid, the Sonata Hybrid, for this fall, with more models to follow. The upcoming Veloster is rumored to be able to achieve 40 mpg. However, a 50 mpg fleet average is an extremely ambitious target and will almost certainly take some kind of radical developments in the field of internal combustion engines, as well as plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles to achieve. Hyundai’s new Sonata, available only with four-cylinder engines, is selling briskly and is able to return better fuel economy ratings than the competition thanks to a focus on reducing curb weight. Hyundai seems to be one of the few manufacturers committed to this strategy, one that should give them an advantage going forward.

[Source: Wards Auto]

Hyundai‘s upcoming compact coupe, based on the Veloster concept, is expected to be unveiled soon in the Korean automaker’s home market before a likely international debut at either the Paris or Detroit auto shows. According to a report by Motor Trend, Hyundai is expected to announce at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show that it will take the new model racing.

It’s no known what series the Veloster would compete in, although in the past Hyundai did take the Tiburon rally racing and the X-games are also a strong possibility, with Hyundai driver Rhys Millen at the wheel. There is also the chance that Hyundai could enter the car in either the Continental Tires Sports Car Challenge (formerly Koni Challenge) series – although sister company Kia currently competes there with the Forte Koup. Also a possibility is the World Challenge touring cars series.

As for the production Veloster, it will be powered by a direct-injection 1.6-liter 4-cylinder making roughly 140-hp and getting 40-mpg.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Speaking at a press event in Korea, Hyundai CEO John Krafcik let it slip that the Hyundai Sonata Turbo will start at just under $25,000, undercutting its V6 segment rivals by about $3,000.

The Sonata Turbo puts out 274-horsepower and a combined 32 mpg from its 2.0L four-cylinder engine. Hyundai intends for the vehicle to be a faster and more efficient alternative to V6 powered competitors like the Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Krafcik also announced that the Hyundai Veloster, Hyundai’s long awaited sports coupe based on the Elantra compact, will use a 1.6L direct injection four-banger to put out 140 horsepower while getting 40 mpg on the highway. With the Veloster taking straight aim at the Honda CR-Z, the Hyundai offers a significant power advantage, and better estimated fuel economy on the highway.

[Source: Automotive News]

Hyundai is aiming to achieve an EPA rating of more than 40-mpg with its new Veloster model. The stubby hatchback has already been likened to the Honda CRX of old by Hyundai Motor America president John Krafcik, and now it seems Hyundai is planning to really steal Honda’s thunder, by besting the Japanese automaker’s reborn CRX, the CR-Z. That model, despite using a hybrid drivetrain, gets 36/39-mpg city/highway with a CVT, or a slightly lower 31/37-mpg with a 6-speed manual.

Better yet, Hyundai’s non-hybrid system, (believed to be a 140-hp, direct-injection 1.6-liter 4-cylinder), will keep both weight and cost to a minimum by keeping a heavy and expensive hybrid system out of the picture.

Krafcik has also let slip more details about the Veloster, including the fact that all models will come with a large in-dash screen – likely to show trip info and to manage things like iPods, etc.

[Source: Autoblog]

The Hyundai Veloster, the Korean company’s replacement for their successful Tiburon coupe, will make its debut at the Paris Auto Show in September, according to Autocar magazine.

Reports say that the Veloster will be a three-door coupe, ala the Saturn SC1 of the 1990′s, with two doors on one side, to ease entry into the back seats. The Veloster will also be powered by a 1.6L four cylinder with direct injection, putting out 140-hp with a turbocharged 200-hp model to debut later. A dual clutch gearbox is also expected to be a part of the package.

[Source: Autocar]