Images of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe leaked today, giving us an idea of what features to expect in the upcoming model.
While there have already been teaser images spread across the internet, the brochure pictures show LED head and tail lights and indicate that the new model will have lane departure warning, parking assist, knee airbags and BlueLink.
[Source: The Korean Car Blog]
It’s a case of technicality versus practicality: The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration told Hyundai to replace the center rear seat belts in 14,728 Sonata Hybrids made between 2011 and 2012, but the Korean automaker declined.
It comes down to a dispute over why the belts need to be changed. U.S. safety regulations prohibit using “a release mechanism that detaches both the lap and shoulder portion at the lower anchorage point,” in the middle position of the rear seat.
Hyundai agreed to comply by repairing the 1,633 Sonata Hybrids, but is reluctant to do the same for the 13,095 that already sold. The company argues that there isn’t a safety risk, and is filing for an exemption.
NHTSA will review Hyundai’s filing, but if the petition is denied, the company will need to proceed as initially advised. Only the hybrid versions of the car are affected. If the request is denied, Hyundai will contact vehicle owners, but because of the uncertain circumstances it would behoove owners to sign up for NHTSA’s recall notification system, just in case details slip through the cracks.
Hyundai offered a 2010 model year Elantra Blue briefly, featuring a manual transmission and special gear ratios helping it to achieve better fuel economy than a standard Elantra. Now it appears that the Korean automaker might revive the Blue package for its compact Elantra.
On the EPA’s fuel economy website, Hyundai has a listing for an Elantra Blue model that shows a 34-mpg combined rating, which is 1 mpg more than the standard Elantra. It appears that the 1 mpg bump is in city economy, while both the Elantra Blue and standard Elantra have 40-mpg highway.
“Hyundai is continuing to study the application of start-stop technology in our vehicles. Hyundai chose to certify a vehicle with start-stop to see the benefits in EPA testing, although plans to sell an Elantra Blue in the U.S. market have not been finalized,” said Hyundai representative Jim Trainor to Leftlane News.
Though it doesn’t exactly confirm the model’s existence, it does confirm that the Korean automaker is looking to integrate start-stop technology in its vehicles, and that the Elantra would be a fitting model to release it on. We currently see the start-stop technology being used in the sister company, Kia‘s Rio sedans.
If there is indeed a fuel economy difference in the Elantra Blue, it might not be solely attributed to start-stop technology. The Korean automaker in the past has admitted that start-stop alone doesn’t help in EPA testing.
With the New York Auto Show around the corner, there is a chance that the Korean automaker may make an announcement then.
[Source: Leftlane News]
Maybe we just wanted an excuse to show a photo of model Adriana Lima with a Kia, but the Korean automaker along with its bigger brother Hyundai have both just been rated as the EPA’s most efficient and cleanest automakers.
The Environmental Protection Agency recently published their annual Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Fuel Economy Trends report with Hyundai and Kia tied in first place with a lineup average of 27-mpg in terms of fuel economy. As far as CO2 emissions, Hyundai was top of the list at 329 grams per mile, while Kia was a close second at 330 grams per mile.
This surprisingly makes the Korean automakers the greenest car companies in the United States with Toyota in second place for fuel economy at 25.4-mpg and Honda in third at 24.9-mpg. Toyota netted third place for CO2 emissions at 350 grams per mile.
“The 2011 EPA data demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to fuel economy leadership and validates the effectiveness of our Blue Drive strategy,” said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. “Through innovations such as light-weight steel, direct injection technology, turbocharging and advanced transmissions we are able to improve the efficiency and performance of all our vehicles.”
The mentioned results reflect the 2010 model year data, which also had the best average gas mileage for new cars (22-mpg) and average rate of CO2 emission (394 grams per mile) ever recorded in the EPA’s database. Hyundai and Kia are also favored to take the top spots in a preliminary report on 2011 model year vehicles.
Engines are getting smaller and more efficient, while automakers continue to search for the best balance between performance and fuel efficiency.
In Europe, Volkswagen turned to a small 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine to power its more compact models. Now Hyundai is joining the party with its own 1.2-liter, turbo four.
Unfortunately the Korean automaker didn’t disclose performance figures for its new T-GDi Kappa powerplant, instead saying it will emit “less than 100 grams of CO2 per kilometer.”
The first Hyundais to be equipped with the new 1.2-liter turbo-four should hit European showrooms before the end of the year. It’s believed that it’ll find a home in the Hyundai i20 and i30 and possibly the Kia Picanto and Cee’d. We should be hearing more about performance figures once the T-GDi Kappa actually starts showing up in cars.
Hyundai plans on unveiling the 2013 Santa Fe at the upcoming New York International Auto Show, but the Korean automaker decided to give us all a sneak peek through its Twitter account.
Two renderings of the 2013 Santa Fe crossover have been provided, giving us a better picture of what the next-generation CUV will look like in combination to the photos leaked earlier this year.
According to the Korean automaker, the new Santa Fe sports a new styling language “Storm Edge”, stating that it’s a natural evolution from its successful “Fluidic Sculpture” that has been seen on Hyundais the last few years.
By the looks of these photos, it appears that the Santa Fe will continue to be a two-row crossover – the optional third row was tossed out in the 2009 model year – and will continue to compete with the likes of the Nissan Murano and Toyota Venza.
Look for more on the 2013 Santa Fe with AutoGuide’s New York Auto Show coverage starting April 4th.
Hyundai‘s new i-oniq concept was officially unvieled today at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, shedding light on the brand’s future technology inside and out.
The i-oniq is best thought of as a canvas for Hyundai to show its future technologies off rather than a car with a chance of ever being built. At just over 14.4 feet long, the eye-catching scissor-door concept is a range-extended EV that can travel almost 75 miles purely on electric charge. Supplementally, a 1.0-liter gasoline engine is able to kick in some extra power and keep the car moving should the battery deplete.
Polished aluminum and wood accent the interior which serves as a showcase for the brand’s bold touch screen use and placement. The design features a floating instrument cluster and a motion-control touch screen mounted in the steering wheel.
The car also takes an unusual approach to making the rear seats accessible: the back support portion of the driver and passenger seats rotate inward instead of folding down.
“Two arched curves are the key theme behind i-oniq, creating a strong and playful contrast between sharp character lines and soft but muscular features. The profile lines of the front fender run from front to back, emphasising i-oniq’s coupé appearance, while offering maximum visibility to occupants,” Thomas Bürkle, chief designer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre said.
Next week, Hyundai will unveil its European spec Veloster Turbo at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Contending in a competitive hot-hatch market, Hyundai UK President and CEO Tony Whitehorn said, “Veloster has quickly established itself as fun car and a unique proposition. The enhanced performance will increase the Veloster’s appeal for drivers who want the perfect combination of stand-out design, a fun drive and the practicality of a hatchback.”
The Veloster Turbo will be the first Hyundai to feature the twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6-liter T-GDI engine. To optimize fuel efficiency as well as performance, the new T-GDI engine features an air-guided intercooler, direct fuel injection, dual continuously variable valve timing, and an auxiliary belt for enhanced engine reliability.
According to specs, the engine will produce 183-hp and 199 lb-ft of torque, capable of reaching 60 mph in 8.4 seconds with the in-house developed manual transmission. Comparatively, the North American offering produces a more robust 201-hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Whitehorn explained, “UK drivers tend to prefer more torque from a lower engine speed, so our European engineers have specified a set-up that still provides a substantial increase in power– up from 140 ps to 186 ps– while also delivering the desired low-end torque. The resulting package is very competitive against the performance of competitors such as VW Scirocco and Vauxhall Astra.”
Aesthetics wise, the Veloster Turbo delivers all the quirky styling of the standard Veloster but will also feature unique front and rear bumper treatments, 18-inch wheels fitted all around, fog lights, a new rear spoiler, a sportier grill, as well as unique projection headlights with LED daylight accents.
Look for more details and pictures on the new Veloster Turbo as we near the Geneva Auto Show.
New photos of the Hyundai i-oniq are giving the world a more in-depth look at the concept and what it offers.
From the photos, we can see that the hybrid concept features scissor doors that stand straight up like a cartoon character in a stickup.
Funky red seats that look like a mix between something out of the Jetsons and A Clockwork Orange appear to have swiveling backs to allow rear-passenger access. The Steering wheel has a flat bottom, but looks like it’s made of several separate-but-attached pieces.
The center console is difficult to describe, but it looks like something from an alien space ship. With all the red and glowing bits it seems like E.T. might have finally phoned home.
The rear end is a little more down-to-earth and resembles a Chevrolet Volt. The i-oniq is meant to preview Hyundai’s future technology and will feature a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine mated to an electric motor and lithium ion battery pack sending 109 hp to the rear wheels.
We’ve also learned that the i-oniq measures 173.3 inches and is supposed to have a zero-emissions range of 75 miles(120 km) with a total range of 435 miles(700 km).
The car will officially be unveiled next week at the Geneva Auto Show where we’ll be reporting live.
Hyundai released a sketch of its i-oniq sport concept last December, but it was little more than a paint slash on canvas.
The teaser hinted at a sleek roofline and speed, but was less than a silhouette, not much to go on. That changed today when the company released the first teaser photo, seen above, of their i-oniq concept.
There weren’t any technical details to accompany the car, but at least we know that it’s a hatchback. Obviously this car, just like other recent Hyundai releases, follows the company’s new fluidic design language, something company execs are always quick to tout.
We’re not sure what to make of this yet, but let us know what your thoughts. Do you think this is a hit or a miss? We’ll be reporting details on the unveil live from the Geneva Auto Show next week.
Last year in May, Hyundai launched a guaranteed trade-in program to pay a fixed value amount to buyers of new Hyundai vehicles if those buyers wanted to trade-in those vehicles three of four years later. That program officially ended last month, but the Korean automaker will retain it for their upscale models including the Equus sedan, Genesis sedan, and Genesis coupe.
“It was a marketing program and we wanted to bring a spotlight on the strength of our residual values, and it did its job,” said John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America.
The revamped program will require buyers to service their vehicle at a Hyundai dealership as well agree to buy another Hyundai when they take advantage of their guaranteed trade-in value. Those values are set by ALG, a consulting company that estimates the market value of used vehicles.
Hyundai currently is ranked number-3 in ALG’s mass-market 2012 Residual Value Awards. This is a steep improvement compared to their number-14 ranking back in 2007.
ALG representative Mike Cooperman also mentioned that the Equus sedan has the third-best residual value in the premium-luxury segment behind the Lexus LS460 and the Jaguar XJ. The Genesis sedan is currently in second place for residual value in the full-sized car segment behind the Nissan Maxima.
[Source: Automotive News]
Tenacious Hyundai — the company that refuses to quit edging into niches, entering new segments and surprising consumers.
If you hadn’t guessed, they’re at it again. This time, trying to pitch the Genesis and Equus luxury sedans as fleet limousines at the International LCT Show in Las Vegas. Don’t feel bad if you’re unfamiliar with that too. As previously stated, this is niche stuff.
LCT stands for limousine, charter and tour operators. The International LCT Show is the largest gathering of people who build and use limos, so naturally Hyundai made an appearance there to push the goods according to the LCT website.
While limo services have traditionally relied almost exclusively on Lincoln Town Cars and Cadillac Escalades, Hyundai is hoping to break in by offering purchase incentives. The Genesis will come with a $3,500 discount, while the larger Equus’ price sheds $4,500.
Who knows, the next time you call for an airport limo a Hyundai could appear in the driveway.
[Source: Automotive News]
Film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer Wes Anderson is probably most well known for his Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay for The Royal Tenenbaums and Fantastic Mr. Fox, which was nominated for the 2010 Academy Award for Best Animated Film. Now the producer has shared his talents with Korean automaker Hyundai on its new commercials for the upcoming Azera.
In the first commercial, titled “Modern Life”, the Wes Anderson-directed ad shows off the luxurious Azera interior that features front and rear heated seats, ventilated power front seats, ambient lighting system, Infinity or Dimension audio systems, iPod and USB input jacks, as well as Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. The other commercial, “Talk to My Car” has much more prevalent Wes Anderson influences featuring plenty of simply, yet effective visual effects. It focuses on Hyundai’s new Blue Link technology, which helps make driving safer, easier, and more fun. It keeps the Azera connected at all times and can help the driver find a close gas station, learn about mechanical issues, remind you about maintenance for your vehicle, call for assistance, or even find you your favorite restaurant nearby.
Watch the pair of Hyundai Azera commercials after the break and look for seven more Hyundai ads during the Oscar’s this weekend.
[Source: Adweek]
It could be the car’s affordable price, or its styling, but one thing is for sure, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a hit with younger buyers.
While Baby Boomers love their pony cars and muscle cars, and Gen X buyers are split on their choice of sports car, when it comes to two-doors and rear-wheel drive, Gen Y buyers are flocking to Hyundai.
Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik eagerly pointed out this statistic during an info session at the recent 2013 Genesis Coupe product launch – read our review here. According to data from the latest Maritz Research New Vehicle Customer Study (NVCS), the median age among buyers of the Genesis Coupe, as well as three other rear-drive sports cars (including the Camaro, Mustang and Nissan 370Z) were all close with the an average age of 51 for the Mustang, 49 for the other two and 47 for the Genesis Coupe.
While the Gen X demographic (those born between 1965 and 1978) made up the smallest percentage of Genesis Coupe buyers compared to the other models in the study, the numbers flip completely for Gen Y (1979-1994). A total of 29 percent of Genesis Coupe buyers were from the Gen Y set, compared to 24 percent for the 370Z. Move into the domestic sphere and the digits continue to plummet, with just 19 percent opting for the Camaro, while only 16 percent liked the Mustang enough to park on in their driveway.
Also of note, the median income for the 370Z buying group is considerably higher than that of the others.
A positive step for Hyundai, these numbers also suggest younger buyers are increasingly shunning domestic sports cars, painting a bleak future for these “heritage” machines. Recognizing this reality, Chevrolet recently unveiled the Tru 140S and Code 130R Concepts at the Detroit Auto Show. The former, a modern-looking front-driver and the latter a more traditionally styled rear-drive machine, it’s obvious Chevy sees the current Gen Y shift as a sign and is planning for a future where the Camaro plays a smaller role in its lineup.
Even before (and if) these models come to production, updates to the Genesis Coupe comes just in time, as the rear-drive sports car segment gets increasingly competitive this year with the launch of a car that’s sure to be a hit with Gen Y, the Scion FR-S.
Cars can be bad for your health, and we’re not just talking about tailpipe emissions. The Ecology Center has published a list of the least and worst toxic vehicles from 2011-2012 after testing 205 different models with the aid of an x-ray fluorescence analyzer.
The tests consisted of scanning interior components such as the seats, dashboard, carpets, headliner, and door trim, and identifying the elements in each material. Based on the size of the item and the amount of contact a person would have with it, the numbers were crunched and the car given a score from a scale of 1-5, with a low score showing the chemicals being tested for weren’t detected, while a 5 would indicate high levels of the chemicals were detected.
Items commonly found in car components include elements like bromine, chlorine, antimony, mercury and lead.
Coming in as the 10th worst pick is the MINI Cooper S Clubman with an overall score of 2.84. The Cooper S Clubman is the MINI for those that wish to have a little more room than the standard Coopers. The Clubman is 9.4 inches longer overall than the standard MINI with a 3.2-inch longer wheelbase.
Paice LLC, a company whose founder says he developed a high-voltage electrical system to power hybrid vehicles, filed a lawsuit against Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia on the claim that they infringed upon patents held by the company.
This follows on from another long running legal battle between Paice and Toyota, also over Hybrid technology patents, which endured for some eight years and was finally settled in 2010.
As for the latest suit, Paice claims that it repeatedly tried to contact Hyundai as early as 2004, in order to discuss its patent Hybrid technology, but says that with the development and market introduction of the Sonata Hybrid sedan, the automaker infringed upon three patents owned by Paice.
The technology company says it wants cash compensation for the infringement as well as an order that will require automakers to get permission before they can use the proprietary technology from Paice.
Ford Motor Company, which has also employed hybrid technology for vehicles such as the popular Escape SUV and Fusion midsize sedan, agreed to use Paice’s technology under license in order to avoid legal issues.
[Source: Auto News]
The acclaimed Hyundai Veloster receives a major upgrade for the 2013 model year. Recognized for its unique three-door configuration, provoking design, build quality, and great value, the Veloster has also been criticized for falling short in the driving department.
For 2013, Hyundai answers with the introduction of the Veloster Turbo, armed with a 1.6 liter turbo inline-four delivering 201-hp and 195 lb.-ft. Torque. While the base Veloster offered a choice between a 6-speed manual or dual clutch transmission, the Veloster Turbo will keep the manual but forgo the dual-clutch for a traditional 6-speed automatic instead.
The new Veloster Turbo hatch will be available for sale by summertime and, according to a Hyundai official that spoke to Inside Line, should receive a starting price at $21,500, or $22,280 when you factor in the $760 destination charge. An affordable price for cars delivering a similar package with similar performance, the more powerful Veloster is actually a $4,000 premium over the 138-hp base model. Of course, the Veloster Turbo will be provided with more standard equipment as well.
Strangely, a turbo variant for the Veloster was reportedly not a part of Hyundai’s initial product strategy in North America. Due to the daily practice of freeway driving by most Americans, we’re glad Hyundai reconsidered.
[Source: Inside Line]
Plans are currently not in place to implement a Hyundai luxury sub-brand running with the Genesis nameplate, Hyundai America CEO John Krafcik confirmed to Ward’s Auto.
Earlier this month we reported that Hyundai boss Dave Zuchowski confirmed the possibility that “there’s a conversation going on within the company that says, ‘Does having the Hyundai badge on the premium vehicles sell more vehicles, or does it restrict us from selling more vehicles?”
Despite that, it seems the most recent conversation in Las Vegas with Krafcik points to the contrary, that in fact there won’t be a separate brand.
“We have no plan to change our Equus and Genesis retail approach – it’s working,” he said to Ward’s Auto.
Despite not having plans to differentiate the premium line which has relatively sky-scraping prices like the Equus’ $59,00 MSRP in contrast to their $12,545 sub-compact Accent, Krafcik seemed more positive on the possibility of an all-wheel drive Genesis in the future. Offering such a car would further expand their top-tier line which otherwise might have served as another reason to split the products apart.
“We believe we should have AWD on the next Genesis platform,” Krafcik said.
[Source: Ward's Auto]
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada announced the Canadian Car of the Year today at the Toronto International Auto Show.
The Hyundai Elantra won, though the automaker was essentially guaranteed the trophy because they were competing against their subsidiary company Kia.
The top three picks were the Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Accent and Kia Optima. All three, among many others were put through a series of tests by 70 Canadian automotive journalists in the last week of October, 2011.
Cars are initially judged within their segment, and then the winners may go on to be selected as the car of the year.
“The Elantra is the best new car we brought to market, ever. I’m happy all the automotive journalists agree with my opinion,” said Steve Kelleher, president and CEO of Hyundai Canada.
The Elantra sells in Canada for a base price of $15,849, CAD, which is roughly the same in U.S. dollars, though it’s about $500 more than the American version.
Last year AJAC picked the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze for the award.
The new 2012 Hyundai Azera has quite a list of new standard features, which makes the base model 2012 a better outfitted car than the outgoing 2011 fully loaded Azera limited.
The 2012 Azera will have a base MSRP of $32,000 and top out at $36,000 when loaded with the technology package. New standard features on the Azera include push button start, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlight accents, a 3.3L GDI DOHC V6 with 293 horsepower, heated front and rear seats and Blue Link telematics system.
While the lengthy list of standard features on this car is noteworthy, you must also consider that the base MSRP of the outgoing Azera sat at $29,495,which means standard equipment got a boost, but so did the starting price.
The Azera will get 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined for fuel economy, which is best in class according to Hyundai. Hyundai’s Active Eco system is equipped on the new model and helps to improve fuel economy by five percent.
The Azera will be available with one upgrade – the technology package, which adds xenon headlights, sunroof, infinity premium audio package, a power adjustable steering column, side window shades, interior ambient lighting and rear parking assistance sensors.
Watch AutoGuide’s first look video of the 2013 Azera below:
While performance and racing are two things that may not come to mind when you think Hyundai, this stereotype is exactly what the Korean company is trying to rid themselves of. The Veloster turbo is the first performance geared vehicle Hyundai is trying push in Europe, and now they are considering adding turbocharged power to the i40, known as the Sonata (2011 Sonata Turbo shown above) here in the U.S.
Allan Rushforth, a senior company executive at Hyundai said “A Hyundai GTI? That’s not just a C-segment question [i30], but a D-segment [i40] one as well,” and continued on to say, “We have talked about such cars and are considering versions not only with more performance, but dynamic improvements to ride and handling, too.”
Already having a dual-clutch setup in the Veloster, it seems likely that Hyundai will carry out its plan to create the performance geared i40 as the main components needed are already in place in the companies current line-up. The i40 will likely come with the same 2.0L 4-cylinder engine as the Sonata Turbo, which makes 274-hp and 269 ft-lbs of torque.
The real question is whether or not the European market will be receptive to full size turbo charged Hyundai.
[Source: Autocar]
Hyundai North America CEO John Krafcik reaffirmed, in an interview with Fox News, that the Korean automaker doesn’t intend to join the truck market but will look instead into the six and seven passenger crossover segment.
With vehicles in over a dozen automotive segments, Hyundai is seeing success in both the pre- and post-family stages, but is struggling in the family life stage, where their Veracruz sits. In 2009, the Entourage minivan was discontinued which left the Santa Fe as their only three-row vehicle. In 2011, the Veracruz sold a disappointing 9,146 units which utterly fails to compete with the 130,235 Kia Sorentos sold last year, it’s obvious that Hyundai has their work cut out for them in that particular market.
“We’re not a big truck player. I like to say brands define themselves as much by what they choose not to do as what they chose to do. We could be a truck player if we wanted to, we choose to focus on more fuel efficient segments of the market,” Krafcik said.
So it appears that Hyundai will probably be working more on crossovers and possibly SUVs but for now, we won’t see trucks bearing their badge anytime soon.
[Source: Fox News]
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You don’t have to actually step inside the Chicago Auto Show to see the sites.
AutoGuide’s video crew was on hand to cover all the major debuts, from the new Acura ILX to the wild Kia Track’ster Concept (above). See all the videos below and be sure to check out our complete coverage here.
Watch all the videos below:
Whether you’re heading to the Chicago Auto Show and want to know what to check out, or your trip is a bit more virtual, AutoGuide editors have compiled a list of the must-sees at this year’s event.
Head into McCormick Place and hang a left. You can’t miss the all-new 2012 Porsche 911. It might not be a world premiere, or even a North American debut, but the beautifully blue Carrera S is a piece of art. Four inches longer than the outgoing model it’s more substantial and a much sleeker design.
Powered by a 400 hp 3.8-liter flat-six engine the Carrera S can hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds when paired with Porsche’s PDK 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and the optional Sport Chrono Package. It’ll also lap the Nurburgring as fast as the previous generation GT3!
