As we first reported back in December, Hyundai is developing a 10-speed automatic transmission. Now details of when that new unit will be available have come to light, with the project expected to be completed by 2014. Hyundai president Park Seong Hyon says the new gearbox will likely be installed in the Genesis sedan and Equus.

Earlier this year, Hyundai had already introduced their new, in-house developed, 8-speed transmission. Mated to the 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan’s 333-hp and 291 lb-ft of torque 3.8 liter V-6, the transmission helps the car achieve 19/29 city/highway mpg. With the addition of two more cogs, it allows the engine to sit in its optimal rev range more often, improving fuel economy even further.

We are anxious to see what other automakers will do to answer Hyundai’s momentum. Will a cog war be the new horsepower war?

GALLERY: Hyundai Equus

[Source: Bloomberg]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Hyundai Genesis review

Two weeks ago, Kia officially confirmed that it would unveil a rear-wheel drive four-door sports sedan at this month’s Frankfurt auto show.

Today, sources have revealed that Kia may call the sporty sedan, the Veredus. Kia has filed for a trademark on the Veredus name, and sources have also explained that the concept is the only vehicle in the company’s short-term product plan without a name.

The concept has sleek and muscular proportions, and will likely slide in between the Hyundai Genesis and Equus in terms of size. Kia’s future product plans also include an electric vehicle and a sedan based off the forthcoming Hyundai Azera.

GALLERY: Kia Veredus

[Source: Car and Driver]

Ford is ready to take on Hyundai in a duel for fuel efficiency bragging rights. Hyundai has advertised the redesigned 2011 Elantra as a 40 mpg rated subcompact, regardless of options.

However, Ford can only officially say that the 2012 Focus attains 40 mpg when equipped with the Super Fuel Economy package and six-speed automatic transmission. Ford is eager to prove that the Focus is more fuel efficient regardless or its options, so the American automaker organized a media drive in Romeo, Michigan.

Ford invited reporters to drive the Elantra at a steady 45 miles per hour around the 2.5-mile track. Then the reporters drove a Focus without the SFE package and lapped the track at the same speed. Conditions were equal for both cars and an engineer sat in the backseat, monitoring the fuel economy. The results showed that the average fuel economy of the Focus was 40.4 mpg and the Elantra achieved 37.8 mpg. This proves that the Focus is more efficient at a steady 45 mph than the Elantra.

[Source: Automotive News]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2011 Hyundai Elantra Review

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Ford Focus Review

“Fuel economy is becoming increasingly important to car buyers all around the world, and the Kia Optima Hybrid is one of our latest models to address this consumer requirement,” Senior Executive Vice President & COO of Kia Motors Corporation Thomas Oh, said.

Currently, the Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption in a hybrid car was set in October 2010 using a Toyota Auris Hybrid. Amazingly, the Toyota covered 307.58 miles while only using 4.53 gallons of fueling, achieving 67.89 mpg.

GALLERY: Kia Optima

[Source: Left Lane News]

The 2013 Kia Forte will be an all-new model, following closely after the changes introduced in the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.

Sharing the same platform as that car, look for an improved ride quality, plus the Forte is expected to get a new design closer in keeping with the larger Optima sedan.

As for engines, look for the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder from the Elantra with 148-hp. Both a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic will be offered. In terms of fuel economy, look for fuel economy that could even exceed the 29/40-mpg rating of the current Elantra. The 2013 Kia Forte could even get a stop-start system that will arrive in the all-new Rio later this year.

[Source: Automotive News]

Hyundai is continuing to enter new product segments, including upscale niche markets, but will continue to update lower priced models over the next three years. Three vehicles the Korean automaker wants to launch sometime soon include a dedicated plug-in hybrid sedan (a Prius rival), a sporty sedan to compete with the BMW 3-Series and more luxurious Veracruz SUV.

The Veracruz has become long-in-the-tooth and its sales are lacking. The mid-sized SUV will disappear after the 2012 model year but will return soon after in more luxurious and upscale form for 2014 model year, and will launch in early 2013.

Work is already underway on a sporty sedan to compete with the BMW 3-Series. Hyundai plans to use the rear-wheel drive platform seen in the Genesis and exterior styling is also expected to employ aggressive lines similar to the Gensis Coupe. Hyundai will likely launch this vehicle after 2013.

The plug-in sedan is expected to arrive either in the 2013 or 2014 model year but unfortunately details on this vehicle are insufficient. What is known, is that the hybrid will be an entirely new vehicle all together and will not be a variant of an existing model.

[Source: Autoweek]

Kia has officially confirmed that it will be debuting a rear-wheel drive four-door sports sedan at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show. The concept  has sleek and muscular proportions, and will likely slide in between the Hyundai Genesis and Equus in terms of size.

“I believe the car is a strong statement from Kia: We are ready to fast forward to an all-new chapter,” says Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Chief Officer.

Looking through the photos at the sheer size and shape of the vehicle, it becomes clear that Kia is interested in running this car against the big boys like the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS. ”No matter from which perspective you look at it – this concept car is roaring with energy and ready for take-off,” says Schreyer. ”I believe the car is a strong statement from Kia: we are ready to fast forward to an all new chapter.”

Gallery: Kia Sports Sedan

Hyundai plans to launch three new or refreshed models in the next year including the i30 (known here as the Elantra Touring), the new Santa Fe and the revised i20. All three vehicles will make their official debut at next months Frankfurt auto show.

The Korean automaker has not released much information on the Santa Fe, other than it’s coming, and is expected to follow Hyundai’s current styling scheme. Tony Whitehorn, managing director of Hyundai UK, said: “We’ve already shown with our other recent models that each car that comes out of this company is quite improved, both technically and in terms of emotional appeal.”

The Santa Fe will also likely feature styling cues from the smaller 2012 Tucson. Sources have noted that the new Santa Fe will get a new “ix” name in Europe to fit in with the rest of Hyundai’s lineup. However the Sante Fe nameplate is well recognized in North America and is not expected to change anytime soon. Stay tuned for more details!

[Source: Auto Car]

Summer is almost over, which means back to school shopping. Forget about pens, pencils and binders; what about picking up a new set of wheels? Surely that will make the thought of heading back to class a little better!

Kelley Blue Book has put together a list of vehicles that it believes will appeal to kids. There are some odd choices though.

The new car picks all seem to be decent, all are affordable, efficient and attractive. However the used choices are surprising. The Kia Sedona probably won’t be very appealing to students because well, minivans are not cool. As well, the F-150 is a pretty large truck and although it is the best selling vehicle in America, it’s hardly fuel efficient. The HHR was also an interesting choice because not many young people drive them. The new vehicles are probably better choices overall, but who knows, maybe minivans are secretly cool among teenagers… or maybe just teenagers trying really hard to be ironic. What do you think?

Check out the list of new and used vehicles after the jump:

Continue Reading…

The 1 millionth Hyundai Sonata rolled off the line on July 29 2011 at the Alabama manufacturing facility, marking a historic milestone for the Korean automaker. A small celebration last Friday was held at the plant, as a 2012 Limited Edition 2.0 Turbo with a radiant silver paint finish, marked the event . Employees of the plant cheered as President and CEO Young Deuk Lim drove the Sonata off the line with Vice President of Production, Ashley Frye and Robert Coleman, HMMA’s Team Member of the year in the passenger seats.

“I am so proud of everything our Team Members have accomplished in the past six years, eclipsing 1,000,000 total vehicles manufactured in November 2009, producing more than 300,000 vehicles in 2010 and now our 1,000,000th Sonata,” said President Lim. “This milestone provides us an opportunity celebrate our many achievements and take pride in knowing our Hyundai spirit is alive and ready to reach any goal we set for ourselves.”

The Alabama plant has produced three different vehicles since 2006 including the Sonata, Santa Fe and Elantra. The popular Sonata, has helped Hyundai exceed the 300,000 unit capacity at the plant for the past two years.