Sunday, January 31, 2016

Hyundai to unveil Tucson SUV at Auto Expo



Hyundai Motor India will unveil its sports utility vehicle (SUV) ‘Tucson’ at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo. It will unveil its global SUV, Hyundai Tucson, and showcase global products signifying a leap in the global SUV line-up, the company said.

It will showcase a total of 17 products, including luxury sedan ‘Genesis’ during the Expo which is to be held from February 5-9 at Greater Noida.

HMIL will also showcase its high performance sub-brand N, which is a result of intensive testing and product development, at the biennial event.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India will showcase 10 models, including four concepts, during the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo.

It will unveil a new two-wheeler model, which the company terms as NAVI and a superbike during the Auto Expo, HMSI said. It also plans to showcase four refreshed models.

Besides, the company plans to display four concept models including ‘EOWING’ — a completely new sports hybrid 3-wheeler.

French carmaker Renault plans to unveil new editions of its popular SUV Duster and entry-level car Kwid at the Auto Expo.

The company also plans to display Eolab, its plug-in hybrid, besides a special edition of its MPV Lodgy at the biennial event. Renault will display AMT and sports variants of the updated Duster, two new concepts of Kwid — Climber and Racer — and the limited edition Lodgy, it said.

Source

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Research shows teens are raving about Hyundai Veloster


Teens are buzzing about Audi, Hyundai and Subaru, according to new research by the Keller Fay Group that tracked teenagers' conversations about cars.

Overall, the number of Millennials ages 13-17 talking about cars on a daily basis has declined, the research said.

"Although there is an overall word-of-mouth decline in the automotive industry, certain brands are experiencing increases," according to Keller Fay's TalkTrack data. "Subaru, Audi and Hyundai stand out as having bucked the general trend with wide increases in talk among teens, while other brands saw declines, ranging from -16 percent to -42 percent."

It's not certain whether the overall trend is "just a phase," researchers said.

Also, there was no explanation why Audi, Hyundai and Subaru are attracting the attention of prospective young car buyers. But products including the Audi A3, Hyundai Veloster and Subaru Impreza may be driving the conversation.

The research points to a six-year decline in daily conversations about cars among millennial teens.

This indicates "a very different relationship with cars than the generations before," the Keller Fay Group said on Monday.

Millennial buyers have unexpected tastes in cars, too.

For example, a recent Edmunds.com analysis of the used-car market found the Dodge Magnum wagon has a higher rate of Millennial buyers than any other vehicle on the used-car market.

The analysis further found that there is an array of unlikely, out-of-production models — like the Magnum, Chrysler Pacifica and Pontiac Aztek — that are finding new life on the pre-owned market with a younger crowd of buyers.

This is the first year when those born in 2000 will have the chance to get their driver's license, a key milestone.

Source

Friday, January 29, 2016

Genesis Overview


What’s New for the 2016 Hyundai Genesis?

The 2016 Hyundai Genesis gets a few technology updates. New features include integration with Google Glass, Google Destination Search, remote start, and a freshly-added notification system. There’s also five-link front and rear independent front suspension. The luxury sedan boasts a new roofline and grille, too.

2016 Hyundai Genesis Exterior

For 2016, the Hyundai Genesis sports a fresh, more aggressive roofline and fascia. The grille is larger and wider than before and takes cues from other luxury models. It sports a Genesis badge rather than a standard Hyundai badge.

Exterior features available on the 2016 Hyundai Genesis

•3.8 Trim: 18-inch premium alloy wheels with P245/45R18 tires, Dual power-folding heated side mirrors with approach lamps and turn-signal indicators, Acoustic laminated windshield and side windows with front door water-repellant glass, Automatic rain-sensing wipers, Auto-defogging windshield with humidity sensor, Hands-free smart trunk, Dual asymmetrical exhaust tips integrated with rear bumper, Chrome insert door handles, Automatic High Intensity Discharge (HID) auto-leveling headlights, LED Daytime Running Lights, LED tail lights, Proximity Key entry

•5.0 ULTIMATE Trim: 19-inch premium alloy wheels with P245/40R19 front and P275/35R19 rear tires, Auto-dimming side mirrors, Power trunk lid, Quad exhaust tips, High Beam Assist, Front LED fog lights

2016 Hyundai Genesis Performance

There are two engines available on the 2016 Hyundai Genesis. The base Hyundai Genesis sports the same engine as last year’s model, a 3.8-liter V6 that hits 311 hp and 293 lb-ft of torque. The larger 5.0-liter V8 engine pounces on the competition with 420 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.

2016 Hyundai Genesis Efficiency

The Hyundai Genesis when equipped with the V6 and rear wheel drive earns an EPA-estimated 18 city/29 hwy mpg. With all-wheel drive, the V6 earns an EPA-estimated 16 city/25 hwy mpg. The base V6 runs on regular gasoline while the V8 takes premium.

2016 Hyundai Genesis Interior

The 2016 Hyundai Genesis is a work of art with high-quality materials that easily compare to other luxury makes. Inside are many straight lines and sharp edges, quite the opposite of the vertical shapes and curves from last year’s model. Overall, the interior of the luxury car looks slimmer yet more substantial than its predecessor.



Interior features available on the 2016 Hyundai Genesis

•3.8 Trim: Power windows with front and rear auto-down/up with pinch protection; Power door locks; Dual automatic temperature control; 12-way power driver seat with power lumbar support; Leather seating surfaces; Heated front seats; Front seatback pockets; Center armrest with dual cupholders and control console; Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; Steering-wheel-mounted cruise, Bluetooth®, and audio controls; Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters; Glossy wood hydrographic interior trim; Metalgrain interior accents; Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink®, Navigation system with 8-inch display, AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD/MP3/HD Radio™audio system with 7 speakers, Smartphone/USB and auxiliary input jacks, SiriusXM Travel Link®, Hyundai Blue Link®, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, Intelligent Drive Mode.

•5.0 ULTIMATE Trim: Navigation system with 8-inch display, AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD/MP3/HD Radio™audio system with 7 speakers, Smartphone/USB and auxiliary input jacks, SiriusXM Travel Link®, Hyundai Blue Link®, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, Intelligent Drive Mode, Lexicon® 17-speaker Discrete Logic 7® surround sound audio, Navigation system with HD 9.2-inch LCD screen and DIS Multimedia Controller

2016 Hyundai Genesis Safety

When it comes to safety, the 2016 Hyundai Genesis is the top of the line. It received a five-star overall rating in government crash tests and earned “Good” ratings in every category, something many cars fail to do. The Hyundai Genesis features a suite of active safety features like Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assistant, and many more. To keep you aware of any alerts, the Genesis also includes a heads-up color display.

2016 Hyundai Genesis Standard Safety Features
•Power 4-wheel disc brakes, front ventilated
•4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA)
•Rearview camera
•Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system
•Traction Control System (TCS)
•Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
•Nine airbags: Advanced dual front airbags with Occupant Classification System (OCS), front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, roof-mounted side-curtain airbags and driver’s knee airbag
•Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with individual tire pressure indicator
•Energy-absorbing Front Seats
•Front and rear crumple zones
•Energy-absorbing steering column

Source

Green Car News Roundup: Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, Nissan Leaf

Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

Carmakers are focusing on green cars and a number of companies have vehicles that have less impact on the environment in comparison to the cars running on diesel or gasoline. Here is a news roundup of some green cars: Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai Tuscan Fuel Cell and the Nissan Leaf.

Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

Hyundai claims that the Tucson Fuel Cell is the first mass-produced FCV. The demands for FCVs are increasing but Hyundai, like other FCV makers, is limiting deliveries due to the lack of hydrogen refueling stations.

The first Tuscan Fuel Cell car was delivered to its owner in June 2014 and now there are about 100 of these cars on the Streets of Southern California. Hyundai has announced that it will also start deliveries of the car in Northern California soon.

Just like the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, customers cannot buy the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell. However, customers have the option to lease the vehicle for $499 per month.

The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell has achieved a maximum speed of 94.6 miles per hour and owners can cover 265 miles with a full tank of hydrogen.

Source

Thursday, January 28, 2016

7 reasons to buy a Hyundai i20 Coupe


1. It’s not the same as the regular i20. It might say i20 on the tin, but the Coupe bit at the end of its name is a major giveaway as to the visual character of the car. The common-or-garden i20 is a great-looking supermini, but Hyundai’s design team has gone back to their collective drawing board and come up with a different car – which is, thankfully, also a looker.

2. And it’s aimed at younger drivers. Which is a clever move by Hyundai, as it continues to win over new customers to its cause. Of course, by younger, it doesn’t mean you have to be in the first flush: the young at heart, who like the idea of something sportier-looking, will also appreciate the i20 Coupe.

3. You want sporty? This is a rally car. OK, so it’s not exactly the car that Hyundai is competing in the World Rally Championship, but it’s related. Kinda.

4. It has a cool cabin, too. Hyundai has done a great job of upgrading the interior quality of its cars in the last few years, with the i20 Coupe maintaining that progress. Lots of soft-touch surfaces, a well-laid-out dashboard, solid-feeling switches and buttons, and some orange flashes make this a car you’re happy to spend time in.

5. And there’s lots of kit. Another thing that Hyundai is doing well at the moment is offering lots of value for money by filling its cars with lots of equipment, whatever the trim level. Even base-level SE models get alloys, cruise control, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors and host of features you wouldn’t expect on a £13K car.

6. It won’t drain your wallet. The i20 Coupe might look sporty, but you won’t have to shell out for sporty-car running costs. Petrol-powered versions (1.2-litre engines) have an official economy figure of 55.4mpg and emissions of 119g/km (VED Band C, costing £30 a year), while the 1.4 diesels return 68.9mpg and emit just 106g/km (Band B, so just £20 a year). And there’s a five-year warranty.

7. Good to drive, too. Like the regular i20, the Coupe is fun to drive, with accurate steering, good body control and a comfortable ride – even in town.

Source

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Gets Better Fuel Economy Than A 2015 Toyota Prius

While news is pending for the U.S. market, Hyundai says its Korean-market Ioniq surpasses fuel economy for a 2015 Prius, while the jury is out in comparison to the new 2016 Prius.

The Ioniq – its name a combination of ion and unique – is to come in three varieties: a plug-in hybrid, an all-electric version, and a hybrid-electric version.

It’s the regular hybrid that Hyundai says gets 22.4km/liter combined when equipped with 15-inch wheels and this edges out a Korean-market 2015 Toyota Prius Liftback’s 21.7km/liter.

The Ioniq’ figure works out to 52.7 mpg combined, the 2015 Toyota Prius’ fuel economy works out to 49.4 mpg. Astute readers may notice this Prius figure is remarkably near the Prius’ 50 mpg in the U.S., indicating how close Korean fuel economy test results are to U.S.

Unknown at this point, said Hyundai of Korea in response to questions submitted by HybridCars.com today, is whether the Korean-market Ioniq will do better than the Korean-market 2016 Prius which is still undergoing homologation testing there.

We emphasize Korean market because Hyundai’s U.S. arm adamantly stated these figures are for Korea, and U.S. EPA fuel economy info and other relevant data has yet to be disclosed, said spokesperson Derek Joyce.

Because Hyundai posted info on its Korean website today however, that much was fair game and why we got cooperation on mpg questions which are to be answered for U.S. market cars at a later date.

That said, other Ioniq-with-15-inch-wheel numbers of interest in Korea are 22.5km/l city, 22.2km/l highway; 22.4km/l combined (as mentioned).

An Ioniq with larger 17-inch wheels is rated a bit less than the third-generation Prius at 20.4km/l city, 19.9km/l highway, 20.2km/l combined, says Hyundai of Korea.

The 2016 Prius is not for sale yet in Korea and the answer from Hyundai to the question “does Ioniq equal or beat 2016 Toyota Prius in mpg in Korea?” is unknown to Hyundai also.

“We don’t know yet,” said a Hyundai representative.

A Jan. 4 Automotive News report however said the Ioniq will have better highway fuel economy than a Prius, according to Yang Woong-chul, Hyundai’s global R&D chief.

This report highlighted Hyundai’s hybrid system architecture with one-motor, one-clutch system paired to a 1.6-liter GDi engine with 40-percent thermal efficiency – a number Toyota boasts of its 2016 Prius as well.

“Our hybrid is a better fit for American driving situations,” Yang told Automotive News near Hyundai’s R&D center. “When it is announced, the whole world will be surprised.”

The 2016 Prius is EPA-rated 54 mpg city, 50 highway, 52 combined, and a new lighter Eco version available in mid-grade Prius level two trim boasts 58 city, 53 highway, 56 combined.

Hyundai was not willing to discuss further, but as mentioned, Korean fuel economy tests are very close in results to U.S. tests, and may even err ever-so slightly more conservatively.

So, discussing what fuel economy figures cars get there is more relevant than, say, mentioning how they fare in wildly optimistic tests in Japan, or even Europe, for example.

Facts known to date are the U.S. market non-Eco Prius in the majority of trim levels gets 52 mpg under EPA rules, and the Korean market Ioniq with 15-in wheels gets 52.7 (22.4km/l).

The comparison appears close, but Hyundai says it is not otherwise commenting on U.S. numbers.

Source

2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug In Hybrid is Luxury We Might Even Be Able to Afford



One in an occasional series reviewing consumer vehicles that are powered by water, natural gas, electricity, hybrid motors, high-efficiency gasoline engines or some other alternative source.

For its North American headquarters in Fountain Valley, Hyundai replaced its old building with a luminous structure that is 21-percent more efficient than its predecessor, employing smart technology to lessen its power costs and carbon footprint. We're talking recycled water irrigation, insulated acoustical glass (everywhere) and daylight-harvesting window shades.

The difference of appearance between a standard 2016 Hyundai Sonata and its plug-in hybrid sister is not as striking looking at the outside, but the power/operating cost stinginess of the latter is comparable to what's being achieved at the Korean carmaker's shrine next to the 405 freeway.

Even more amazing, to someone with little driving or riding experience in fine luxury automobiles/driving machines, is how much the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) reminds me of a luxury car, or at least my perception of driving one. There is a load of leather, soft-touch surfaces and an infotainment center that, the more you use it, the more you wonder how you've done without it for so long.

There are some tweaks to this four-door midsize sedan's look compared to the 2015. The headlights are reshaped, the rear bumper is optimized for air flow, the grille replaces the mesh pattern with straight slats and there are new rocker panels and lamp graphics. My test car was black ... wait, let me check ... Eclipse Black. Combined with the chrome of the front grille, side molding and exterior handles, it looks like a very classy, aerodynamic ride.

But it was the inside that had me thinking, "It would not suck if Hyundai forgot to come pick this car up." The love starts when you get in. There's no way to sugarcoat it, folks: I'm chubby. People of my girth appreciate that the seat is pushed all the way to the back when we climb in. Put your foot on the brake pedal and push the keyless start button, and the seat moves automatically toward the steering wheel. You can, of course, set it to stop wherever you like, and the computer will remember where that was next time you push that button.

The 106 cubic feet of interior passenger space translates to ample leg, arm, head and wiggle room. The instrument cluster has a sleek, modern look that is quite functional, allowing you to know, for instance, when you are running on gas, when you are running on battery or when you are shifting between the two. These are options you can control or allow to function automatically, by the way.

Move your eyeline a foot or so to the right, and you'll be looking at the screen for the navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, high-definition AM/FM radio, content from iPod/USB ports and functions like heating, air conditioning and charging the battery—all standard on the PHEV. The nav system alerts you to traffic jams, construction sites and charging stations, which anyone who read about my electric car fail in my last review knows I appreciate.

One design change has involved moving the battery pack lower into the tire well, giving you 10 percent more trunk room (and adding to that impressive passenger volume). The charger for standard household 120V outlets is kept in a leather bag attached to the back trunk wall. Charging takes nine hours with this, or as little as three hours at a 240V home or commercial charging station.

Now for the gearhead candy. The car has a 2.0-liter GDI 4-cylinder engine and a 360V electric motor that together net 202 horsepower. A six-speed automatic with a manual shift mode routes power to the front wheels.

When it comes to safety, there are dual front, side and side curtain airbags and a driver's side knee airbag. Forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert systems are standard.

My only knock was I had a heck of a time trying to charge the battery at my home. I learned via that nav system that someone I assume with the service that provided the car pre-scheduled the times the charger would turn on and off, which is quite a handy feature. But for someone coming in cold and just wanting to charge the damn car, this meant that the green indicator light at the top of the dash only lit up for a minute or so and then shut off, because I obviously was not on the pre-set schedule. I was able to deactivate the pre-set mode (sorry, car service), but I still could not get a sustained charge.

Then again, driving in Eco mode, your braking adds juice to the lithium battery, which when it gets too low is automatically recharged by the gas battery anyway. So now worries about the driving range anxiety I've written about before. Oh yes, I should mention Hyundai claims the PHEV nets 39-mpg city, 43 highway and 41 combined and that it can travel up to 24 miles solely on electric power.

The PHEV starts at $34,600, which is pricier than the standard Sonata hybrid ($26,000) or most affordable gas-powered Sonata ($21,700). But even that highest price seems affordable compared to other mid-size sedan models that won't give you nearly as many goodies, let alone the fuel cost savings. I look at it like this: With the right voodoo economics, I might be able to afford one and those used to spending much more for their cars should feel no shame downsizing their wallets to one.

I could go on and on, but this car is just downright comfortable and a blast to drive. I did not think of this until writing this sentence, but that is especially key when driving a hybrid, electric or alternative-fuel car. To get the most out of one of these models, you are going to want to limit taking off fast, speeding unnecessarily or putting the pedal to the metal while climbing mountain highways. Driving this Hyundai Sonata plug in hybrid, I would not want to do any of that, I'd want to take my time.

Source

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Hyundai Ioniq will go on sale in 2016


Hyundai is readying the Ioniq – a new low-emissions vehicle which will go on sale later this year.

This will initially be available as a hybrid, with a 146bhp system comprising a 1.6-litre petrol engine and single electric motor. Its standard six-speed dual-clutch gearbox has been optimized for what Hyundai says is class-leading efficiency.

Following this, the Ioniq will also become available in plug-in hybrid and 100% electric form, making it the first car on the market to offer such a wide range of LEV/ZEV options.

In Hyundai’s own words: ‘As the world’s first model to offer customers the choice of three powertrain options, the Ionic combines class-leading fuel efficiency with a fun, responsive drive and attractive design – a unique mix not yet achieved by a hybrid vehicle.’

Helping it deliver on those promises is an all-new lightweight chassis designed around a floor-mounted position for the battery pack – key to keeping an electric vehicle’s weight as low as possible. Its suspension set-up is tuned for agility, too, and its styling blends eye-catching looks with aerodynamics that feature active elements in the grille to make the car’s shape as efficient as the latest science will allow.


Even the cabin will be kind to the planet in the materials it uses. More important to people who’ll actually drive the thing is that it features a slick, minimalist design that’s executed with a pleasing level of quality. The treatments shown in the pictures released thus far suggest that it’s aiming to make a solidly premium impression.

Perhaps not surprisingly, it apes the latest Hyundai Tucson in much of this. Some of the switchgear looks exactly the same, as does the touch-interface for the vehicle’s infotainment systems.

Hyundai’s R&D boss Woong-Chul Yang describes the Ioniq as ‘the fruit of our efforts to become the leader in the global green car market.’

And the company doesn’t intend to stop there. According to UK boss Tony Whitehorn, the importance of Hyundai’s hybrid and EV offerings will only grow: ‘I see electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids as a way of bridging the gap between the internal combustion engine and pure fuel cell technology.’

In the meantime, the Ioniq will make its European debut at Geneva in March.

Source

Monday, January 25, 2016

After record 2015, Hyundai shifts focus to build premium imagery with Tucson SUV and Elantra sedan

Enthused by the response to its Creta SUV, South Korean car maker Hyundai Motor India has decided to quickly bring in a higher priced sports utility vehicle Tucson in India in the second half of 2016.

The move is seen as a mid-course change in strategy by Hyundai. It was not part of its scheme until October of 2015. Now, encouraged by the response it has received for Creta, the company has decided to fast forward the launch of Tucson. It has not only decided to showcase the vehicle at the Auto Expo but also launch it in India with local manufacturing, which may help the company price it at Rs 18-20 lakh.

Tucson will be positioned between the in-demand Creta SUV and Santa-FE SUV. This vehicle along with Genesis Luxury brand, Sonata Hybrid, N Vision 2025 vehicle and all new 1 & 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine will be showcased at the Expo, which may become a mainstream engine for future cars.

While Maruti Suzuki has decided to keep its pavilion minimalistic, its South Korean rival has decided to showcase its portfolio.

There will be as many as nine different zones, Premium Zone - showcasing its luxury brand Genesis, Sports zone with i20 Active with 2.0 Hyundai's fluidic sculpture 2.0, Eco zone - which will showcase Sonata PHEV, Technology Zone- The Kappa 1.0 GDI, Kappa 1.4 T-GDI, 7 speed dual clutch transmission and 8 speed automatic transmission, Safety zones amongst others.

Rakesh Srivastava, Sr VP, sales and marketing at Hyundai Motor India says Delhi Auto Expo is an appropriate platform to showcase ones capability with lakhs of prospective buyers visiting the arena.

"The Global SUV Hyundai Tucson represents a significant step forward towards future SUV line up for the Indian market. We are excited with the response for Creta, with Tucson and future MPV/SUV, we intend to satiate the desire of Indian buyers," said Srivastava.

With the Creta, Hyundai is already a segment leader in the compact SUV space with the average sales of 7000 to 8000 units a month. Having sold and delivered over 40,000 units, the company is further sitting on over 50,000 bookings.

People in the know of company's plans said, Hyundai Motor India is planning to produce 1.3 lakh units of Creta including overseas markets and the company is targeting about 20,000 to 30,000 units of Tucson.

Gaurav Vangaal, Sr analyst for forecasting at IHS Automotive says that the Indian market is progressively maturing and even small car manufacturers are working on bigger SUV's. The Tucson coming to India this year (if true), indicates the seriousness of Hyundai to take on its competition.

"Launch of Tucson indicates the manufacturers' obsession to be first in the segment. The manufacturing looks difficult in such a short span of time and vehicle can be made available as completely knocked down unit, while completing its validation cycles. CKD production can be supported from Czech Republic or Korea," added Vangaal.

Having grown at 16% in 2015, Hyundai Motor India will be in a consolidation phase for 2016 hoping to sustain the volumes momentum, and build on the premium image through new models like Tucson and an all new Elantra in 2016.


Source

Hyundai patents folding city car


We have discovered Hyundai has made a patent filling with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a foldable city car.

It seems Hyundai’s R&D department is working at full throttle as aside from launching alternatively-powered models like the IONIQ, the company is also engineering a foldable city car.

The attached sketches come from a patent that was published on January 14 and describes a foldable vehicle featuring a front floor coupled with the front wheels, along with a rear floor linked to the rear wheels. This hardware arrangement enables an increase or decrease of the wheelbase by sliding the floors over and under each other.

According to the same patent, there is a windshield part hinged to the front floor in order to turn forward/backward. Moreover, a rear cabin part is hinged to the floor and this one too turns forward/backward. When the windshield and rear cabin parts are folded inward, the roof part may be stowed inside the car.

This may sound a little bit too complicated, but the attached sketches do paint a more accurate picture of how Hyundai’s folding mechanism works. While a car that folds is not what you would call exciting, it can be an optimal solution in crowded cities where finding an empty parking space is a very tricky matter. It's certainly better than driving a bicycle.

Source

Sunday, January 24, 2016

2017 Hyundai Elantra debut

Once upon a time, when a carmaker introduced a new model, it bragged about its fuel economy, quiet ride, and rack-and-pinion steering. These days, it's more apt to lead with the entertainment system.

Technology plays a much bigger role in the automotive world, so Hyundai introduced its 2017 Elantra by singing the praises of its smartphone interface. The new Hyundai, which launches later this month, will feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities.

Both smartphone integrations will be featured on the 2017 Elantra's seven-inch Display Audio touchscreen system with rearview camera and Hyundai's eight-inch touchscreen navigation system with voice texting, access to music stored on the phone and third-party audio apps.

"By launching our best-selling model, Elantra, with CarPlay and Android Auto support, we are building on our promise to offer more convenience features for today's modern driver at an affordable price point," Mike O'Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning, Hyundai Motor America, said in a release announcing the new model. "Also, the new smartphone integrations will help to keep drivers' eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, helping to reduce driver distraction."

Mimics the iPhone

Because CarPlay mimics the iPhone experience, Hyandai is betting that drivers will be less distracted because they will be familiar with the interface before they even slide behind the wheel.

The driver can make a call, get directions for the best route through traffic, listen to music, and access messages. Hyundai says Siri will provide an eyes-free experience by responding to requests through voice commands, set up through the steering wheel's voice button.

While it is no doubt safer than trying to send or receive a text while speeding down the highway, there have been studies that call into question the total safety of hands-free communications system in cars.

In October, we reported on a AAA study that said many voice-activated vehicle systems are more dangerous than previously thought.

Takes mind-share

It's true that these systems don't occupy your hands, but they do take mind-share, and researchers say that's where the problem lies. Potentially unsafe mental distractions can go on for as long as 27 seconds after dialing, changing music, or sending a text using voice commands, according to the research by conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The eight-inch navigation system will have a home screen that displays map and music information, no matter where the music is coming from. The Blue Link Guidance package comes with a three-month trial.

Other aspects of the car – fuel economy, safety features, and trim take a backseat to the technology, at least when it comes to marketing. At last check, auto sites like Edmunds.com had yet to review the vehicle. There are pictures, however.

Source

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Emotional Acura, Hyundai ads among honorees of One Show awards


Acura’s heartstring-pulling crash test spot was among the winners during the third annual One Show Automobile Advertising of the Year Awards.

The award winners were announced today during the Detroit auto show. New York-based One Club, producer of the One Show, is a New York nonprofit group that recognizes creative excellence in advertising and design.

The awards recognized work in several categories including broadcast TV, interactive, online video and dealer advertising.

Acura’s spot, “The Test,” shows that crash tests aren’t emotionless tasks. The spot follows an Acura engineer as he preps for a test by putting four lifelike dummies -- who are actually actors -- into the MDX crossover.

The ad, which won an award in the broadcast TV category, uses an emotional touch when it reveals that the engineer was imagining himself and his family in place of the crash dummies.

“Our goal here is to talk about how personal it is,” said Leila Cesario, national advertising manager for Acura, in an interview when the ad released. “It’s beyond just passing a test.”

Source

Friday, January 22, 2016

2017 Hyundai Santa Cruz CUV: In Time For The Honda Ridgeline


It looks like Hyundai has virtually given the green light for the Hyundai Santa Cruz concept to take on production, though an official announcement is not yet made. This has been a long time coming, as the automaker has given encouraging signs before this when work was done its engineering feasibility.

Hyundai doesn’t have pickup trucks, so the Santa Cruz crossover would be the first and it would most likely be targeted at the Honda Ridgeline.

The profile of the pickup crossover sort of resembles that of the previous Ridgeline except this crossover would be on the smaller side. However, we should also see a lot of the deep body sculpting toned down for the production model.

This compact pickup is not intended for heavy-duty use, but would be ideal for outdoor activities such as hunting and camping. A regard in which it would excel against the Ridgeline is if it is priced more competitively.

Very much like the Ridgeline the Santa Cruz crossover is aimed at young drivers that are looking for some storage capabilities of a pickup truck, making bed space an important aspect. The likeliness of the Santa Cruz pickup arriving with more than one bed option is rather slim though, considering the fact that trucks are not part of Hyundai’s portfolio.

Source

Hyundai with handling - 2016 Tucson nimble, comfortable

I'm not quite sure that the length of time I was at the steering wheel of a 2016 Hyundai Tucson last Tuesday would qualify it for the exalted status of being called a test drive. From the brand's new Jamaican headquarters on Balmoral Avenue, off Half-Way Tree Road, I got a grip of the vehicle within about 50 metres, then took it up Cargill Avenue en route to Barbican Road, over Jack's Hill, down through Cherry Gardens and back along West King's House Road to Hope Road and back to base.

Total time spent in the electronically adjusted driver's seat - forward and back, a twitch of the right fingers for an ultra-smooth adjustment to the desired height and distance from the leather-wrapped steering wheel - less than 30 minutes for the entire journey. However, the totally redesigned Tucson's most endearing quality was apparent from my less than a minute in the passenger's seat, before exchanging places with my instructor for the trip. He took the right-angled corner from Balmoral on to Ballater rather quickly, especially for an SUV.

I did not feel myself listing in that all too familiar SUV body roll and, behind the steering wheel, found out that even someone who is not the greatest driver around (a in I) can handle the Tucson with confidence - because it handles excellently. Superbly, in fact.

DRIVING MODES

The enjoyment increased going up Jack's Hill and, confidence growing, I relaxed more and breezed through the descent. I was comfortable enough to 'try a ting' - go closer and faster to one end of a car sticking out in the road than I usually would, then, with a flick of the wrists, move it nimbly to the right and then back on to the left. A minor thing for some, a significant manoeuvre for me. The handling was decent in the normal and eco-driving modes, shifting on the fly done by pressing a button conveniently located to the right of the shifter. Sport mode gave the Tucson more pep, but running through the modes going uphill and then coming almost to a stop and pressing the right foot firmly while in sport mode showed it is not going to win any high-performance prizes, with its 2.0 litre gas engine.

But it is not supposed to. It is an SUV, intended to carry five persons in comfort and confidence looking down on most mere mortals, and that the Tucson does very well, while having a pleasant exterior (the back end is especially attractive and the gleaming silver of the front grill is not overbearing). I did not sit in the back, but the ample leg room was clear. Rear air-conditioning will make the ride there even more comfortable, and dual cooling/heating gives independence of ambiance up front.

There are the expected comforts, bells and whistles - steering mounted controls, Bluetooth connectivity, fuel economy digital readout, charging port in the trunk (which has decent space), decent sized screen for info and entertainment. We did not pump up the stereo, but it was more than adequate at low levels - levels which also showed that cabin noise while driving is low. I am always gung-ho for a full seat belt, with trunk hook, for the third person on the back seat. It also makes putting in a child seat and being able to keep an eye on the little one that much easier. The Tucson also comes with a full-size spare and alloy rim. No need to drop the style if there is a puncture.

DELIGHTFUL FEATURE

If there is a downside, it is the plastic on the dashboard, which could be a bit more upscale.

A delightful feature on the test model was how the 4wd is engaged. The Tucson adjust to the road conditions and applies the extra grip as required, taking that extra responsibility from the driver in what might be a high-stress moment, or things may simply happen too quickly to adjust in time.

As is the norm for motor-vehicle lines, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson comes in various trim levels - with attendant prices. So while the test model's upholstery was adequate and comfortable, it was not plush. For that, plus a sunroof, you have to go top of the line. Whether or not you need to is up to personal taste - and pocket.

The race is on to deliver creature comforts, fuel economy and styling oomph in the mid-size SUV category, where there is the highest demand in Jamaica. With its restyled, enlarged 2016 Tucson starting north of $4 million, Hyundai has upped the ante in a serious way.

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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Hyundai's Genesis luxury brand is taking aim at Mercedes and BMW


Hyundai's new Genesis luxury brand introduced its first car — the 2017 G90 — this week at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.

Genesis is a gamble for Hyundai.

It will be the first dedicated luxury brand to be launched by a major car company since 1989, when Nissan and Toyota launched Infiniti and Lexus, respectively.

However, Genesis will allow Hyundai to take advantage of the luxury market's higher profit margins.

According to Hyundai, the "G90 will compete at the top of the premium luxury car segment with world-class technological innovations and the highest levels of refinement, convenience and dynamic performance."

Which means when it arrives in showrooms, the G90 will assume its place atop the Genesis product hierarchy and replace the current Hyundai-badged Equus.

As a result, it will be poised to compete directly against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Audi A8, the BMW 7-Series, and the Lexus LS.

For an upstart brand, that's a murderers' row of industry heavyweights to contend with.

Fortunately for Genesis, Hyundai brought in some industry veterans to oversee its product offerings. Former Bentley and Lamborghini design boss Luc Donckerwolke will help run the division.

In addition, Donckerwolke will work with Hyundai Motor Group president and chief designer Peter Schreyer — who joined Hyundai-Kia from VW Group a decade ago.

As for the G90 itself, it features the front-end design the company debuted in the current generation Hyundai Genesis. It's no coincidence that the Hyundai Genesis sedan will join the G90 in the brand's lineup as the Genesis G80.

Like its sister car, the Kia K900 and the Hyundai Equus it replaces, the G90 will be available with a 5.0-liter, 420-horsepower V8 engine. Business Insider had the opportunity to experience the engine last year in a K900 and found it to be smooth, quiet, and powerful.

The G90 will also be available with a 3.3-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which will produce an estimated 365 horsepower.

In an effort to address customer dissatisfaction over the Equus and K900's somewhat disengaged driving dynamics, Genesis has put the new G90 through its paces at is development center located at Germany's famed Nurburgring racetrack.

Inside, the G90 is plush as expected for a car of its stature. Fine leather, rich wood accents, and more screens than a Best Buy populate the G90's cabin.

In terms of in-car tech, the Genesis G90 will be equipped with a load of goodies, including lane-keep assist, smart cruise control, auto-braking, and 360-degree surround-view cameras.

Genesis has not announced official pricing for the G90, although the 2016 Hyundai Equus starts at $61,500.

Source

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

The Hyundai Elantra will be the least-expensive Android Auto vehicle we’ve seen


While built-in services like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are becoming more and more common, we’re still seeing them installed on more luxury-geared vehicles, for the most part. However, Hyundai is looking to break this trend by setting loose a budget-friendly car that’s ready to bring Android Auto to folks not interested in breaking the bank for their wheels: the 2017 Elantra.

Including delivery, the Hyundai Elantra sports a price tag of $19,785. It will be going on sale during Q1 in the US, and if you want Android Auto installed, all you have to do is fork over an additional $800. That might seem a bit pricey for Android Auto alone, but what comes with the package is Apple CarPlay functionality (just in case), a rear-view camera, automatic headlights, media control buttons on the steering wheel, cruise control, Bluetooth-enabled entertainment system, heated side mirrors, and a hood insulator.

It’s possible to outfit the Elantra further than this tier, but that’s the minimum that you have to pay to get Android Auto included in the bundle. Even the Limited version comes with blind spot detection, LED running lights, leather steering wheel, shift knob, and seats, 17” alloy wheels, and a slew of other perks to boot. However, if you want that 7-inch touchscreen built into the dash, you’re going to be paying an extra $2,500.

Bottom line here: the Hyundai Elantra is looking to be the least-expensive device on the market with Android Auto support in 2016. If you’re looking for a new ride, and Android Auto is on your priorities list, maybe give this one a close look. Full press release below.

What are your thoughts on Hyundai’s latest Android-savvy go-places machine? Let us know in the comments below!

Source

Hyundai Announces the 2017 Elantra with Android Auto


We’ve been seeing plenty of new cars coming out with Android Auto recently. Hyundai was actually the first one to put Android Auto on the road, in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. And will be expanding to the Genesis and Azera. Today, Hyundai announced the 2017 Elantra which has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. So we have yet another model with Android Auto baked in. This would be the fourth model from Hyundai, and the experience with Android Auto should be pretty similar to the Sonata we reviewed last year.

The seven inch display on the Elantra will support both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. That same display is used for the rear camera, as well your built-in navigation and audio controls. It’s a great infotainment system, one of the better ones we’ve used in recent months. Hyundai also has support for Blue Link on the 2017 Elantra which will allow you to do all sorts of things with your car, including unlock your car from your Android Wear-powered smartwatch. Making things even easier, and more like a keyless entry. You can also remotely start your car from your wrist, something that is definitely useful in the winters up North.

“By launching our best-selling model, Elantra, with CarPlay and Android Auto support, we are building on our promise to offer more convenience features for today’s modern driver at an affordable price point,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning at Hyundai.

With Android Auto, you’ll be able to make hands-free calls using your phone. Additionally, you can use Google Maps as well as music streaming services like Spotify, Google Play Music, and many others. All streaming from your phone, but over the speakers in the 2017 Elantra. You’ll want to be careful though, as this will use your data when streaming music and even using navigation. Luckily it’ll use the car’s GPS instead of your phone’s though.

Currently there’s no set date for when the 2017 Hyundai Elantra will be available from dealers. But it should be available around the end of Spring. We’ll keep you updated as soon as it’s available, and what the costs will be.

Source

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Hyundai ready to announce Santa Cruz green light


"We're waiting more for an announcement than we are for an approval, right?" asked Hyundai Motor America chief Dave Zuchowski, speaking to Australia's Motoring at the Detroit Auto Show.

The Santa Cruz concept had been well received following its debut in Detroit a year ago. Hyundai's US division has voiced enthusiasm for a production model, though the decision rests on the shoulders of its Korean board.

"Our timing is not crossing our fingers and waiting for approval, it's trying to figure out when we're going to announce it," Zuchowski said.

The light-duty pickup is aimed at 'urban adventurer' millennials, promoted as a crossover with a pickup bed. A production edition will presumably be toned down, though its styling will likely be unique compared to the Chevrolet Colorado and other midsize rivals.

The concept was presented with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine that delivers 190 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, however a US-bound production package will presumably be offered with a gasoline engine.

"Santa Cruz is intended to attract CUV [SUV] and sedan buyers who are seeking greater utility, without the compromises that traditional trucks often require," Zuchowski added.

The company has not yet outlined a launch window or estimated pricing for the pickup.

Source

Monday, January 18, 2016

Gary Rome Hyundai is hiring!

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2017 Genesis G90 luxury sedan a bold leap into premium for Hyundai

2017 Genesis G90 sedan

Genesis, Hyundai’s new premium brand, revealed its G90 flagship luxury sedan at the North American International Auto Show January 11.

The Genesis G90 will compete at the top of the luxury segment, Hyundai says, with best-in-class noise, vibration and harshness reduction measures and exclusive materials throughout the interior.

Drivers will also get posh 22-way adjustable seats, plus the brand’s GENESIS SMART SENSE suite of passive and active safety features, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Start, Smart Blind Spot Detection and Lane Keep Assist.


The all-new G90 sedan also promises performance in tandem with all that luxury, with the company boasting of testing at Germany’s Nurburgring in its press release. It delivers on this performance in part via Hyundai’s first-ever application of its Genesis Adaptive Control Suspension (GACS) system, and in part via its powertrain. Specifically, the Genesis G90 will get standard an all-new 365-hp 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 under the hood; or, optionally, the company’s more powerful Tau 420-hp 5.0-litre direct-injected V8. Both engines will send power to all four wheels via Hyundai’s H-TRAC all-wheel-drive system.

Hyundai has not yet released pricing dealership delivery date details, but did say the Genesis brand would be rolling out five other new models over the next five years.

Source

Sunday, January 17, 2016

The longer and wider 2016 Hyundai Tucson


Stop and take a look at the all new 2016 Hyundai Tucson because the look of Hyundai’s latest 2016 offering is worth a second head turn indeed. Combining good looks, impressive technology and a strong engine, it’s a triple threat in the subcompact meets compact segment this year. In fact, redesigned to fit the modern age, the Hyundai Tucson is fierce in its ability to shake things up with the competition.

Longer in length this year, the Tucson still doesn’t extend out quite as long as the other go tos in this market niche — the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CR-V. In the subcompact competition, you have the Mazda CX-3 or the Ford Escape, but this little Hyundai still delights in all the right places for the new car buyer.

Holding up to five passengers, there are four trims to choose from including the SE, Eco, Sport and Limited.

The SE is the base trim with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and LED headlight accents, heated mirrors, rear spoiler, power accessories, cruise control and even a height-adjustable driver’s seat. In the back, there is a 60/40-split folding rear seatback configuration and the back seats recline. Loaded with technology goodies like a Bluetooth phone and audio connect, there is also a five-inch touchscreen, rear-view camera, USB port and six speakers.

On the Eco trim, the additions are LED daytime running lights, fog lights, roof rails and a more comfortable driver seat offering eight different seat arrangements.

On the Sport, the wheels are still bigger at 19 inches and there is a hands-free power liftgate, keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The top-of-the-line Limited edition adds LED headlights and taillights, softer interior trim and leather upholstery. There is also a six-way power passenger seat and dual-zone automatic climate control. In the back seat, passengers have rear air vents and Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics is added to the Limited edition trim. This includes an eight-inch touchscreen, navigation system and eight speakers.

There are optional packages on the SE like a preferred or Popular Equipment package. On the Limited, you can opt for an Ultimate package with snazzier headlights, rear parking sensors, panoramic sunroof and air conditioned front seats along with heated back seats.

Under the hood, the engines match up with the trim like the SE has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gives 164 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. The Eco, Sport and Limited trims have a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 175 horsepower and 195 pound feet of torque.

All the transmissions are seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual except the SE with a six- speed automatic transmission. You can opt for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive on all.

Safety features on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson include a rearview camera as standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front side and side curtain airbags and hill-hold assist/hill descent control. Depending on the trim, there are added safety features. For example, the Sport trim has a blind-spot monitoring feature and the Limited comes with rear parking sensors or, the Ultimate package extras are a lane-departure warning and a forward collision mitigation system.

If you decide on the Limited trim, you will also have the only trim with the Hyundai Blue Link inclusion and this offers safety additions like the emergency safety assistance and Blue Link mobile app.

Comfort and style are descriptions that will come to mind with the 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The knobs and controls are well placed and there is plenty of room for storage needs for the driver and the passenger. The Limited interior stands out with padded door inserts and the dashboard gets extra padding too.

The front and back seats both offer plenty of head room and in the back there is a fair amount of legroom too. Cargo space is 31-feet behind the back seats or when the back seats are folded down there is 61.9 cubic feet of space.

It’s a comfortable ride and drive behind the wheel of the 2016 Hyundai Tucson. Smaller in size you can fit it in parking spots that might be too small for the competition. As you are driving the Tucson, you will certainly feel safe since it glides down the road, takes the turns and settles gently on the highway or city roads for a job well done.

Source

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Hyundai's answer to Toyota Prius hybrid revealed in full days ahead of reveal


Fresh images have emerged on Korean blog site Auto-view.kr showing the production version of Hyundai’s all-new IONIQ hybrid in full view, for the first time.

Sporting a bold front-end design that’s been given more latitude than most Hyundais – which stringently adhere to the company’s ‘fluidic design’ styling language – the IONIQ will be revealed for the first time in Korea this Thursday (January 14).

Making a visual statement without resorting to the polarizing sort of design presented by its direct rival, Toyota’s latest Prius, the front-end brings a touch of (sister company) Kia with a large, single-frame black grille that blends into over-sized wrap-around headlights.

The rear-end doesn’t have the maturity of the frontal design, while interior images of the IONIQ appear to be obtained via official sources, unless the spy photographer snagged the keys to the vehicle and threw a white sheet over the car in the underground car park.

The instrument panel appears to adopt full digitization, doing away with traditional analogue gauges. There’s also a pair of touch-screens to fiddle with and the car gets split/folding rear seats too.

Overall, Hyundai’s first global hybrid model has been penned to look futuristic enough to appeal to a specific customer, while being less controversial than the fourth-generation Toyota Prius, which is due on sale in Australia within a month or so.

The IONIQ has a clear directive – steal sales from the Prius – and it will be available to Australian motorists in the second half of this year, when pricing will be competitive with the world’s top-selling hybrid.

While the Prius has a CVT automatic transmission and a 1.8-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, the IONIQ will get a 1.6-litre engine and electric motor hooked up to a dual-clutch gearbox.

Although Hyundai is yet to reveal how efficient its new green halo car is, the company has promised “world’s best hybrid efficiency” which means it will have to consume less than Prius’ expected 3.2L/100km
.
Hyundai has been on a drip-feed crusade since it first announced the name of its Prius fighter in December, with teaser shots of the interior and exterior following.

These spy photos show the Korean giant is serious about taking the fight to the world’s biggest car-maker, and considering there’s always been a bit of argy-bargy between the Koreans and the Japanese, this is one fight that’s likely to go the full 10 rounds.

Source

Friday, January 15, 2016

Hyundai’s augmented reality manual: A simple but extremely good idea





If you kept a look out for it, you could find a few examples of augmented reality on display at CES this year. There were concept cars with AR heads-up displays (JVC Kenwood and McLaren Automotive had a modified 675LT with such a system), but little of it was production-ready. That's not the case with Hyundai's new virtual owner's manual.

We first got a look at the augmented reality owner's manual at last year's LA Auto Show, but since Hyundai had a demonstration set up at CES this week, we thought we'd show you a closer look at it. It runs on a smartphone or tablet (both Android and iOS), and uses the in-built camera to recognize different components in the car (under the hood, in the trunk, and inside the cabin). It then overlays labels explaining what you're seeing, with tutorials you can use to show you how to check your oil and so on.

Sure, it's not as flashy as a full-windscreen HUD with GPS and point of interest overlays, but it is an extremely practical application of consumer technology that's designed to make life just that little bit easier for the people who use it. All too often, we see OEMs and tech companies throwing technology around just for the sake of doing so. But this is a relatively simple and elegant idea that makes a lot of sense. As such, I make no apologies for quite how excited I get in the video above—I really do think it's a stroke of genius.

Bravo, Hyundai.

Source

Hyundai Tucson now a five-star crash performer


The Hyundai Tucson has had its official Australasian safety rating lifted to five stars following a redesign by the Korean car-maker.

The popular mid-sized SUV was controversially handed a four-star score by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program in November, after official testing revealed compromised structural integrity of the driver footwell, along with excessive movement in the brake pedal.

The rating applied to the 2.0-litre front-drive variants sourced from South Korea which went on sale in August, and came in spite of a five-star rating already given by European NCAP, along with a maximum safety score in the United States. The rating was especially embarrassing for Hyundai as the Tucson achieved a lower crash-test score than the ix35 it replaced.

"A team of engineers from (Hyundai's) R&D centre, based at Namyang, South Korea, flew to Australia in mid-September to examine the vehicle shortly after the original test," a statement from Hyundai Australia said. "A redesign was validated and put into production by mid-November."

Following the redesign, the Tucson was on Monday awarded a maximum five-star rating by ANCAP, matching cohorts such as the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V. ANCAP has confirmed that models released ahead of the remedy will retain a four-star rating, or will remain unrated depending on country of origin.

"The five-star ANCAP rating published means all Hyundai Tucsons built from mid-November (Korea) and mid-December (Czech Republic) carry the maximum score from Australia's vehicle safety authority," the company said in a statement.

ANCAP said the fix would greatly improve occupant safety.

"It is encouraging to see Hyundai make a number of design and production changes to improve the safety of the vehicle and we commend them for acting quickly to implement the improvements," chief executive James Goodwin said.

"The changes significantly improved the vehicle's performance in the frontal offset test, which would reduce the possibility of injury to occupants in the event of a crash."

Source

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Powetrain Details is Officially Released

After a short wait, Hyundai has released the official specifications of the Ioniq hybrid powertrain. It is one of the anticipated electric vehicles that is expected to help the brand and the technology move forward
The Ioniq Hybrid has three different cars lined up for the moment. Out of the three, Ioniqs that are scheduled for dealership launches, the Prius fighter will be the first to be out. On the inside, the car will be powered by a 1.6-liter Kappa GDI engine. The engine will deliver a decent 104 horsepower which is also coupled with an electric engine capable of pumping out 43 horsepower. It uses a dual clutch transmission system.
For the convenience of the driver and to keep the center of gravity low, Hyundai has mounted the lithium ion battery near the bottom of the vehicle. It makes it easier to stay stable on the road and improve stability when cutting corners at high speed. There is no word on the total mileage the car offers. The manufacturers are tight lipped about the information as it will help define their dominance in the market.
Chevrolet has already launched the Bolt 2016 edition at the Consumer Electronics Show. The company claimed their car will run 200 miles on a single charge and it is priced at the $30,000 mark, making it the most affordable electric car with amazing distance coverage. Hyundai Ioniq range of vehicles is expected to compete with these competitors, but being a hybrid, it may not be a direct competitor for the Bolt.
Apart from detailing the power train information of their upcoming hybrid vehicle, Hyundai has released a couple of images. It revealed the amazing design of the exterior and the posh, connected interiors of the vehicle. The taillights are triangle in shape while the rear lip is exceptionally large.
On the inside, the car is aesthetically designed with black matte finish which is accentuated by the blue outlines on the air vents, the infotainment system and the seat cushions. The center console placement is quite similar to the other models. As part of their initiative, Hyundai will also launch plug-in hybrid variants and a fully electric version of the Ioniq car in the near future.
You can take a look at those pictures. The version Hyundai showcased is a white colored model but the interiors will almost be the same for all cars in the Ioniq series; we hope so.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Hyundai Aims To 'Set Benchmark For Luxury' With Genesis Brand

Hyundai is reaching for the top in launching a new luxury brand, Genesis, which aims to replicate the success of Japanese rivals while redefining the customer experience.

The Korean automaker unveiled its flagship sedan, the G90, at the Detroit auto show Monday that was designed to compete with the top offerings of storied brands like Mercedes and BMW by offering best-in-class performance and features.

"We are applying ourselves to entirely new objectives to set the benchmark for luxury," Hyundai vice chair Eui Sun Chung said at the brand's US launch.

"With Genesis we will strive to meet the desire of a new generation of luxury customer... (who) value unique experiences over mere status."

The bold move comes after years of studious planning and work to improve Hyundai's reputation following a disastrous initial entree into the US market in 1986 with the poorly-built Excel.

Hyundai addressed its reputation for poor quality by vigorously improving its production standards and introducing a 10-year warranty program in 1999.

It launched its first luxury sedan -- the Genesis -- shortly before US car sales collapsed to the lows not seen in decades in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

Hyundai managed to expand market share during the downturn through clever marketing that included a promise to buy back a customer's car if they lost their job within the first year of purchase.

It also won accolades for the Genesis, including the much-coveted car of the year award at the 2009 Detroit auto show.

But despite all that hard work, Hyundai has still not shed its reputation as a cheaper alternative, said Jack Nerad, an analyst at Kelley Blue Book.

"What they're limited by is 'that's just a Hyundai' -- the perception of that's what the brand is," he said in a telephone interview.

"The current Genesis sedan... it's a very good value, but has not resonated well sales-wise because people buying luxury want to have the prestige of the brand."

Separating its premium offerings into a separate brand could help boost their prestige.

It worked when Honda, Nissan and Toyota introduced their Lexus, Acura and Infiniti brands in the late 1980s.

"Figuring out if this is successful isn't going to be determined by the first two cars they bring over," said Stephanie Brinley, an analyst with IHS Automotive.

"It's a long-term play, it's having to do it over and over again and how they build that up."

Hyundai announced the Genesis brand in November and plans to introduce it initially in the United States, Asia and the Middle East. It will eventually expand into Europe as the brand expands to six offerings by 2020.

"Our ability to start fresh in this new era instead of having the legacy or burden of what was in the past means we can start with something new and invest more appropriately," said Mike O'Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning for Hyundai Motor America.

One way to start fresh is to upend the traditional dealership experience by offering customers valet service so they don't have to sit around waiting for an oil change.

Instead, someone will pick their car up from them and drop it back off when it's ready.

It doesn't make sense to invest tens of millions of dollars into elaborate showrooms, O'Brien said, when what today's customers really value is their time.

Hyundai understands the challenge of capturing a loyal Mercedes or BMW customer, O'Brien told AFP.

"Our strategy is for those customers that are just getting ready to buy a luxury car to give us a shot," he said in an interview on the sidelines of the show.

"That is going to be our challenge: How do we make a more appealing shopping environment so people give us a try?"