Ettleson Hyundai

Hyundai: Elantra sales growth to slow on tight factory capacity

2012-01-27T13:26:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Hyundai Motor Co.'s U.S. sales unit said the increase in the number of Elantra compact sedans sold this year will slow compared with last year's 41 percent gain because of tight factory capacity.

"The growth will be capped only because of production capacity," Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's executive vice president of national sales, said Thursday in an interview at the Washington auto show.

The company's Montgomery, Ala., plant that builds the Elantra and mid-sized Sonata car produced 338,000 vehicles last year, more than 10 percent above the factory's official capacity.

Hyundai, South Korea's largest automaker, sold 186,361 Elantras in the United States last year, leading the company to a 20 percent sales gain to 645,691 vehicles.

Hyundai captured 5.1 percent of the U.S. market in 2011, up from 4.6 percent the year before and 3 percent in 2008, according to Autodata Corp., a Woodcliff Lake, N.J.-based researcher.

"We're going to sell what we did last year but our growth curve will plateau just because of capacity," he said.

The Elantra won the North American Car of the Year award at the Detroit auto show earlier this month, the second time in four years that Hyundai had claimed the honor.

Contact Automotive News

Cars We Can't Wait to Drive - 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

2012-01-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

The more the merrier, we always say, especially when it comes to power. The extra ponies are even more welcome when they come under the hood of a rear-wheel drive sports car like the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Although we don't necessarily like the 2013 edition's styling changes, the modifications made to turbocharged 2.0-liter engine increase the power output by 64 horses without sacrificing fuel economy. Hyundai also gave its already powerful 3.8-liter V6 a boost by increasing its output by 42 ponies to 348 horsepower. Hyundai says the increased power will help the Genesis Coupe 3.8 reach 60 mph in the low five-second range and on to a top speed of 149 mph.

Read More: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=1236849#9

Hyundai, Kia muscle into Europe, US

2012-01-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

Korean automaker Hyundai and sister Kia are muscling their way into markets in Europe and the United States.

Together, Hyundai and Kia are now the fifth-largest automaker in the world, after global sales grew 15 per cent to 6.6 million vehicles in 2011.

They hope to pass the seven million mark this year and the United States and Europe - both highly competitive, mature markets - are key to that strategy.

In Europe, Hyundai's sales grew 12 per cent last year, while Kia's sales jumped 11 per cent to a combined 692,500 vehicles.

They did even better in the United States, with Hyundai up 20 per cent and Kia up 36 per cent, to a combined 1.1 million vehicles, a new record.

'The American market is so important in terms of psychology for the group,' John Kfracik, president of Hyundai Motor America, told AFP on the sidelines of the Detroit auto show.

Hyundai's initial entry into the United States in 1986 was marred by quality problems, which tarnished the brand's reputation long after the issues were corrected.

The introduction of the industry's first 10-year warranty - compared with just three years at quality leaders like Toyota and Honda - reassured the nation's quality and value-conscious consumers.

Timed at the beginning of a major expansion of Hyundai and Kia's product offerings following the establishment of their first US assembly plants, the warranties helped Korean auto sales explode.

Clever marketing helped Hyundai capture even more market share amidst the deepest economic downtown in decades, when it offered to buy back its cars if new owners lost their jobs.

'We've been known as a value brand. That has been a position that has suited the company's strategy very well,' Krafcik told the Automotive News World Congress on Tuesday.

'We're in the midst of a move to becoming a valuable brand.'

Read More: http://www.skynews.com.au/businessnews/article.aspx?id=707531&vId=

Hyundai Owners Are Most Loyal, J.D. Power Study Says

2012-01-20T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hyundai is on a roll. After reporting strong sales in 2011 and winning the North American Car of the Year Award for its Elantra sedan, the Korean automaker got more good news from J.D. Power and Associates. In the results of J.D. Power's Customer Retention Study, Hyundai came out on top in terms of brand loyalty.

The study, which J.D. Power skipped in 2011, charts customer-loyalty rates by vehicle brand, looking at who remains loyal and to which automaker. For 2012, the industry brand loyalty average is 49%, with Hyundai riding the top of the list at 64%, according to the study.

Hyundai's success is likely driven by the brand's recent overhaul of several of its vehicles, its value pricing strategy and its Assurance buyback program.

Tied for second on the list are Ford and Honda, each with a 60% customer retention rate. Winning the most-improved title is the Jeep brand; its retention rate jumped from 34% in 2010 to 51% in 2012.

Read More: http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2012/01/hyundai-owners-are-most-loyal-jd-power-study-says.html

Hyundai, Kia export over 2 mln vehicles in 2011

2012-01-19T11:51:00.001-08:00

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- Exports by Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. -- South Korea's two major automakers -- exceeded the 2 million unit mark for the first time last year on the back of brisk overseas demand, industry data showed Tuesday.

Hyundai Motor, the country's leading automaker, exported 1,193,343 vehicles and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors 1,089,302 units to record combined overseas sales of 2,282,645 vehicles in 2011, up from 1,989,680 exported a year earlier, according to the data.

The two automakers' exports almost doubled over 10 years to surpass the landmark 2 million vehicles, the data showed. Combined, they exported 1,338,642 vehicles in 2001.

Of every 100 vehicles Hyundai and Kia produced in South Korea last year, 66 were exported, compared with 53.8 units per 100 in 2011.

Their global sales, including those by the marques' overseas operations, reached 5,414,735 vehicles last year.

"Improved competitiveness and brand image of our cars and timely releases of new vehicles drove the export increase," said a company official.

Read More: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2012/01/17/82/0501000000AEN20120117001400320F.HTML

Chung foundation to support 13,000 college students

2012-01-19T11:46:00.001-08:00

The Chung Mong-koo Foundation will provide 13,000 college students from underprivileged households with financial support, Hyundai Motor said Tuesday.

The foundation, set up by Hyundai Motor chairman Chung, plans to issue tuition fee loans with low or zero percent interest rates.

“Over the next two years, about 13,000 college students will enjoy the educational support. Lending rates range between 0 and 3 percent,” the automaker said in a statement.

About 5,000 students could be beneficiaries of the loans with no interest, the company added.

The Chung foundation, formerly Haevichi Foundation, will also support students struggling with high interest on loans from the secondary banking sector or private moneylenders.

“By acquiring their former debts with high interest rates, the foundation is seeking to prevent some students from becoming credit delinquents,” the company said.

The foundation has signed a contract with Kookmin Bank in a bid to convert the high-rate loans in the secondary banking sector to low-rate loans offered by the commercial bank.

Chung said he would like to help needy students so that they do not lose hope for the future and focus on studying.

Aside from providing low interest rate loans for college tuition fees, the foundation has mapped out a program aimed at fostering talented students in science via intensive classes for middle and high school students.

The program also involves comprehensive support for elementary, middle, high school students residing in farming and fishing villages across the country.

He promised in 2006 to donate 1 trillion won ($872,000) to society and gave 923,077 shares worth 60 billion won to the foundation in November 2007.

Read More: http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20120117000979

Hyundai, Toyota shine among TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2011 Top-10 Cars

2012-01-15T11:58:00.000-08:00

The WeeklyDriver.com had its most successful year in 2011. We posted plenty of car news and automotive trends articles, and we incorporated a good supply of independent videos to complement the approximately 100 vehicles we reviewed.

As editor and publisher of the site, I reviewed 29 cars and trucks in 2011. I drove more than a dozen other vehicles at press launches for several automakers, and I want to thank the nearly dozen manufacturers I worked with in 2011 for their continued support. Thanks also to Michael Dobrin Public Relations, Page One Automotive and Special Transport, Inc., for their continued logistics and manufacturer liaison assistance.

In July, I traveled to the Tour de France for the 13th time. There's no better place to test a new car than driving at high speeds on French freeways or while negotiating undulating country roads or while precariously ascending and descending narrow roads in the Alps and Pyrenees.

I reserved a Volkswagen TDI diesel for the estimated 5,000-mile journey. But the fine folks at Hertz made a mistake and I drove a Renault Clio around France for three weeks. There are many reasons why Renault isn't sold in the United States, and let's hope it stays that way.

Our contributing editors contributed dozens of reviews and videos to TheWeeklyDriver.com in 2011. The site, which debuted in 2003, has also gained appreciable advertising support. It's now an official Google News source. We're on Facebook and Twitter, and we have a YouTube channel (TheWeeklyDriver). We also recently debuted our site re-design.

Add it altogether and for the fifth straight year we're presenting our Best-of-the-Year list for 2011.

Many automotive sites pick Cars of the Year before the calendar year begins. They have their reasons. TheWeeklyDriver.com makes selections at the end of the year. We feel it allows for a year of reflection on what the automotive industry had to offer.

This year, for the first time, we're adding the favorite cars of 2011 from the site's contributing editors:

Derek Mau, contributing editor, photographer. Mau, the former editor of CarReview.com, recently joined TheWeeklyDriver.com. He's a skilled writer and photographer and has a keen sense of website dynamics. We met Mau at regional Toyota launch in Sonoma, California, we'll be colloborating more in 2012.

Mau selected the Hyundai Elantra:

"A 40 mpg car that has does not remind you it is a economy car. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra looks better than a Civic, performs beyond most cars in its class, and has a long list of standard features that would make Santa blush. Hyundai has brought together a winning combination of value, style, and performance in the redesigned Elantra, which makes the competition shrink in comparison.

"Unlike the Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, and Chevy Cruze, shoppers do not have to upgrade to higher trims to get the advantage of high fuel efficiency rating of Elantra's 29/40 mpg city/highway. In the highly contested compact class, the Hyundai Elantra is a car that excels at most everything."

And, finally, the top-10 Cars of the Year from TheWeeklyDriver.com.

My list isn't based on a points system or any objective rankings. Rather, it's 10 vehicles among the cars I drove during 2011 that I found innovative or efficient or are just fun to drive. I didn't single out one car of the year simply because it's unfair to do so.

Each car's MSRP is listed, followed by the price as tested and a comment. The alphabetical list varies from the performance and economic wonder Mazda 2 to the plush, solid Volvo S60. I've also listed the top-10 vehicles selected by TheWeeklyDriver.com from the previous four years.

Hyundai Makes Music, Art For Veloster

2012-01-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

Until very recently, Hyundai had nothing to offer younger new-vehicle shoppers in the way of a protean small car -- that quasi sports car, do-everything machine for Gen Y consumers who were not financially ready just yet to own a Genesis, the automaker's higher-end sports sedan/coupe. Yes, there was the Tiburon coupe, discontinued around four years ago, but that 2x2 configuration coupe was -- to be kind -- "meh" in the flexibility department.

But the new three-door 2012 Hyundai Veloster coupe is intended to deliver on all the above, and the automaker isn't taking chances on positioning. Instead of a more traditional campaign with TV leading off, followed by the usual media flotilla, the automaker has been delivering the Veloster gospel with a digital/social-focused music, video, film, game, and collaborative art strategy. Overseeing the efforts on the agency side is AOR Innocean Worldwide Americas.

Yes, Hyundai has Veloster integrated in Microsoft and Xbox, and Action Sports games, plus a giant billboard digital game in New York’s Times Square that allows people in the area to race Velosters on the billboard using their smartphones. But arguably, the maypole of the Veloster push is social-friendly music and art initiatives, such as the “Re:Generation” Music Project that launched a few weeks ago. The project -- a partnership with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and its Grammy Awards -- epitomizes Hyundai's approach for the car, involving as it does a set of collaborations between emerging DJs and iconic musicians and performers. It culminates in a feature film to be screened in around 125 theaters next year.

"Music is a very big platform," says Steve Shannon, VP of marketing at Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Hyundai Motor America. He tells Marketing Daily that the project allowts Hyundai to populate social sites like YouTube with trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, music and more. "And we are on TV, but even that is non-traditional. We did 15-second spots, each kind of an appetizer, focusing on specific features: 40 mpg, or the vehicle's three-door configuration. Those ran for six weeks, and in keeping with our target, they were on channels like MTV, Fuse TV and Versus."

The YouTube content about the film, which debuts during the Grammy week, has garnered around five million views, according to Shannon, who adds that earned media from RollingStone.com and other music Web sites has helped drive views and buzz. It also helps that one of the acts featured in the film has garnered several Grammy nominations this year.

Shannon says Veloster is off to a fast start, having sold around 7,100 units since the U.S. launch in September. "Frankly, we are limited by capacity. We can only get so many, and it has the lowest day’s supply of any [Hyundai] model right now," he says. “I have phone calls every Monday from the regional guys. 'White hot' is the term they're using." The Veloster buyers are the youngest in Hyundai's range, around 40 years of age on average, per Shannon. Yes, the car is skewed to Gen Y - 19 -to-23-year-olds -- but that's an ideal, as most young consumers buy pre-owned, get their parents' cars, or are beneficiaries of their parents’ largesse.

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/164737/hyundai-makes-music-art-for-veloster.html#ixzz1jBJPc89d

Hyundai Dealers in Chicago

AOL Autos - The Best Car And SUV Of 2011

2012-01-13T11:53:00.000-08:00

Choosing the best car and truck of the year? It's a difficult task in any year. But automakers have gotten so good, for the most part, in achieving high quality even in the least expensive cars and trucks that any choices made are bound to invite heavy debate and argument.

Before we get to which vehicles were selected by AOL Autos staff editors, let's turn to a couple of other arbiters to see which models they chose. MotorTrend Magazine, probably the most influential car enthusiast magazine when it comes to choosing car and truck of the year, weighed in recently with the 2011 Volkswagen Passat as Car of the Year, and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque as Truck of the Year.

We think they were half right.

Another body, the North American Car of the Year/Truck of the Year organization, will make its choices known at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. That organization, a jury of fifty journalists from different media outlets, vote on their favorites.

That group's three finalists in each category are Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat for the car award, and Honda CR-V, BMW X3 and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque for the truck category.

Among the newly designed vehicles released in 2011 that were eligible for MotorTrend, North America Car/Truck of the Year, as well as our selection, were the following 2011 models: Audi A6 and A7, Buick Verano, Chrysler 300, Fiat 500, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Rio, Scion iQ, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V, VW Beetle, Mercedes-Benz M Class, MINI Countryman, Nissan Quest and Saab 9-4X.

Read More: http://autos.aol.com/photos/2011-car-suv-of-the-year/

Hyundai Elantra Dealers in Chicago

Hartford Courant: Hyundai Accent

2012-01-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

For decades most low-budget models never let you forget that you scrimped big time on car shopping. Even now, not everyone has adjusted to the idea that inexpensive small cars don't need to feel cheap.

Fortunately, there's progress on this front. An excellent example is the completely redesigned 2012 Hyundai Accent.

The Accent was the weak link in the revitalized Hyundai lineup. It served as a price leader and offered good value. But it probably made many buyers wish that they could have afforded something more. Buyers of the redesigned Accent, introduced recently as part of Hyundai's 24/7 initiative (which calls for 7 new models in only 24 months) should suffer no such second thoughts.

As with the last generation Accent, the new version comes in two body styles. The four-door sedan returns, albeit with new styling, a new drivetrain and a completely reengineered body structure and suspension system. In other words, about the only things carried over are the model name and position in the lineup.

Also offered is a completely new five-door hatchback that could just as easily be called a small wagon, based on styling and function. Both versions ride on a 101.2-inch wheelbase, but at 172 inches, the sedan is 10 inches longer than the hatchback.

Regardless of the body style, power comes from a new 1.6-liter engine, which is part of what Hyundai calls its "Gamma" family. This motor's high-tech features make the Accent's $14,955 starting price even more remarkable. Try finding a car in that price range that offers variable intake and exhaust valve timing, along with direct fuel injection.

The payoff comes in power output and economy. Power is rated at 138 horsepower, about 20 more than is found in the competition. These competitors also fall short of the Accent's EPA ratings of 30 miles per gallon in the city and 40 MPG on the highway. Transmission choices are a manual and automatic, both with six speeds. Every Accent has front-wheel drive.

Read More: http://articles.courant.com/2011-12-21/classified/hc-class-auto-1221_1_gls-sedan-accent-s-epa

Chicago Hyundai Accent

Video Find: 2012 Hyundai Veloster Goes Interactive in Times

2012-01-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

With all the foot traffic, it’s hard to get a car around Times Square in New York City, let alone go racing. But Hyundai is giving iPhone users a chance to do just that – it has released a new interactive ad called Hyundai Race on its Times Square billboard that lets people race digital 2012 Velosters using their smartphones.

Players can download the Hyundai Race app from the iTunes App Store to play. Using the app, the iPhone becomes the controller to the oversized, LED screen right in the middle of The Great White Way. Players race a Veloster around a road course, and compete for the fastest lap time. The automaker’s billboard spans two screens, letting up to two people play at once. Hyundai Race will stay on the billboard through the end of this year, and Hyundai says it will replace it with another interactive experience next year.

Hyundai first obtained its billboard spot in the middle of Times Square above the TKTS stairs at 47^th Street and Broadway in 2009. Check out the video below to see Hyundai Race in action; if you’re in Times Square this holiday season, take it for a test drive!

Chicago Hyundai Dealers

Hyundai to introduce i-oniq concept in Geneva

2011-12-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

Hyundai Motor Co. will preview the next phase of its vehicle styling with a new concept car scheduled to debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Hyundai released a teaser sketch today of the i-oniq concept car that will be introduced in Geneva and said it hints at the future direction of the brand's "fluidic sculpture" styling.
The sketch shows the silhouette of a long hood and a fastback-style passenger cabin.

The car was designed at Hyundai's European research and development center in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

"Two strong arched curves define the silhouette of i-oniq, creating a playful contrast between the sharp character lines and soft but muscular features," Thomas Bürkle, Hyundai's European design chief, describing the i-oniq, said in a statement.

A spokesman from Hyundai Motor America declined to elaborate on the vehicle.

Hyundai has applied the "fluidic sculpture" styling to nearly its entire vehicle lineup. The swoopy lines and dramatic surface treatments of the corporate look have helped Hyundai shed its legacy of hum-drum styling and boost sales of vehicles like the Sonata and Elantra.

REVIEWS: 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Four Season Wrap-Up

2011-12-23T08:03:00.000-08:00

It's fair to say that we were surprised by the Hyundai Sonata. Granted, the previous Sonata was a competent offering, but it was not exactly a standout. With the new Sonata, however, staff members suddenly started tossing around phrases like "best-in-class." Against such stalwart competitors as the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry -- and solid challengers like the Nissan Altima, the Ford Fusion, and the Chevrolet Malibu -- that was a very big claim. The best way to find out for sure whether the Sonata was deserving of such enthusiasm was to spend a year with one in a Four Seasons test.

The Sonata comes in three flavors: GLS, SE, and Limited. We chose the midlevel SE, which is also supposed to be the (slightly) sporty version. For the SE, there's only one powertrain: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. You might think the six-speed manual would be available on the SE, but it can be had only on the base GLS. We added the navigation and sunroof package (which also includes an upgraded audio system) and a cargo net, bringing the total price to a still very reasonable $25,965.

The navigation system proved to be a key addition, and it garnered lots of praise for its ease of use. "I drove a Honda Accord recently," said senior web editor Phil Floraday, starting off our logbook, "and the first thing I noticed in the Sonata is how much more intuitive the infotainment and climate controls are." He argued that, given the relative parity among so many cars in this class, infotainment systems now take center stage, particularly for today's tech-obsessed buyers. Assistant editor David Zenlea put the Sonata's system alongside Nissan's at the head of the class. "Hyundai consistently nails in-car technology," he said, "something that utterly confounds most automakers." "There's no learning curve," added associate editor Eric Tingwall. "The controls for everything from the radio to the headlights to the HVAC are smartly placed, neatly arranged, and appropriately sized."

If its in-car technology makes Hyundai seem very au courant, so, too, does the Sonata's all-four-cylinder engine lineup. After we got our Sonata, Hyundai brought out a turbocharged version -- rather than a V-6 -- and a hybrid as well. Should we have waited for the turbo? Well, the turbocharged engine, a 2.0-liter, provides considerably more power and torque: 274 hp and 269 lb-ft (versus the 2.4-liter SE's 200 hp and 186 lb-ft). And the 2012 model does so with a minimal fuel-economy penalty of only 2 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the highway (2011 Sonatas had slightly lower EPA ratings). But numbers don't tell the whole story. "After driving the Sonata 2.0T, I'd say we picked the right one," argued Zenlea. "The turbo, much like most powerful, front-wheel-drive mid-size cars, has more torque than it can put to the ground."

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1112_2011_hyundai_sonata_se_four_season_wrap_up/index.html#ixzz1hNGbJv6Y

Chicago Hyundai Dealers

Hyundai Ranks High in KBB’s most-researched vehicles of 2011

2011-12-22T13:16:00.000-08:00

Chances are you've visited KBB.com to do some research if you're in the market for a new vehicle, which is why the site's list of this year's most researched new vehicles and brands is probably a good representation of what the public at large is really interested in.

KBB calls it "share of market interest," which is defined as the percent of new car shopper activity for a particular brand or model. This year, Toyota captured the largest share of market interest among brands with 14.2 percent, followed by Ford (13.5 percent), Honda (12.8 percent), Chevrolet (11.5 percent) and Hyundai (7.5 percent).

As for individual models, the list of 20 vehicles with the highest share of market interest is dominated by the familiar players, including the Honda Civic, Accord and CR-V; Toyota Camry and Ford F-150, which make up the top five (though not in that order).

KBB points out two interesting things about this year's list. The first is the excellent showing by Hyundai both in brand ranking and individual models with the highest share of market interest. The Korean automaker was fifth in the brand rankings, pushing Nissan out of the top five, and the Sonata and Elantra ranked sixth and seventh among individual models, the latter jumping 29 spots from last year's list. The site credits Hyundai's roll out of new models, as well as hard times for both Toyota and Honda, for its capturing of consumers' interest this year.

The other thing to note is the absence of luxury vehicles, which suggests these tight economic times have consumers researching more practical purchases than a BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi, or at least that those who can afford such vehicles aren't researching them on KBB.com.

Follow the jump for KBB's official press release that includes the full list of 20 vehicles with the highest share of market interest for 2011.

Read More: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/16/kbb-names-its-most-researched-vehicles-of-2011/

Left Lane News - Review: 2012 Hyundai Veloster

2011-12-21T13:13:00.000-08:00

But after spending a week with the car, we’ve had a longer chance to become acquainted with each other.

Come along for the ride as we rediscover the 2012 Hyundai Veloster .

What is it?

Hyundai claims its new Veloster is an example of “the coupé, redefined.” Seeing that most others are trying to convince the buying public that four-door, swoopy designs are the equivalent of a four-door coupe, we ask “why not?”

As it is, the Veloster is a four-seat, three doors-and-a-hatch coupé that appears to be just the ticket for first-time buyers, college students, retirees, and just those who are looking for a little fun in a stylish, if a bit quirky, ride.

In spirit, Veloster kind of replaces Hyundai’s departed Tiburon, a less-than-loved sporty-looking coupe. With only a 1.6-liter engine, it slots in well below the dynamically impressive but hardly big-selling Genesis Coupe.

What’s it up against?

The Ford Fiesta , Mini Cooper, Honda Fit , Fiat 500c, Scion tC and perhaps the Volkswagen Beetle , are all players in the field that can potentially give the Veloster fits.

Essentially it comes down to your taste in style, size, and the thickness of your wallet, since no car in this segment really cuts the same shadow.

Any breakthroughs?

Did we mention that passenger-side rear door? Oh right, we did. That design move alone puts the Veloster in a rare place, especially for a Korean automaker: That of an innovator. We think it was a conscious effort to keep things safe for rear seat passengers by making the door available only on the passenger side. Sure, a passenger can still enter through the left side by flipping the driver seat forward.

Hyundai even claims that at 40 mpg, the Veloster achieves better highway mileage than Honda ’s CR–Z hybrid. A standard Blue Link Telematics system is included for other standard, and optionally available features. Every vehicle whether equipped with navi or not, gets a standard multi–function LG-brand seven-inch touch–screen monitor for control of the in-car entertainment as well as videogame console connectivity.

How does it look?

The new Veloster appears as though it’s the love child of the Genesis Coupe and Aston Martin ’s new One-77 supercar. Featuring the same front fascia–mounted intakes (although not functional here) the Veloster appears to really be trying to flatter the Aston Martin. The look mostly works. From the side, and with its blacked-out A-pillars it manages to channel its inner Bell Helmet.

Read More: http://www.leftlanenews.com/hyundai-veloster-review.html#

Small cars rule as finalists for N.A. Car of the Year

2011-12-20T13:13:00.000-08:00

Fuel-efficient small cars and trucks won over the judges as finalists in this year's North American Car and Truck of the Year judging.

The Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat are the finalists for the 2012 North American Car of the Year.

For North American Truck of the Year, the finalists are the BMW X3, the Honda CR-V and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. All the vehicles, both the car and crossovers, are compacts except the Passat, a midsize sedan.

Of all the myriad car and truck awards out now, the North American is still considered the most prestigious. It's picked by about 50 top auto journalists, including Test Drive's James R. Healey, and will be named at the big auto show in Detroit next month.

All three of the car finalists reflect the strategy of their respective manufacturers:

The Focus is the first of many cars and crossovers that Ford plans to introduce from a new global platform.
The Elantra is one of several new models from Hyundai that achieve at least 40 mpg, an attribute the South Korean automaker has touted in its advertising.
The Passat, built at Volkswagen's new plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., is a linchpin of VW's goal to sell 800,000 cars a year in the U.S. by 2018. Through November, it has sold 398,654 vehicles in 2011.

"The finalists for Truck of the Year show how much our idea of what a truck is has evolved," said Detroit Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan, who also is a judge. "They're all crossover SUVs that offer fuel economy and performance you wouldn't have dreamed of in a truck 5 or 10 years ago."

Read More: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/12/small-vehicles-rule-as-finalists-for-na-car-of-the-year/1

Hyundai Emulates VW Market Share Gaining Super Bowl Ads: Cars

2011-12-20T12:47:00.000-08:00

Hyundai Motor Co. (005380) is taking a page from Volkswagen AG (VOW)’s Super Bowl playbook.
The South Korean automaker wants to “turn the needle a little bit in the direction of more entertainment,” John Krafcik, chief executive officer of Hyundai’s U.S. unit, told reporters last month while outlining plans for NBC’s Feb. 5 broadcast of the championship game of the National Football League. “We’d like a little bit more memorability.”

Last year’s winners saw big -- and lasting -- market-share gains after putting up spots in last season’s final game. VW Passat interest surged 70 percent on Edmunds.com during the week after it aired a spot of a child playing Darth Vader compared with the prior four weeks, according to Edmunds.com, a Santa Monica, California-based website that tracks automotive sales.

Chrysler also benefited from its Super Bowl play. Car- shoppers’ consideration of the brand on Edmunds soared 87 percent in the week following its two-minute ad for the 200 sedan that featured rapper Eminem and extolled Detroit’s toughness as a possible source of luxury.

“It does raise the bar because the other car companies look at what happened with the 200 and they figure ‘We can do that too,’” said Vice Chairman Jeremy Anwyl of Edmunds, which also helps shoppers compare vehicles. “It’s not that easy.”

Boosting Sales

The successes of VW and Chrysler, which both gained U.S. market share this year, raises expectations, while the growing industry means more is at stake, said Jesse Toprak, an industry analyst with TrueCar.com, another site that monitors auto sales. Chrysler Group added 1.3 points of share so far this year, the most in the industry, to 10.7 percent, according to researcher Autodata Corp., while VW rose to 3.5 percent from 3.1 percent.

“We expect 2012 to be another year of recovery, reaching to nearly 14 million car sales,” he said. “There is more sales potential for automakers to grab during the next Super Bowl than during the past three Super Bowls.”

Light-vehicle sales in the U.S. fell to 10.4 million in 2009 after averaging 16.8 million from 2000 to 2007, according to researcher Autodata Corp.

Volkswagen’s ad for the new Passat showed a pint-sized version of the Star Wars villain trying to control household objects with his mind. His dad eventually starts the car with a key fob, letting the child believe he has special powers.

That spot and another for the new Beetle were “pretty radical” departures for the Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker, said Jonathan Browning, head of VW’s U.S. operations.

“It served the purpose of getting Volkswagen back in a discussion and dialogue that it wasn’t part of at that point in time,” Browning said in an interview.

Read More: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-14/hyundai-quest-for-memorability-means-emulating-vw-s-super-bowl-ads-cars.html

The Hardest To Find Cars For 2012

2011-12-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

The market for compact cars has been heating up lately, with lots of new entrants, many of them offering luxury car features in a smaller, less expensive package. But no compact has been as hot as the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, which has been flying off dealer lots faster than any car in America.

If you’re looking for one, you’ll have to move fast. The Elantra, which starts at $15,000 and sells for an average $19,961, spends an average of just 10 days in inventory before it’s snapped up, according to automotive researcher Edmunds.com. Forbes looked at Edmunds’ data from the past three months to see which 2012 cars, on average, are selling the fastest. While most cars sit around at dealerships for 50 days or more before they’re sold, these hot sellers are typically gone in just 10 or 12 days.
We spotted three trends in the data that are worth considering if you’re hunting for a new car right now:

Small cars are hot, especially newly introduced models
Many Japanese cars are still in short supply, after various supply chain problems
Luxury SUVs are in high demand at the end of the year

“Elantra has been an absolute phenomenon in the compact car segment,” said John Krafcik, president and chief executive of Hyundai Motor America. “In November, Elantra retail sales were up 37 percent, in spite of significant competition from all-new entries such as the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus and Honda Civic.” In a segment where prices have been climbing steadily — the Focus sold for an average $20,827 in November, Edmunds says — the Elantra is seen by many as a good value, combining attractive styling, advanced safety features and 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

But the Elantra is just one of a bunch of new small cars that are in short supply for the 2012 model year. You’ll also have trouble if you’re hunting for a Nissan Versa or Hyundai Accent, both of which were redesigned for 2012, or the all-new Chevrolet Sonic, which replaces the Chevy Aveo. All three subcompacts are sold within 12 or 13 days of arriving at showrooms. The Versa has the lowest starting price of any car in America, at $10,990, but Edmunds says most are transacting around $15,600.

Read More: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2011/12/12/the-hardest-to-find-cars-for-2012/

Review: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Take Two

2011-12-19T12:47:00.000-08:00

The Japanese are always worried about what the North Koreans have up their sleeve, but if the writing on the wall were legible, they would be more concerned about what’s going on in the south. If the 2009 Hyundai Genesis was a shot across the bow of Lexus and Infiniti, then the Genesis 5.0 R-spec may be a torpedo hit below the water, and speaking of which, even the Germans should take notice. Of course, we heard this before with the likes of the VW Phaeton, however that model tanked, so is the top-line Genesis biting off more than it can chew? Lets find out.

In my mind, the Phaeton was doomed to failure when VW decided to equip their new full-on luxury sedan with a full-sized price tag. Instead of following the same model, Hyundai stayed true to their value roots and created a luxury sedan with a Hyundai-sized price tag with the Genesis 3.8 and 4.6. What could be next from the boffins in Korea? The Genesis 5.0 R-Spec, a value-priced performance luxury sedan of course.

From the outside, the Genesis (in all trims) strikes most of the right cords with luxury shoppers that prefer flowing lines to sharp creases. While previous products from Korea have been more imitation than innovation, the Genesis both deviates from the theme yet clearly draws inspiration from Lexus, BMW and Mercedes. Unlike some Kias we could mention, the overall look is distinctive enough (in my mind) that nobody would confuse it for anything else on the road. Neither however, would the casual observer ever confuse it for a Hyundai if it didn’t have the stylized H logo on the trunk. Styling mission accomplished (but like many buyers, I might remove that H badge when I got it home).

Of course, we’re here to talk about the performance part of the equation. The 5.0 R-Spec is an all-new trim in the Genesis family. AMG and M have little to worry about however as the Genesis 5.0 as Hyundai has no intention at present to compete head on with the balls-out performance sedans from Germany. So what is an “R-Spec”? Think Audi S rather than RS. While there is little outside to differentiate the 5.0 from its lesser models, a closer look reveals unique wheels, lower profile rubber, and upgraded brakes. Also new for 2012 are some new headlamps with a distinctive LED accent strip, new bumpers with integrated exhaust (ala the LS460) and new power-folding mirrors. The real change however, is under the hood where an all-new 429HP 376 lb-ft 5.0L direct injection V8 is mated to an all-new 8-speed automatic transmission. While that sentence sounds right at home in a review about a new Mercedes E550 or BMW 550i, the novelty in the room is that we’re talking about a Hyundai.

Read More: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/12/review-2012-hyundai-genesis-5-0-r-spec-take-two/

2011 ALL-STAR: CEO, ASIA

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

CHUNG MONG-KOO, Chairman, Hyundai Motor Group

Through sheer force of will, Chung, 73, has transformed Hyundai and Kia from scoffed-at also-ran brands into global powerhouses that have rivals -- both Japanese and American -- on the ropes. What's more, Chung did it through painstaking attention to quality, technology and design, not by simply chasing raw volume.

Through sheer force of will, Chung, 73, has transformed Hyundai and Kia from scoffed-at also-ran brands into global powerhouses that have rivals -- both Japanese and American -- on the ropes. What's more, Chung did it through painstaking attention to quality, technology and design, not by simply chasing raw volume. The Hyundai Equus has pushed the brand into luxury sedan territory, while top quality marks for mass-market nameplates such as the Hyundai Sonata awarded it with top-tier customer loyalty.

2011 ALL-STAR: U.S. EXECUTIVE, ASIAN AUTOMAKER
AHN BYUNG-MO, CEO, Kia Motors America

Back in 2008, Kia dealers were seething over sliding sales and bloated inventories, and when Ahn was named head of both Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, it was the seventh CEO change in less than a decade. But things have improved dramatically.

Back in 2008, Kia dealers were seething over sliding sales and bloated inventories, and when Ahn was named head of both Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, it was the seventh CEO change in less than a decade. But things have improved dramatically while Ahn, 61, has run the company's sales and marketing and manufacturing arms in this country-- the first executive to hold both responsibilities at Kia. On the marketing side, he has allowed sales boss Tom Loveless and marketing chief Michael Sprague to strut their stuff. Market share climbed from 2.1 percent in 2008 to 3.8 percent through the first 10 months of this year. Sales are up 35 percent so far in 2011, and the brand has created some funky, attention-getting ads, such as those hip-hop hamsters spots.

2011 ALL-STAR: PUBLIC RELATIONS
CHRIS HOSFORD, Executive director of corporate communications, Hyundai Motor America

Hosford, 64, has used a media strategy that blends promoting strengths while taking calculated risks that are deftly crafted. For example, Hyundai broke industry tradition last year when it began voluntarily reporting monthly fleet sales.

Hosford, 64, has used a media strategy that blends promoting strengths while taking calculated risks that are deftly crafted. For example, Hyundai broke industry tradition last year when it began voluntarily reporting monthly fleet sales. The company also reports its sales-weighted corporate average fuel economy scores every month. Hosford also lets his team have a little fun with Hyundai's competitors. The brand's "Save the Asterisk" talking point ribbed General Motors and Ford Motor Co. for selling only 40 mpg compact cars with low-volume, high fuel economy trim packages that require asterisks in advertising. Hyundai's Elantra is rated at 40 mpg on the highway, regardless of equipment -- hence no asterisks.

PETER SCHREYER, Chief design officer, Kia Motors Corp.

Schreyer, 58, has swiftly transformed Kia from a brand devoid of style into one that's becoming synonymous with high design for the masses. Vehicles designed under his watch -- the Sportage, Optima and new Rio -- have racked up design awards.

Perhaps more significantly, Schreyer and his team have penned designs that make it possible for a customer to buy a car for less than $20,000 that will really turns heads. And judging by the Kia GT concept car revealed at the Frankfurt auto show, Kia's design looks bright with Schreyer at the helm.

Read More: http://www.autonews.com/section/allstars

Hyundai Azera

2011-12-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

The woman steps out of a Hyundai Azera on display at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, on November 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Five environmentally friendly cars are vying for the crown of Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show this week, each using different fuel or fuel combinations, demonstrating the growing range of options available for motorists wanting to cut their carbon footprint, the shortlist includes all-electric, gas-electric hybrid and natural gas-powered models. The finalists for the accolade, the winner of which is to be announced on November 17, are: the Honda Civic Natural Gas, the Volkswagen Passat TDI, the Mitsubishi i, the Toyota Prius V and the Ford Focus Electric.

Read More: http://www.newsday.com/topics/Hyundai_Azera

Hyundai Azera

Hyundai's U.S. chief says rapid sales growth poses challenges

2011-12-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik said that with the automaker on track to sell 100,000 more vehicles this year than in 2010, it has to learn to sell from a leaner inventory and fine-tune its factory output.

As chief executive of Hyundai Motor America, John Krafcik oversees the sales and marketing arm of one of the fastest-growing auto brands in America.

Led by torrid sales of its Elantra compact sedan, Hyundai has sold almost 550,000 vehicles this year, more than it moved in all of 2011 and a sales record for the South Korean automaker. Sales have risen almost 21% through the first 10 months of this year, double the rate of the entire U.S. auto sales market.

Read More: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/24/business/la-fi-auto-show-hyundai-qa-20111124

Hyundai Ups the Ante Again at L.A. Auto Show

2011-12-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

By Josh Condon of MSN Autos

Hyundai has enjoyed explosive growth thanks to superbly styled and reliable cars that over deliver on standard goodies — and let's not forget the industry's best warranty. With the new Azera, the Korean badge looks to continue the trend of reshaping formerly bland, cheap cars into visually captivating and value-packed vehicles.

What is it? The new iteration of Hyundai's midsize near-luxury sedan is the latest model to adopt the company's Fluidic Sculpture design language, which has created critical and consumer hits out of vehicles such as the Sonata and Elantra.

What's hot? It's not just about the looks: The Azera's 3.3-liter direct-injected V6 engine gets a combined city/highway fuel-efficiency rating of 23 mpg, which bests midsize competition such as the Lexus ES350, the V6-powered Buick LaCrosse and the Nissan Maxima. As with its Genesis and Equus models, Hyundai offers luxury amenities that punch above the vehicle's price point, with a leather interior including heated front and rear seats, navigation system, rear camera, dual automatic climate control and nine airbags standard.

What's not? Without some time behind the wheel, it's hard to knock yet another captivating design from Hyundai. However, as the Azera slots above the popular Sonata as a steppingstone to the upscale Genesis, the fast-growing manufacturer has quite a bit riding on this model's success.

How much and when? Rumors are that it will cost in the low-$30K range. It will go on sale in February 2012.

MSN Autos' verdict: With undeniably handsome sheet metal and luxury features at a near-luxury price tag, the new Azera will likely be yet another hit for Hyundai.

Hyundai Azera

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA BREAKS ALL-TIME NOVEMBER SALES RECORD

2011-12-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

Hyundai Elantra, recent recipient of ALG’s award for the highest residual value in its class for the second year in a row, nearly doubles its sales
Sonata exceeds 200,000 annual U.S. sales for the first time ever

COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 1, 2011 – Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 49,610 vehicles in November, a 22 percent total sales increase and 24 percent retail sales increase compared with the same record-setting period a year ago.

“The Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, including ‘Black Friday,’ proved to be a very strong selling period and helped us break our all-time November sales record,” said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s executive vice president of national sales. “With vehicle availability at the highest levels for the year, and with positive demand signals and improving consumer confidence, Hyundai is positioned for a very strong December finish to this record-breaking year.”

Year to date, Hyundai sales are up 21 percent versus 2010 in total, with sales to retail customers up 30 percent. Sales to fleet accounts represent 11 percent of the total sales year-to-date and 10 percent for the month of November. Thirty-six percent of Hyundai vehicles sold in November achieved 40 MPG fuel economy ratings.

The award-winning Hyundai Accent and Elantra continue to deliver a strong one-two punch in the sub-compact and compact car segments with sales increases of 16 percent and 44 percent, respectively, over the same period last year. Tucson and Veracruz, part of Hyundai’s crossover line-up, registered sales increases of 35 and 36 percent, respectively.

“Improving consumer demand and increased product availability at Hyundai dealers nationwide drive a positive December outlook for us,” said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America’s president and CEO. “While our 35 days-supply level today is low by most standards, it’s the best we’ve seen at the start of a month for some time. Accent, Elantra and Veloster remain in short supply, but healthy dealer stocks on all other Hyundai models should allow consumers a great opportunity to find just the car they’re looking for in December.”

CARLINE	NOV/2011	NOV/2010	CY/2011	CY/2010
ACCENT	4,682	4,052	50,285	49,191
SONATA	15,668	14,031	208,621	180,659
ELANTRA	12,414	8,631	173,336	119,150
SANTA FE	6,129	6,967	69,309	71,396
AZERA	58	248	1,506	2,889
TUCSON	4,101	3,042	42,774	35,553
VELOSTER	2,538	0	7,096	0
VERACRUZ	1,018	747	8,603	7,889
GENESIS	2,702	3,005	30,528	26,699
EQUUS	300	0	2,868	0
TOTAL	49,610	40,723	594,926	493,426

SALES WEIGHTED FUEL ECONOMY

	November CAFE (mpg)	2011 CYTD CAFE	November Window Label Combined MPG	2011 CYTD Window Label Combined MPG
Car	37.5	36.9	28.3	27.8
Truck	28.7	28.7	21.9	21.9
Hyundai Brand	36.4	36.1	27.5	27.2

	November	2011 CYTD
40-MPG Sales	17,889	195,212
Mix of Total Sales	36%	33 %

Hyundai achieved a corporate average fuel economy level of 36.4 MPG (27.5 MPG label value) in November, and 36.1 MPG (27.2 MPG label value) year-to-date, while selling 17,889 vehicles (Elantra sedan, Sonata Hybrid, Accent and Veloster) with 40 MPG window label highway fuel economy ratings. Year-to-date, Hyundai has sold 195,212 40 MPG vehicles.

HYUNDAI MODERNIZES THE LARGE SEDAN WITH THE ALL-NEW AZERA

2011-11-28T14:52:00.000-08:00

Fluidic Sculpture Design, Smart Technology, Performance and Safety

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2011– Hyundai Motor America today introduced the all-new Azera in a North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Azera is the fifth vehicle to adopt the company’s signature Fluidic Sculpture design language.Tucson, Accent, Elantra, Sonata and Azera now all have a modern, sleek, sophisticated style, creating the illusion of constant motion. This flagship Fluidic Sculpture sedan also features a more powerful Lambda II 3.3-liter GDI engine, six-speed transmission, best-in-class combined fuel economy of 23 miles per gallon and a wide range of advanced safety equipment.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2012 AZERA

All-new second generation Azera with Fluidic Sculpture design
Powered by a new Lambda II 3.3-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine and in-house six-speed automatic transmission

Horsepower: 293 at 6400 RPM
Best-in-class combined 23 mpg
Better combined fuel efficiency than Nissan Maxima, Ford Taurus, Lexus ES350 and Buick LaCrosse V6

Best-in-class specific output
Nine standard airbags – includes knee airbag
Impact-reducing front seat system
Standard VSM, ESC, TCS, ABS with Brake Assist and EBD
Best-in-class head and leg room for front-seat passengers
Standard 18-inch alloy wheels and optional 19-inch alloy wheels
HID Xenon headlights with LED accents
Segment-exclusive standard navigation system with rearview camera
Standard leather interior with heated front and rear seats
Bluetooth^®hands-free phone system with voice recognition
Standard Blue Link telematics platform
Segment-first manual side window sunshades
Ventilated front seats

Azera is the seventh vehicle in Hyundai’s 24/7 version 2.0 product initiative (seven new models in 24 months), on the heels of the all-newTucson, Sonata, Equus, Elantra, Accent and Veloster. The 2012 Azera represents a modern approach to the traditional large sedan segment by using an advanced powertrain, emotional design and luxury features offered with Hyundai’s strong value proposition. This approach has been successful for the other Fluidic Sculpture vehicles.

2012 AZERA MEETS THE MECHANICS OF FLIGHT

Azera’s Fluidic Sculpture design takes inspiration from the mechanics of flight. The exterior of the all-new Azera is long, light and low. The unique, undulating beltline allows for a long, sleek roofline accented by the third window and wraparound LED taillights. A monoform side profile includes flowing lines. The face is masculine with a large powerful chrome grille and HID headlamps that integrate precise details. The stance is completed by available 19-inch multi-spoke wheels.

The elegant look continues inside where Hyundai has created an upscale ambiance, thanks to a flow-through center fascia and instrument panel. These flowing surfaces complement the exterior design and wrap around the driver and passengers.

Read More: http://www.hyundainews.com/us/en-us/2012/Azera/Overview.aspx

IntelliChoice Announces Certified Pre-Owned Program Winners for 2012

2011-11-28T14:49:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas (November 15, 2011) — IntelliChoice, the leading provider of automotive cost of ownership and value analysis and part of the Motor Trend Automotive Group, announced today the winners of its 13th annual ranking of manufacturer Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) programs, at the Certified Pre-Owned Forum and National Remarketing Conference in Las Vegas. For the fifth straight year, Volvo earned the top ranking among Premium manufacturers, while Hyundai was ranked highest among Popular vehicle brands.

Each year, IntelliChoice issues the industry’s only independent report card comparing Certified Pre-Owned programs offered to consumers through franchise dealerships. Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles (CPOs) are cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles that have come off lease or have been resold to dealers, and have been thoroughly inspected prior to sale. Car manufacturers have traditionally refined and augmented their programs based on the criteria employed by IntelliChoice in its benchmarking analysis, in an effort to compete more effectively in the marketplace for certified used cars.

“Since 2008, Hyundai had placed third overall in the Popular category, but was finally able to break into the top spot overtaking the two previous winners, MINI and Volkswagen,” said Eric Anderson, senior analyst at IntelliChoice. “While Volvo was able to retain its top ranking in the Premium category, Cadillac and Porsche are not far behind.”

Tyler Schulze, vice president and general manager of IntelliChoice, added, “The Certified Pre-Owned segment of the market continues to be very important to manufacturers and dealers alike, particularly due to the recent contraction in used-vehicle inventory levels. The ability for dealers to certify their best used cars and trucks under a compelling program sponsored by the manufacturer is a clear win for both the consumer and the dealer. We continue to see marginal year-over-year improvements in CPO program features across all makes, indicating that consumers can benefit from the ever-increasing competition in this market segment.”

Read More: http://awards.intellichoice.com/awards/cpo/cpo-press-2012/

Hyundai Shows Teasers of 2013 Genesis Coupe, Announces Korean-Market Model to Debut November 12th

2011-11-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

It looks like we are close to seeing the refreshed 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the buff. Hyundai announced the updated Coupe would debut November 12th in Korea and released a few teaser images of the car on its Korean blog. Spy photos of the 2013 Coupe taken this past summer showed the car wearing Hyundai’s new familial front-end styling, which integrates various elements from the latest Elantra, Accent, and Veloster. None of that appears to have changed in these official photos, but the shots reveal a few more details that we hadn’t seen before.

The spy photos we ran a few months ago were dark, blurry, and grainy, which made it difficult to pick out the new Genesis Coupe’s stylistic nuances. Hyundai’s (much clearer) photos show off a lot of subtle creasing on the Genesis Coupe’s hood and fascia. The hood strakes, specifically, look a lot like those on the outgoing BMW 3-series and toughen up the Genesis’s front view noticeably. The wheels on this Korean-market “380 GT” model—which is roughly equivalent to the 3.8 R-Spec trim we get here—look like larger versions of the up-level rims available on the Veloster. Finally, the shape of the taillights is unchanged, but the detailing is new and matches the upscale headlight elements. We think the updates make for an even better-looking Genesis Coupe, but we hope that rear spoiler is optional.

The cosmetic tweaks likely won’t be the only updates the 2013 Hyundai Genesis receives; the interior will be mostly new (you can see for yourself here) and a few mechanical updates also are in the cards. We expect the coupe’s current 3.8-liter V-6 engine will be replaced by the 333-hp, direct-injected 3.8-liter that was recently added to the Genesis sedan’s engine lineup. It’s not yet clear whether the Genesis Coupe also will poach Hyundai’s new eight-speed automatic from the Genesis sedan, or keep its current six-speed unit. Interestingly, the November 12th debut listed on Hyundai’s Korean blog is nearly two months ahead of the 2013 Genesis Coupe’s anticipated North American unveil at January’s Detroit auto show.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/hyundai-shows-teasers-of-2013-genesis-coupe-announces-korean-market-model-to-debut-november-12th/

Hyundai Confirms Turbo Veloster and More-Powerful Genesis Coupe for Detroit Auto Show

2011-11-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

Our long national nightmare is over: A 1.6-liter turbocharged Veloster—spy photos of which can be seen here—has been confirmed for America. The forced-induction version was known to be on the way even before the base car dropped at the 2011 Detroit auto show, but it’s taken until now for the company to show its hand. Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik announced the car tonight at an event on the eve of the 2011 SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Krafcik promised the car would debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show in January alongside a face-lifted Genesis coupe. An output announcement wasn’t part of the deal, but word recently slipped out of Korea that the turbocharged 1.6-liter four would make 204 hp. The Veloster’s current turbo-free 1.6-liter makes 138 hp; it isn’t quick, hitting 60 in 8.5 seconds, but the bigger issue is that the car as a whole isn’t particularly involving.

If the 204-hp number proves accurate, that would put the top-dog Veloster precariously close to the base Genesis coupe‘s 210-hp figure. But Krafcik added that that the latter’s 2.0-liter turbo four would “have its knob turned to the right” to create more separation, and that the 306-horse, naturally aspirated V-6 would follow suit. The Veloster’s front-wheel-drive layout and super-wacky door arrangement apparently aren’t enough to delineate the models.

In addition to more power, the 2013 Genesis coupe will get a more Veloster-like nose. Because, you know, Hyundai wants to differentiate the two.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/hyundai-confirms-turbo-veloster-and-more-powerful-genesis-coupe-for-detroit-auto-show/

Chicago Hyundai

Hyundai profit increases 21%, helped by sedan, SUV sales

2011-10-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

SEOUL (Bloomberg) -- Hyundai Motor Co. said third-quarter profit rose 21 percent, helped by sales of Sonata sedans and Tucson SUVs. Net income climbed to 1.92 trillion won ($1.7 billion) in the three months ended Sept. 30, compared with 1.59 trillion won a year earlier, the Korean automaker said in a statement today.

South Korea's largest maker of automobiles was projected to report profit of 1.89 trillion won, based on the average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Chief Financial Officer Lee Won Hee said Hyundai Motor will probably sell more than 4 million vehicles this year as they crank up production from factories in markets such as China.

The gains will probably lead Hyundai Motor to post record earnings this year and exceed profits generated by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp., according to analyst estimates.

"The earnings reaffirmed Hyundai's outstanding competitiveness in overseas markets," said Lee Jin Woo, senior fund manager at Seoul-based KTB Asset Management Co., which oversees $4.6 billion assets including Hyundai shares. "Industry demand may slow next year amid the global economic downturn but I still expect Hyundai to fare better than global rivals."

Supercharged Hyundai Genesis Coupe Heads to SEMA—Could It Make It to Production?

2011-10-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

We probably shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves. Hyundai hasn’t even revealed the Veloster-like, face-lifted Genesis coupe yet, but the Hyundai Genesis Hurricane SC, which the company will show off at the SEMA show this November, might be a rare situation when a SEMA show car actually hints at a potentially awesome production vehicle. Why do we think it’s at all possible? Spy photographers have caught test vehicles out in the open, with hoods up and blowers peeking out.

But about not jumping to conclusions: The same thing happened prior to a supercharged V-8 Genesis sedan showing up at SEMA a few years back, and we still haven’t seen that car on any dealership lots. Maybe someone at Hyundai’s tech center in Michigan just really likes superchargers.

The engine in this car is a 3.8-liter V-6, developed collaboratively between HATCI (the aforementioned tech center) and Magnuson Products. Thanks to Magnuson’s supercharger, a liquid-to-air intercooler, and between six and seven pounds of boost, the engineers have managed to crank more than 450 hp out of Hyundai’s six-cylinder, a number that sounds more SEMA than SAE, but still, at least 400 seems totally possible for an engine that started its day with 306 hp.

Adding some credibility to the engine’s production chances, we have this statement from Hyundai senior engineer David Dutko: “The HATCI and Magnuson supercharger demonstrates the high-performance potential of the Genesis Coupe’s V-6 engine—the car was engineered to handle this kind of power. Our HATCI engineers have been working for years with Magnuson to ensure high engine output is available on future Hyundai vehicles.”

In addition to the screaming V-6, this show car benefits from an “IsoTorque” limited-slip differential from Torvec, Inc. It’s been tested at Hyundai’s proving ground and is said to deliver a second-per-lap improvement over the current Genesis V-6 production car. Beyond the impressive hardware, Rhys Millen Racing provides visual enhancements for the car, while additional partners have contributed wheels, exhaust, and other accessories.

Really, we’d let all the other things go (well, the differential would probably be useful) if Hyundai just green-lights the blown V-6, which would make a great alternative to the oft-rumored, even more oft-denied V-8 coupe.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/supercharged-hyundai-genesis-coupe-heads-to-sema

Test complete video: 2012 Hyundai Genesis delivers more for less

2011-10-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

More for less. That’s how we described the Hyundai Genesis sedan in our latest road test. The $39,850 V6-powered sedan tops our ratings charts of upscale sedans, delivering the attributes of vehicles that cost $10,000 more.

The Genesis V6 has been a standout since we first tested it back in 2009. Back then we praised the engine for its combination of power and fuel economy, its cabin for the luxury appointments, and the responsive and secure handling. But we felt the nervous ride was a letdown.

So, what could the 2012 version do to top that? Hyundai added in an eight-speed automatic transmission that improved fuel economy a bit, while still delivering quick acceleration. The car is fast enough that there’s really no reason to spend the additional $12,000 to get the Genesis V8. The ride is improved but remains less refined than that of some competitors.

Hyundai has made a big impression on other manufacturers in the economy, small, and family sedan categories. (In fact, they’ve made them pretty nervous!) Watch the video to see why luxury automakers from Germany and Japan are worried about the competitor from Korea, and how the Genesis can provide consumers with more for less.

Hyundai and ARK Performance Boost the Veloster for SEMA

2011-10-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hyundai’s new Veloster is certainly different-looking, but’s hardly more exciting to drive than an Elantra. Hoping to boost its sport compact cred at next month’s SEMA show, Hyundai has enlisted the help of a tuner called ARK Performance to dress its odd duck with a parts-catalog worth of rally-inspired show and go bits.

Under the hood, ARK strapped a twin-scroll turbocharger to the Veloster’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine heating things up to 210 hp. While this application is pure aftermarket, we expect to see similar results once Hyundai unleashes it’s own factory-blown Veloster sometime next year.

A coil-over suspension, improved control arms, front and rear sway bars, and a front strut tower brace should help to sharpen the car’s reflexes and improve roadholding. Stopping power is increased thanks to ARK’s big brake kit, which includes a pair of six-piston calipers for the front. Outside, matte grey and ecto green paint cover the car’s wide-body transformation, which includes a wide-mouthed front fascia, flared fenders, new side skirts, a spoiler bolted to the hatch, and four polished exhaust tips shooting out the back. Because no rally car is complete without one, the interior features a rally-style roll-cage. And because no SEMA car is complete without it, Alcantara wraps nearly every surface to be found.

Usually, hot-rodded SEMA cars aren’t indicative of any actual production plans from manufacturers; in fact, many cars that appear at the show are there trying to overcome a perception of performance and fun. (See: Honda’s fleet of slammed Insights last year, for example.) Let’s hope this one’s a bit different.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/hyundai-and-ark-performance-boost-the-veloster-for-sema/

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Spy Photos - Future Cars

2011-09-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Santa Fe, Hyundai’s innocuous entry in the ultra-competitive mid-size crossover segment, has received numerous subtle improvements over the years but has never garnered much attention. Come 2013, though, the Santa Fe should turn more heads, trading its dreary duds for Hyundai’s dramatic new styling language and packing a tech-heavy interior like that found in the Sonata.

Swoopy Styling, Buck Rogers Cockpit

It’s clear from these spy shots that there will be a whole lot of Sonata in the new Santa Fe’s face, and a bunch of Tucson in the upswept beltline. It also appears that Hyundai’s stylists have embarked on an all-out assault on outward vision with those massive D-pillars.

We had few gripes about the previous Santa Fe’s interior except that, like the sheetmetal, it boasted all the style of a brown paper bag. Consider the problem rectified with a thoroughly modern interior that adopts the Sonata’s hourglass-shaped center stack and futuristic styling theme. Expect a similar level of equipment, as well as some newfound niceties.

Power? Yes. Cylinder Count? TBD

Seeing as the current Santa Fe’s base, 175-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder was new for 2010, we’re very confident it will carry over to the new model. The future is less certain for today’s optional engine, a 3.5-liter V-6 pumping out 276 hp. We expect it will be replaced by the turbocharged four-pot now pulling duty in a slate of other Hyundai and Kia vehicles, where it cranks out between 260 and 274 hp. Six-speed automatics are a near certainty for both engines, and we’d love to see Hyundai continue to offer a six-speed manual on base models.

The Santa Fe could eventually be offered as a hybrid as well, what with Hyundai in full world-domination mode when it comes to fuel economy. (The company boasts EPA ratings of 40 mpg or better for its Accent, Elantra, Veloster, and Sonata hybrid.) A gas/electric Santa Fe would almost certainly co-opt the setup used in the new Sonata hybrid, where the 2.4-liter four is assisted by a 40-hp electric motor. After all, the first time Hyundai ever showed off this system, it was in a Santa Fe back in 2008.

The new Santa Fe should appear next year as a 2013 model. Even with comprehensive improvements inside and out, this mid-sizer should to stick to Hyundai’s corporate philosophy of lots of stuff for not a lot of money.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/11q3/2013_hyundai_santa_fe_spy_photos-future_cars

REVIEWS: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec

2011-09-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

If you are simply trying to get the most for your $50,000, the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec makes a ton of sense -- more power than a BMW 550i or Infiniti M56 for the price of a 535i or M37. The ten-spoke wheels add a welcome touch of menace to the quiet exterior, and the hushed 5.0-liter V-8 sounds pretty good when you really wail on it. Even at full throttle, though, it can't drown out the sound of Hyundai knocking a glass ceiling. The automaker has hit many homeruns over the past two years -- including the Genesis -- but it still has something to learn when it comes to getting people to spend close to $50,000. The 5.0 R-Spec is nice, of course. It's fast, luxurious, and well put together. So is the $35,000 Genesis 3.8. The important difference is that the 3.8 competes in a price range where many buyers really want a practical, luxurious, nondescript looking sedan. For $45,000 to $50,000, I think people want to feel a bit special.

Premium competitors shouldn't breathe easy, though. More recent Hyundai offerings like the Sonata, Elantra, Accent, and Veloster embody a sense of swagger and identity that the brand had not yet earned when it was developing the Genesis. I highly doubt the next one will be so tentatively styled.

REVIEWS: 2012 Hyundai Accent

2011-08-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

At the press event, every journalist in attendance kept commending the Accent's size. While it's true that the interior is quite spacious for a subcompact (the EPA rates it as a compact), the Accent still drives like a small car. The short wheelbase -- and relatively stiff suspension of our SE model -- makes the car crash over highway irregularities and skip like a stone on a lake over expansion joints. In the city, the Hyundai performs much better.

Although the Accent may be powerful for its class, it's still rather slow. On the highway this results in tense times when it comes to passing, but around town the little car feels peppy enough. The important thing to remember while driving this car is that the six-speed gearbox is really a five-speed with an extra overdrive. This means you often need to drop down one gear lower than you think you should. For example, if you expect a downshift to fourth to be enough to pass another motorist, think again -- you'll need to downshift at least to third.

Overall, the 2012 Accent is a rather nice small car, with plenty of room and a relatively high-quality interior (although the hard door armrests still suck, and the dash is showing a hairline crack already). But it's still a small car and a bland one at that. Personally, I couldn't justify choosing this over plenty of better used-car alternatives, but if you really want a new car, it's not a bad choice.

Hyundai Elantra 2012 receives Ideal Vehicle Award

2011-08-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

In the past couple of years, Hyundai have made the effort to become much more than just the car company that is known for their great warranty. The emphasis has been put on providing quality vehicles with excellent fuel efficiency and an even better price.

Those efforts have paid off in spades, with critics and customers alike espousing the virtues of the Korean automakers. Hyundai is setting sales records each and every month, and their trophy cabinet is full to the brim.

This week, that cabinet got a little fuller when AutoPacific, an automotive research and consulting firm, presented Hyundai with two Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA) in the Compact car and Large Car segments. It was the Elantra 2012 which beat out rivals such as the Ford Focus, Mazda 3 and Volkswagon Jetta in the compact contest, and the Azera beat out Toyota Avalon, Dodge Charger and Ford Taurus in the large segment.

Hyundai also had three of their vehicles (Sonata, Genesis Coupe, Accent) perform well in their respective categories, and finished second overall in the Popular Brand rankings, coming in behind Chrysler. There was also good news in AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards with Hyundai with 3 winners (Genesis, Elantra, Sonata) in different categories, plus a win in the first ever President’s Award for All-Time Highest Satisfaction.

AutoPacific go through a painstaking process of going through 72,000 surveys from owners of new cars and trucks purchased in the US in the first part of 2011. That is then measures against owner expectation and the reality that the car provides across 15 different categories.

Read More: http://www.hyundai-blog.com/index.php/2011/08/22/hyundai-elantra-2012-receives-ideal-vehicle-award/

Spied: 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Interior Gets its Elantra On

2011-08-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hyundai’s rear-drive Genesis Coupe is on the cusp of a refresh for 2013, and our first spy shots of its interior show that the coupe’s insides stand to receive as much of an overhaul as its powertrain and sheetmetal. The 2013 Genesis coupe’s interior will adopt a dashboard style similar to the latest Elantra and the upcoming Veloster, with the center console flowing upward into a slight pinch before widening to blend into the upper dash panel. The look is swoopy and stylish in the Elantra, and its application in the Genesis coupe should be an improvement over the current car’s rather plain interior.

The accompanying spy photos of the camouflaged exterior show that the interior isn’t the only part of the car that will be Elantra/Accent/Veloster-fied. The hexagonal grille and intake treatment used by those cars appears to be present on this test mule. The interior and exterior changes will join a new 333-hp direct-injection, 3.8-liter V-6 engine borrowed from the 2012 Genesis sedan and a new automatic transmission—most likely the same eight-speed as is found in the four-door Genesis. The Genesis coupe is currently powered by a 210-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic or an available 306-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/spied-2012-hyundai-genesis-interior-gets-its-elantra-on/

All-New 2012 Hyundai Accent Off to Roaring Start

2011-08-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

COSTA MESA, Calif., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hyundai Accent was America's best-selling sub-compact car in July. "The all-new Accent outsold two great small cars we really respect in July – the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "In fact, it was the best-selling sub-compact in the industry last month, its first full month of sales. It's a good indication that consumers are connecting with our new design, 40-mpg fuel economy, and the Assurance Trade-In Value Guarantee. It's a great recipe for this economy."

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091001/HYUNDAILOGO)


Hyundai Accent	6,938	Toyota Yaris	1,391
Nissan Versa	5,359	Mazda2	1,072
Ford Fiesta	5,296	Kia Rio	1,011
Honda Fit	4,857	Toyota Scion xD	715
Chevrolet Aveo	3,349

The 2012 Accent's all-aluminum 1.6-liter Gamma four-cylinder engine uses the latest engine technology to deliver a class-leading 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque and a best-in-class standard 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway fuel economy rating.

The engine's most notable feature is its use of Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), a first for the sub-compact category. By precisely controlling the injection of fuel, GDI allows for better fuel economy, increased power and reduced emissions.

The 2012 Hyundai Accent will be the fourth nameplate in the Hyundai lineup delivering 40 MPG on the highway, including the Sonata Hybrid, Elantra and Veloster, due to arrive in dealerships in a few weeks. Accent's class-leading standard fuel economy is an example of Hyundai's dedication to improving fuel efficiency with advancements to traditional gasoline powered vehicles.

Read More: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/all-new-2012-hyundai-accent-off-to-roaring-start-127282058.html

USA Today - KBB: Hyundai passes Honda, Toyota in brand loyalty

2011-07-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hyundai ousted traditional top dogs Honda and Toyota for No. 1 in brand loyalty in the second quarter says a shopping analysis by Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com. It's the first time Hyundai has led for a full quarter since KBB began tracking brand loyalty.

That's like lapping the leaders for Hyundai, which first overtook them in February. Hyundai also is keeping momentum at a time when overall brand loyalty fell for the most brands in the past year, says KBB, which blames the economy, recalls, fuel prices and more alternatives. The analysis defines loyalty as shoppers researching the brand they own for their new car.

The top five in brand loyalty for Q2 2011:

Hyundai, 52.3%
Honda, 49.7%
Toyota, 47.7%
Ford, 45.4%
Subaru, 44.8%

Also bucking the drop in brand loyalty: Hyundai corporate sibling Kia. It was one of just two other brands to show a rise in customer loyalty vs. the quarter a year ago. The other rising brand was Mini Cooper. KBB cited the same reasons for their loyalty success as it did for Hyundai.

KBB's analysis says Hyundai is keeping customers with aggressive marketing efforts and new products."Hyundai's product renaissance is benefiting the company not just by attracting an all-new customer base, but by helping them to retain "current Hyundai owners," said Arthur Henry, market intelligence manager for Kelley Blue Book. It's a "testament to the power of attractive vehicle designs and intriguing marketing."

KBB also found luxury brand loyalty rising again:

After declining the past few years, in part due to a better economy and more stable gas prices, KBB sees prior luxury owners shifting back to brands they bought when the economy was booming. Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW all saw loyalty rise Q1 to Q2, although all remain down from last year.

Read More: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/07/kbb-hyundai-passes-honda-toyota-in-brand-loyalty-/1

Hyundai's two new cars and its luxury-car strategy offer proof that GM, Ford and Toyota ought to worry more about the South Korean automaker than one another.

2011-07-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

FORTUNE -- Two main themes of 2011's post-recession competition in the U.S. car market so far are: 1) the rebound of Detroit and 2) the stumbles of Toyota.

A third and equally significant development has drawn less attention, namely the surging fortunes of South Korean automaker Hyundai. This summer, Hyundai begins selling its Accent small car in the U.S., which is likely to contend strongly against Ford's Fiesta, Honda's Fit and Chevrolet's soon-to-be built Sonic.Hyundai is also capitalizing on a strategy to grab sales, mainly from Lexus and Infiniti, by pursuing a luxury-car strategy that is innovative and less costly than setting up a separate brand and dealer network. Two years after introducing its Genesis sedan and coupe, the automaker is bringing out a face-lifted version with styling nips and tucks, as well as a more powerful engine and new eight-speed automatic transmission.

On the small-car front, Accent's bona fides are impressive. Available in four-door and, soon, in five-door hatchback versions, Accent comes on the heels of Hyundai's Sonata game-changing midsize sedan and its compact Elantra, both of which are highly acclaimed by reviewers and are selling well. The 40 mile-per-gallon highway rating will undoubtedly catch the attention of budget-conscious consumers.

In the first five months of the year, Hyundai and its affiliate Kia together added 1.4 points of U.S. market share, compared with a collective gain of 0.9 points for General Motors (GM), Ford (F), and Chrysler. On the basis of retail sales in May, not including sales to rental fleets, Sonata led all midsize family sedans, outselling the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

What's all the more remarkable is that Hyundai's share gain through May comes off a much smaller base. Detroit-based automakers account for 46.2% of the market, compared with Hyundai and Kia's 8.8%. But no one is taking Hyundai lightly anymore, especially those who recall how Toyota (TM), Honda (HMC) and Nissan were underestimated.

Hyundai's U.S. executives can take pride in more than just the improvements in vehicle quality and design. The company's marketers introduced an "Assurance" program in 2009 when unemployment was at its worst to guarantee car payments for buyers in the event that they lose their jobs. That program didn't cost Hyundai much, its executives said, and kept sales strong.

With job loss now less of a worry, Assurance has been rebooted as a guarantee that when Hyundai owners decide to trade in their vehicles they will receive a minimum resale value. The buyer of a new Hyundai Elantra, for example, knows month-by-month what the resale value of the car will be for four years from the day it's bought. That amount can be applied toward purchase of a new Hyundai. At the other end of their vehicle lineup, Hyundai executives are "thrilled" with the sales performance of the Equus luxury sedan, says Mike O'Brien, vice president of product planning. The sedan has filched sales mainly from Lexus's LS460 sedan as well as Cadillac and Infiniti.

Because Equus is sold through Hyundai dealerships, a middle-of-the-road brand, dealers routinely pick up cars and deliver loaners to customers' homes and businesses. The company years ago decided that building a separate dealership was too expensive, at least for now. "What's really valuable to our customers is their time," O'Brien says.

By turning necessity into a virtue, Hyundai has forced its way into the high end of the market. It's a player in luxury sales, albeit a small one. Remembering how the industry once scoffed at the effrontery of Lexus and Infiniti, few are underestimating Hyundai's future.

No Joke: AMEX Black Card Holders Like Hyundais

2011-07-20T11:22:00.001-07:00

Mentioning Hyundai and the American Express “Black Card” in the same sentence would’ve made for a good April Fool’s joke just a few years ago. But the following statistic announced today by a Hyundai executive is very real: 6 percent of American Express “Black Card” Centurion Card holders have a Hyundai in their garage.

For those unfamiliar with the Black Card, the average holder owns $16.3 million in assets and takes home an annual average income of $1.3 million. The card has only been around for over a decade but is often the topic of rumors and speculation surrounding the long list of privileges only known to its owners.

Hyundai U.S. Chief John Krafcik shared the info today and even he was surprised. “I know you all can’t believe this,” he said during a presentation about the 2012 Hyundai Genesis at the automaker’s engineering and research center in Superior Township, Michigan. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the percentage of Black Card holders who own a Hyundai is now tied with Bentley and Audi. Other cars on the list from starting with the highest brand include: BMW at 22 percent; Mercedes at 21 percent; Porsche at 15 percent; Lexus at 11 percent; Ferrari at 8 percent; and Acura at 7 percent.

Not that Hyundai needed any good news, but this latest surprise should be a welcomed image (and sales) boost for the Genesis and Equus luxury sedans. And we suspect that more Black Card holders will be visiting Hyundai showrooms following future updates and model releases the automaker has recently announced. The Genesis sedan, for example, is expected to get an all-wheel drive option, while the coupe is slated for a major refresh in the near future. Additionally, there are plans for a luxury crossover, as well as a small, rear-wheel drive sedan aimed at the BMW 3-series.

Hyundai adds 2 models to ride sales momentum in subcompact, midsize segments

2011-07-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hyundai, which has seen its U.S. sales rise twice as fast as the overall industry, is stocking U.S. dealers with two new cars designed to maintain that momentum in the subcompact and midsize luxury segments.

The 2012 Accent and Genesis, both of which are imported from South Korea, are reaching dealerships now. The Accent, which starts at $15,955 for a four-door GLS, and $16,555 for a five-door hatchback, will be the freshest model in a segment where Ford's Fiesta has gained significant traction. Its competitors include the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.

John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motors America, boasted that every version of the Accent will achieve 40 m.p.g. on the highway, while most competing subcompacts can reach that level only with a specialized engine package.

Accent is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. A direct injection fuel system helps distribute gasoline more efficiently to the engine. Buyers can choose between six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

The new Genesis sedan is offered with a 3.8-liter V6, a 4.6-liter V8 or a 5.0-liter V8. The engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The V6 version starts at about $35,000. The 5.0-liter V8 Genesis starts at $47,350 and can range higher.

This fall, Hyundai will launch the Veloster, a sporty coupe powered by the same 1.6-liter engine as in the Accent.

Hyundai has benefited from American consumers' reawakened interest in fuel economy. Krafcik said the new cars Hyundai sold in June averaged 35.7 m.p.g.

"We're already above the government's 2016 standard (35.5 m.p.g.)," Krafcik said. "We're confident we can get our average above 50 m.p.g. by 2025."

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., has challenged an Obama administration preliminary 2025 standard of 56.2 m.p.g. as unreasonable because it could add thousands of dollars to the price of future models and cost jobs at factories now making larger vehicles that might have to be discontinued to comply with that standard.

Though the two new models are imported from South Korea, Hyundai's assembly plant in Montgomery, Ala., is running at full production to keep up with demand for the Elantra and Sonata models. Krafcik said the Alabama factory has expanded its potential annual output from 300,000 to 330,000 cars, partially through overtime and tweaking the assembly process.

Hyundai's Santa Fe SUV is built at the West Point, Ga., plant operated with its sister company Kia Motors America.

Read More: http://www.freep.com/article/20110709/BUSINESS01/107090330/Hyundai-adds-2-models-ride-sales-momentum-subcompact-midsize-segments

USA Today - Hyundai sticks to sales-building script with new Accent

2011-07-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Following sales home runs with revamps of its formerly bland Sonata midsize and Elantra compact sedans, Hyundai used its now-familiar recipe to remake its entry-level subcompact Accent by:

Making it a bit bigger to be roomier inside.
Adding features more commonly seen in larger and more expensive cars.
Using high-tech powertrain upgrades to increase gas mileage, making the new Accent capable of 40 miles a gallon on the highway.
Amping up its looks in the distinctive new swoopy Hyundai style.

Now Accent, just arriving at dealers, could shake up the subcompact segment populated by rivals such as the Honda Fit and new Ford Fiesta, as well as the Toyota Yaris. Coming soon are a redone Nissan Versa and all-new Chevrolet Sonic.

A bare-bones sedan version, with manual transmission and few amenities, starts at $12,445. That's about $2,000 more than the previous entry model, a base hatchback coupe that's been dropped. The automatic-transmission sedan, which also adds AC and other features, starts at $15,195. Shipping adds $760 to each. A five-door hatchback with a stick starts $14,595 plus shipping.

The old base coupe -- which competed with a special base Nissan Versa to be the cheapest new car in the U.S. -- never sold big because buyers want more features, even at the bottom end of the market, Mike O'Brien, Hyundai America's vice president for product planning, told Drive On at a Southern California intro event.

Accent will test Hyundai's recent record for redesigns that launch with big sales:
The new Sonata midsize sedan took off after its introduction a year ago, and by last month, it was the 13th-best-selling vehicle in the U.S., according to Autodata.

The restyled Elantra compact introduced earlier this year was the 10th-best seller last month, and dealers were having a hard time keeping them in stock. Hyundai has brought in some from South Korean plants to supplement inventory from its Alabama plant, which is running flat out making Elantras and Sonatas.

The Accent, made in South Korea, is Hyundai's third model rated at 40 miles a gallon on the highway, following the Elantra and the Sonata hybrid. A fourth, the new Veloster coupe, is due this fall. The old Accent with manual got just 34 mpg highway.

The new Accent also has a respectable 30 mpg city rating. The higher mileage numbers came through better aerodynamics,a weight cut, low-resistance tires and electric power steering.

Read More: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/07/hyundai-sticks-to-sales-building-script-with-new-accent/1

New York Times - Throwing a New Curve at Small-Car Shoppers

2011-07-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

TODAY’S youngsters might be forgiven for assuming that the television was born flat, that music always fit in a digital postage stamp or that economy cars have always been safe, stylish and stuffed.

These innocents have no reference point for the visual and mechanical calamities of yore. Names like Pacer and Escort, Omni and Citation, will be met with blank looks, as will tales of hardier generations sanding away rust or trudging through snow when another tiny junker died in the breakdown lane.

Coming from Hyundai, whose own small cars once seemed as disposable as butane lighters, the redesigned 2012 Elantra shows how thoroughly things have changed. As more Americans embrace small cars as a hedge against fuel prices, automakers are returning the hug with compacts that perform believable impressions of larger, pricier machines.

They’re typically a tad slower and their 4-cylinder engines a bit louder; a passenger may suffer the indignity of having to manually adjust a seat. But details aside, these cars have really grown up.
They’ve become larger and stronger, with remarkable levels of technology, equipment and crash protection. And while the Elantra doesn’t shake up its class as thoroughly as the midsize Hyundai Sonata did last year, it challenges the leaders for the first time.

Without a doubt, and despite some flaws, the Elantra delivers the most adventurous styling, a leading warranty and the most features for the price.

Hyundai intends to fully redesign the Elantra every four years, illustrating the Darwinian competition among small cars. In the last year, four other all-new compact cars have come to market: the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Jetta and Honda Civic, and the 2012 Ford Focus.

The Toyota Corolla remains a quiet stalwart. For all-wheel-drive fans, a redesigned Subaru Impreza is about to pull into showrooms. And this fall, the Focus’s sporty cousin, the Mazda 3, adds a slick Skyactiv engine that will lift its highway mileage to 40 m.p.g.

Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/automobiles/autoreviews/hyundai-throws-a-new-curve-at-small-car-shoppers.html?pagewanted=all

AutoGuide.com - 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe to Get “More Dramatic” Design

2011-07-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

When Hyundai first introduced the Genesis Coupe it was almost too good to believe. With the Japanese automakers having given up on the sports car segment, there was nothing beyond an oversized, retro-styled American muscle machine at one end of the spectrum, or a luxury coupe at the other. But the Genesis Coupe offered plenty of style, solid performance and a proper rear-drive layout for just over $20,000.

Since then, however, the G Coupe has become somewhat dated. Sure the bodywork still looks nice, but it’s lacking the wow factor it once had. That will change for the 2013 model year says Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik, speaking at a launch event for the Genesis sedan in Detroit. “The Genesis Coupe will get a more dramatic change” he told a group of assembled journalists. “It will get more of an exterior style change than the sedan.”

The look will be a part of Hyundai’s mission to stay on top of automotive design. While Hyundai’s new crop of cars are impressive, it’s the company’s new look that is helping the vehicles get noticed and Krafcik wants to continue to deliver progressive eye-pleasing designs that will be “aspirational… not a step back.”

When prodded, Krafcik would not comment on rumors about powertain updates for the coupe, with the sedan having just received a new 8-speed automatic transmission, a more powerful V6 engine (up 43-hp to 333) and a new R-Spec trim with a 429-hp 5.0-liter V8. The coupe is expected to borrow the sedan’s 333-hp six, while the 210-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter currently in place will be swapped for the version in the Sonata Turbo making 274-hp. All Krafcik would say is, “You’re going to love it.”

The 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe will also get the brand’s new Bluelink telematics system. Look for the official debut to occur at the Detroit Auto Show next January.

Read More: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/07/2013-hyundai-genesis-coupe-to-get-more-dramatic-design.html

The Auto Channel - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited Turbo Review - What's Not To Like?

2011-07-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

by Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel

It was really hard to find any fault with my 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T test car and if I did it would be a nitpick. I had a week of drive time with the Sonata which included a week-end road trip from Chicago to Ann Arbor, Michigan and back. I was happy to be in a car, a sedan, and not a truck for this trip. There was no blizzard, no heavy rain, I wasn’t hauling a lot of stuff, just my wife and I off to a family gathering.

The 3 1/2 hour drive to Ann Arbor is interstate all the way with most of it being in Michigan that has a 70 mph speed limit. To keep up with traffic one needs to go faster than that; and, I keep up with traffic. The EPA Highway MPG rating for the 2.0T is 33mpg. I’m not a hyper-miler. I go for quickest driving time. Both coming and going the Sonata got between 34 and 35 mpg. Impressive! The Sonata 2.0T’s EPA City rating is 22 mpg city.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine in the 2011 Sonata produces 274 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque from 1750-4500 rpm with regular fuel (that’s regular; no premium required). I had occasion to do some passing…you know those LLBs – Left Lane Bandits who don’t move over…and more quickly than I expected I approached the 3-figure readings on the speedometer.

The transmission is a six-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control that shifted very smoothly and seamlessly. Having six gears enables closer spacing between gear ratios providing a better balance of performance and fuel economy while also delivering strong acceleration. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters make for some fun driving. With MacPherson strut front suspension, independent multi-link rear suspension, disc brakes at all wheels, 18 inch wheels fitted with P225/45R18 tires, the 3400lb. curb weight Sonata is one joy to drive.

All Sonatas use ultra-high-strength steel, resulting in world-class body rigidity, yet it is lighter than most midsize sedans, and offers more interior room. Noteworthy is that the Sonata is EPA classified as a Large Car, one class above competitors like Camry, Altima, Fusion and Malibu. The low 0.28 CD not only makes for great low fuel consumption but also quiet driving. The absence of wind and also tire noise was very pleasing, The 16.4 cubic foot trunk makes for easy luggage carrying and the 18.5 gal. fuel tank will let you easily travel over 600 miles with any stop along the way being for driver relief and not car refueling.

The 2.0T is available in SE trim level priced at $24,145 or Limited trim level at $27, 045. My Limited test car had the optional Navigation Package ($2100) that includes a rear backup camera and brought the total price with shipping to exactly $30,000.

Read More: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2011/07/11/540122-2011-hyundai-sonata-review-what-s-not-to-like.html

The Auto Channel - 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited Turbo Review - What's Not To Like?

2011-07-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

Should I buy the 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec or 4.6?

2011-07-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Question: I have been scratching my head whether to get the 5.0-liter V-8 Genesis R-Spec sedan or the 4.6-liter. I heard Hyundai changed the chassis tuning on both of these for the 2012 model. How do these 2012 models drive?

Answer: Cars.com Senior Editor David Thomas recently had the opportunity to drive the new Genesis R-Spec sedan back-to-back against the Genesis 3.8 V-6 model. The R-Spec made a huge impression with its silky power delivery, adept handling and quiet, luxurious ride that doesn’t suffer because of a firmer suspension and larger tires than other Genesis models.

A Genesis with the 4.6-liter V-8 wasn’t available for comparison, but the R-Spec’s 5.0-liter V-8 delivers more horsepower (429 versus 385) with only a slight loss in fuel economy. The R-Spec rates 16/25 mpg city/highway, and the Genesis 4.6 rates 17/26 mpg. Both engines require premium gas. And at $46,500, the R-Spec is only $2,000 more.

"For the modest difference in price between the 4.6 and the 5.0 R-Spec I would say it makes more sense to go with the larger engine. It does have a unique suspension setup that I found quite remarkable," Thomas said.

When it debuted, the Hyundai Genesis earned Cars.com’s top honor as Best of 2009.

Read More: http://ask.cars.com/2011/07/should-i-buy-the-2012-hyundai-genesis-50-r-spec-or-46.html

bnet.com - Hyundai Proves It Can Do Luxury Without a Luxury Brand

2011-07-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

Quick, what comes to mind when you think “Hyundai“? Cheap, entry level small cars from South Korea? Good answer. Except that you’d be utterly wrong. Because Hyundai’s biggest achievement since first hitting U.S. shores in 1986 — and being constantly ridiculed — has been to redefine what a luxury car can be.

It’s all about the features — and the price

While Toyota (TM), Honda, and Nissan, respectively, created Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti to take on the luxury market, Hyundai did something entirely different. It developed a luxury vehicle, loaded with all the features found on much more prestigious cars, and priced it to move.

The result, the Genesis, put Hyundai on the luxury map. It was showered with media accolades after its debut in 2009, and even notched quite a few fans holding the absurdly exclusive American Express Black Card. The follow-up Equus was equally well-received.

What Hyundai achieved was the assembly of a luxury package, minus the luxury brand separation. When Toyota and Honda went upscale in the 1980s, they were concerned that their reputations for solid little cars wouldn’t fly among BMW and Mercedes owners. Hyundai proved that, a few decades later, luxury buyers were so well-educated that they didn’t need the separate brand.

Luxury as information

This is actually a pretty radical accomplishment. Prior to the emergence of the Genesis, luxury was about the perception of a package, with a fine example being the famous Lexus tagline, the “relentless pursuit of perfection.”

By 2009, however, luxury buyers didn’t need taglines to summarize a potential luxury experience. The Internet provided so much information on demand that they could see luxury as content. If it was there, the brand packaging didn’t matter.

Something similar is actually happening among traditional luxury carmakers. Both BMW and Mercedes are pushing their brands lower on the value chain, building and marketing smaller cars, at lower price points, that still have all manner of luxury features.

Contrast this with Toyota, which followed the same branding playbook when it created Scion, its youth brand, as it did when it concocted Lexus.

South Korean Leadership

As old-school car companies like General Motors (GM) have learned, it’s much easier — and more cost-effective — to market one brand than it is to market five, six, or seven (GM shed Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, and Hummer when it exited Chapter 11 in 2009).

So rather than have Hyundai dealers pass luxury buyers off to the luxury division, they can now sell them a car that has the luxury “content” luxury buyers demand. The $60,000 Equus can live on the same sales floor as the $15,000 Accent. Simple.

Product versus brands

I think this trend represent a new high point in the transition from brands to products. It parallels Apple’s (AAPL) operation in consumer tech: cheap iPod Nanos share floor space in Apple stores with powerful desktop work stations.

What matters is that all the products are excellent. This is what the educated consumer demands. Because simply saying a car is luxurious just because it’s a Mercedes or a Cadillac, doesn’t fly anymore. The luxury customer knows what he wants. And if he can get it for $50,000 in a great product, the allure of the $90,000 vehicle from the established brand falls away fast.

Financial Times - Hyundai steers its hybrids to a global arena

2011-07-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

Five years ago, Lee Ki-sang, senior vice-president at South Korea’s Hyundai Motor, received an early-morning phone call in his hotel room in Japan. An important components supplier was cancelling a meeting at the last moment, offering only vague excuses. Mr Lee thought he knew why. Hyundai had just started to plan a petrol-electric hybrid car and needed technical support and parts from experienced Japanese suppliers, which were under heavy pressure not to deal with the South Koreans. “The Japanese big two – Toyota and Honda – had big problems with their suppliers working with us,” he said.

Facing such opposition, Hyundai ultimately decided to develop hybrid technology in South Korea. This January, it introduced its Sonata hybrid in the US to compete with Toyota’s segment-leading Prius, Honda’s Insight and Ford’s Fusion.

The launch has come at an awkward time for more established competitors, in particular the Japanese, as parts shortages caused by Japan’s March tsunami have left Toyota and Honda with little inventory. Prius sales in the US dropped 61 per cent from a year earlier in June, according to the online car pricing service, Edmunds.com.

With hybrids accounting for just over 1 per cent of global automobile sales, the success or failure of the new Sonata might seem like a peripheral issue for Hyundai – the world’s fifth biggest automaker, when counted with its affiliate Kia, and one of the fastest growing. Its sales in the US surged 24 per cent last year, against a slight fall for Toyota.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9703e3c4-ab61-11e0-b4d8-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1SUaVO1ut

New Camry key to Toyota rebound as Hyundai strikes with Sonata

2011-07-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

TOKYO (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., to make its earnings target this year, needs the new Camry to wrest back market share from Hyundai Motor Co.'s Sonata sedan.

The Camry, the best-selling car in the U.S., has lost ground to the Sonata, with Hyundai raising its U.S. output and surpassing the Camry in May for the first time.

"Sonata became a very honorable contender in the market," Yoshimi Inaba, Toyota's North American chairman, said in a July 12 interview. "We do have good respect for the model, and the sales figures show it's increasing quite a bit."

U.S. sales of Camry last year dropped 31 percent to 327,804 compared with deliveries in 2007, Toyota's best-ever year, while Honda Motor Corp.'s Accord sales also dropped 28 percent to 282,530 in the period.

Both models are approaching the end of their current product cycles.

Sales of the Sonata, revamped in January 2010, surged 35 percent to 196,623 last year. The 2011 Sonata's overall design quality is rated "among the best" by J.D. Power & Associates and earned a "Top Safety Pick" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

'Paying attention'

Until a few years ago, Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord "defined" the midsize segment in the U.S. for at least a decade, said Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of auto researcher Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, Calif.

"But Hyundai has really stepped up their game, and Toyota's been paying attention."

The next version of the Camry will have a more contemporary design and improved performance and handling, President Akio Toyoda told U.S. dealers last month in Las Vegas.

The new model will go on sale in the latter part of the year. Toyota's current Camry, last refreshed in March 2006, gets up to 32 miles per gallon in highway driving in the U.S., compared with the Sonata's 35 mpg and Honda's 34 mpg.

With Hyundai's improvements in design and fuel efficiency, sales of the Sonata have jumped 29 percent to 115,014 units this year through June, while the Camry has dropped 4.4 percent to 147,469 in the U.S.

Restricted output after the March 11 earthquake in Japan has also contributed to the decline in Camry sales.

Camry vs Sonata

Hyundai didn't have to slow production after the quake because its Japan-based suppliers' plants aren't located in the affected areas, according to the company.

As a result, Sonata outsold Camry in May for the first time, according to Edmunds.com.

While both the Sonata and Camry sold in the U.S. are built locally, the weak Korean currency relative to the dollar benefits Hyundai when it repatriates profits.

The yen, on the other hand, has hurt Toyota by gaining about 10 percent over the past year. The Japanese currency this week climbed to as high as 78.50 yen per dollar, the strongest since March 17.
The 2011 Camry is currently priced from $20,195, compared with the Sonata's $19,395 starting price tag.

Camry -- which is the Anglicized spelling of "kanmuri," meaning "crown" in Japanese -- accounted for about a fifth of U.S. sales at Toyota last year.

REVIEWS: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

2011-07-14T13:42:00.001-07:00

The Sonata hybrid is unusual in that does not employ a CVT but uses a six-speed automatic instead. This makes for much more conventional, and more pleasant, response when accelerating. It also helps the hybrid powertrain recede into the background.

Interestingly, it appears that the Sonata hybrid can dip into EV mode even at highway speeds (I had the EV light come on when cruising just under 80 mph).

This has to be one of the worst traction-control programs I've seen in a while. I had to jump out into traffic in the rain, and it very abruptly swung back and forth between killing the power and letting the front wheels spin.

What most surprised me about the Sonata Hybrid, though, was the suspension. As much praise as has been heaped upon the Sonata, one noted weakness has been the chassis tuning. One might expect the hybrid version to be worse, what with the extra weight of the batteries and the electric motor. Certainly with the Camry Hybrid, we noticed more body motion at the rear of the car. But the Sonata Hybrid seemed impressively tight. It also thwacked (loudly) over bumps, but the ride remained quite serene. I'm guessing part of the credit for the excellent ride quality goes to the sixteen-inch wheels wrapped in 65-series tires. Those high sidewalls make for pretty lazy turn-in, but they go a long way toward taking the sharpness out of impacts.

The interior is a mix of good and bad. The former includes the excellent, clear switchgear and the overall spaciousness. The latter refers to the vast expanses of hard and semi-hard grained gray plastic as well as the bizarre, wavy-gravy seat upholstery.

Chicago Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hyundai Fluidic Verna 1,4L and 1,6L production increased

2011-07-01T12:43:00.001-07:00

Hyundai Motor India receives more than 20.000 orders for its all-new Fluidic Verna 4-door sedan!
Hyundai Motor India announced today it plans to increase the production of its all-new Fluidic Verna sedan, which was launched in India on May 11. According to the carmaker, the model has received an overwhelming response from consumers living in the second most populated country in the world.

Since its inaugural launch, Hyundai has already sold more than 4.500 Vernas in India. Furthermore, the South Korean carmaker received additional 20.000 orders for the new car. Waiting period for the new Hyundai Verna is expected to go up as a result of the increasing demand, says Hyundai, and customers will now have to wait for up to 6 months to receive their new cars.

Commenting on this, Arvind Saxena, Director – Marketing and Sales, Hyundai Motor India, said, “We are really happy to receive such a staggering response from the Indian buyers. In order to cater the strong demand, we are trying to increase the production to help us reduce the waiting period and clear the backlog of bookings at the earliest.”

Read More: http://www.hyundai-blog.com/index.php/2011/06/29/hyundai-fluidic-verna-14l-and-16l-production-increased/

Illinois Hyundai Dealers

Hyundai Elantra Coupe To Debut at 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show

2011-06-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

Just the Facts:
Hyundai will unveil its new Elantra coupe this fall at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The standard Elantra coupe engine will be the same 148-horsepower motor that powers the sedan.
Hyundai is also likely to create an Elantra R-Spec in 2012, using the same 208-hp turbocharged engine already confirmed for the turbocharged Veloster.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — In a deft move intended to strike the heart of Honda Civic sales, Hyundai will unveil its future Elantra coupe late this fall at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Expect powertrains in the new Elantra coupe to come straight from the sedan. All 2011 Elantra sedans are powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder generating 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque.

Hyundai is also likely to create an Elantra R-Spec in 2012. That coupe would be powered by the same 208-hp turbocharged engine already confirmed for a high-performance version of the Hyundai Veloster. The standard Veloster offers an optional dual-clutch automatic transmission for its normally aspirated 1.6-liter engine, so the six-speed DCT could find its way into the Elantra R-Spec as well. More importantly, it would give the turbocharged Elantra an option not offered by Honda's popular Civic Si.

Hyundai is quite proud of the Elantra's sedan's 29 city/40 highway mpg, taking great pains to point out that those fuel-economy numbers apply to all Elantras regardless of transmission, trim level and wheel size. We'd expect those high ratings to continue in the 1.8-liter coupe model.

The Elantra sedan is offered in two trim levels: GLS and Limited. As with powertrain offerings, coupe equipment is likely to mirror the sedan.

Read More: http://www.insideline.com/hyundai/elantra/hyundai-elantra-coupe-to-debut-at-2011-los-angeles-auto-show.html

Quick Take Test Drive: 2011 Hyundai Elantra

2011-06-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

For starters, we think this 2011 Hyundai Elantra looks terrific wearing—like its size-larger Sonata stablemate—the Korean maker’s new “Fluidic Sculpture” sheetmetal. Its hexagonal grille, swept-back headlamps, strong body-side character lines, muscular wheel arches and wraparound taillamps give impressive presence, while its low, sweeping roofline contributes to a (highway) fuel-saving low drag coefficient of 0.28. Available front fog lights, side repeater mirrors and 15-, 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels complete its distinctive look.

Riding on a 106.3-in. wheelbase, two in. longer than the outgoing Elantra’s, it’s 0.9 inches longer and 1.8 inches lower than before without sacrificing headroom—except in back, where the sloping roofline can cramps taller occupants. Still, Hyundai says its 110.4 cu.-ft. cabin gives EPA-rated midsize room surpassing that of the new Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus as well as the somewhat smaller Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra and (previous-generation) Honda Civic. Its long front seat tracks also offer great front seat legroom, and its 14.8-cu.-ft trunk beats Civic’s and Corolla’s.

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is powered by an all-new 148-hp aluminum 1.8-liter four, which replaces the previous 2.0-liter, with electronic throttle control, Dual (both intake and exhaust) Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) and a two-stage (long and short) Variable Induction System (VIS). Even without the benefits of direct fuel injection, it delivers 29 mpg EPA city and 40 highway—the latter number up 18 percent from the previous rating—with either the base six-speed manual or available six-speed Shiftronic automatic.

Its interior reflects Korean automakers’ newfound attention to detail in materials, craftsmanship and ergonomics (ease of use). A tilt/telescoping steering wheel is standard, front and rear (a segment first) heated seats are available, and storage capacity is easy and ample. Also standard is a 60/40 split rear seat.

We found the 2011 Hyundai Elantra a strong compact competitor in just about every way. Styling is subjective, but we like its distinctive, sporty appearance inside and out. On the road, it’s far from fast (a bit under nine seconds 0-60), but seems fairly peppy despite its impressive EPA fuel-economy ratings.

Read More: http://www.automedia.com/blog/post/Quick-Take-Test-Drive-2011-Hyundai-Elantra.aspx
Chicago Hyundai Elantra

S&P: outlooks on Hyundai Motor Group companies to positive

2011-06-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

(The following was released by the rating agency)

-- We revised to positive from stable the outlook on the long-term corporate credit ratings on Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Glovis, and we affirmed the 'BBB' long-term corporate credit and debt ratings on the companies.

-- The positive outlooks reflect our view that the four companies will continue to enhance their financial profiles, through stronger market positions and improved profitability.

-- We assigned our 'BBB' rating to Kia Motors Corp.'s proposed issue of U.S.-dollar-denominated senior unsecured bonds.

June 7, 2011--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today revised to positive from stable the outlook on its 'BBB' long-term corporate credit ratings on Korea-based Hyundai Motor Co. (HMC), Kia Motors Corp. (Kia), Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd. (Mobis), and Hyundai Glovis Co. Ltd. (Glovis). At the same time, we affirmed our long-term corporate credit ratings on the four companies and affirmed our 'BBB' debt rating on HMC's two guaranteed bond issuances. We have changed Kia's standalone credit profile (SACP) to 'bbb-' from 'bb+' and have equalized its ratings with those of HMC, given their close shareholdings and strong business integration. We also assess Mobis's SACP to be 'bbb', which is the same as its corporate credit rating, and Glovis' to be 'bbb', the same as its corporate credit rating.

Also, we assigned our 'BBB' rating to Kia Motors Corp.'s (Kia; BBB/Positive/--) proposed issue of U.S.-dollar-denominated senior unsecured bonds. The rating is subject to our review of the terms and conditions of the final issuance documentation. In Standard & Poor's opinion, the bonds will not materially affect Kia's financial risk profile given the robust free operating cash flow we expect it to generate this year.

The outlook revision on both HMC and Kia, for which we have equalized the ratings, reflects our view that the two automakers will continue to enhance their financial profiles over the next 12-18 months based on strengthening global market positions and improving profitability. We believe this progress is largely structural and based on fundamental enhancements that both automakers have made globally to product quality, brand, cost reductions, and distribution networks.

We expect HMC and Kia to continue to achieve robust sales growth and gain global market share given the largely structural improvements they have made. Still, their recently accelerated operational achievements were partly attributable to disruptions in supply chains in Japan since mid-March. These disruptions negatively affected the manufacturing output of Japanese rivals, and currency exchange rates favored HMC and Kia and hurt their Japanese rivals. HMC and Kia's combined market share in the U.S. jumped to 10.1%, a record high, in May. Also, their combined U.S. retail sales for January to May this year grew 35% year on year, far exceeding the overall industry's 14% growth during the same period. Even before the disruptions that hit Japan this year, however, HMC and Kia's combined global market share rose, from 6.5% in 2008 to 7.7% in 2009 and 8.2% in 2010. In addition, we expect that HMC and Kia will continue to improve profitability-through the achievement of a higher average sales price per unit, lower sales incentives, and lower inventory related to the aforementioned structural improvements.

The outlook revisions on Mobis, an auto supplier, and Glovis, a logistics company, mainly reflect our expectations that these companies will be able to strengthen their business risk profiles as HMC and Kia improve their operational outlooks--their captive customers accounting for 80% to 90% of Mobis and Glovis' total revenues--and maintain their solid financial risk profiles.

Given the ratings equalization on the two companies, we may raise our ratings on HMC and Kia if HMC's adjusted debt to EBITDA stays below 1.5x for a protracted period. Positive rating factors necessary for upgrades of HMC and Kia, in addition to improved profitability or global market positions, include more stable labor relations leading to higher operating efficiency and more discipline in financial policy to prevent aggressive expansion into nonauto industries. Conversely, we may revise the outlooks on the ratings of both companies back to stable if HMC's adjusted debt to EBITDA exceeds 2.0x for a protracted period. In addition to a significant erosion in profitability or global market position, negative rating factors include major additional investments, especially in nonauto industries, and deterioration in operating efficiency due to lack of stability in their labor relationships.

Read More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/07/markets-ratings-hyundaimotorgroup-idUSWNA035520110607

Chicago Hyundai

Hyundai Sonata Turbo — A step up to sensible performance

2011-06-10T12:48:00.001-07:00

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman
Fans of the Hyundai Sonata were no doubt thrilled last year when they first caught a glimpse of the stylish, trend-setting 2011 sedan. But for some, their enthusiasm may have waned when they learned there would be no V-6 engine available to compete with the bigger engines in the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima.

Yes, the award-winning 2011 Sonata comes with a very energetic and amazingly fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine making 198 or 200 horsepower depending on trim level. The new engine not only realizes 35 miles per gallon in highway driving, but performs better than most competing four-bangers in the mid-sized segment.

But for the performance junkies among us, we have learned firsthand after sharing a couple of weeks behind the wheel that the Sonata does not need a V-6. It does just fine with four turbocharged cylinders.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option now available gives the Sonata the energy not available with Hyundai's previous 3.3-liter 249-horsepower V-6. The South Korean automaker seems to be ahead of the curve these days, and the decision to make its performance engine a 4-cylinder rather than a V-6 vividly points this out.

The advantages to owning a Sonata turbo over a competing V-6 are several. For example:

• The Hyundai engine makes 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, more than any of its direct competitors — the Buick Regal turbo, the VW Passat turbo, the Ford Fusion V-6, the Chevy Malibu V-6, the Toyota Camry V-6, the Honda Accord V-6, and the Nissan Altima V-6.
• The Hyundai gets better gas mileage than all of the above rated at 33 mpg highway and 22 mpg city with a combined rating of 26 mpg.
• The Hyundai turbo undercuts all of the aforementioned competition by at least a thousand dollars or more in all cases.

We found that the car's performance was more than just numbers on paper. The engine, mated to Hyundai's new-for-2011 six-speed automatic transmission, offers superb performance measured at about 6.5 seconds from 0-to-60. Shifts are smooth and there is plenty of grunt off the line and from 40-to-60, the range necessary to quickly get around a slow-moving vehicle on a two-lane road.

The Hyundai is not a sports sedan by any stretch, but it holds its own against the competition based on comparison times in Motor Trend magazine. Only the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry hold a clear advantage over the Sonata if two-tenths of a second is a clear advantage. And who among those that purchase these vehicles take them to the drag strip on the weekends?

For a real comparison, the V-6 in last year's Sonata was rated at just a tick or two under eight seconds while deriving gas mileage of 19/29, clearly lagging the new engine in all categories.

We realize that for most people, the standard 4-cylinder is just right. But for those who want the extra performance, Hyundai says the price difference ranges from $1,550 to $1,750 depending on trim level.

Whichever way you go, the Sonata is a solid choice from styling inside and out, price, gas mileage, and driving refinement.
The new Sonata has a depth of good looks usually reserved for such luxury brands as Mercedes and BMW. Its sleek shape suggests motion with a fast-back roofline, a down-swooping character line running from the taillight to the front fender and a chrome strip running along the beltline through the hood to the headlight cluster. Incredibly neat!

Although the beltline is fairly high, a styling trait that came in vogue over the past few years, sight lines in all directions are excellent.

Hyundai calls its design “fluidic sculpture.” It mimics the Mercedes CLS fastback sedan, which has been on the market for several years. It also looks a lot like the Volkswagen CC, but the Hyundai design was probably already locked in by the time the CC was first revealed so it seems fair to say that both cars owe at least some of their lines to the Mercedes. No matter the origins of the Sonata’s striking looks, they work.

Look inside and you’ll see a handsome setup with a center stack that flows down through the center console. The dashboard and door panels were trimmed out with dark wood accents. The beefy steering wheel was, well, beefy; weighty and filling the hand giving us that sense of control that we like.
The ironic thing with the new Sonata is that Hyundai has climbed the ladder of success during the past two decades unabashedly copying the competition. This is the first Hyundai that clearly steps away from that strategy, even if does pay a slight homage to the CLS. The new Sonata really stands on its own.

And here’s perhaps the most interesting thing. There is much more to this sedan than exterior and interior styling. Hyundai has created a spacious five-passenger vehicle that leads in other areas as well.

Passenger space is exemplary with very generous leg and foot room for rear-seat passengers. The only complaint here is with the sloping roof, which may create some head room problems for tall passengers. The generous rear-seat room does not impede on the usefulness of the trunk, which will hold 16 cubic feet of stuff, two more than the Honda Accord, which is basically the same size as the Sonata. We easily loaded two sets of golf clubs.

The Sonata comes in three trim levels — GLS, SE and Limited — starting at $19,995 for the GLS with manual transmission and $20,915 with automatic.

If performance is your desire, the direct injection turbocharged 2.0T SE starts at an affordable $24,865 including destination charge. Want navigation and sunroof, the price rises to $27,465. Our top line Limited trim carrying a bottom line of $30,000 came with the navigation package with back-up camera and a 400 watt Infinity sound system and a host of standard features including leather seats, 18-inch Hyper Silver Alloy wheels, a power tilt and slide sunroof and of course Hyundai’s full basket of safety equipment and its now famous warranty.

Seems like a bargain to us.
Essentials:
Base price: $24,865 (SE); as driven, $30,000
Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 274 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 269 foot-pounds @ 4,500 rpm
Drive: front wheel
Transmission: 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 110 inches
Length: 189.8 inches
Curb weight: 3,340 pounds
Turning circle: 35.8 feet
Luggage capacity: 16.4 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 18.5 gallons
EPA rating: 33 mpg highway, 22 mpg city
0-60: 6.5 seconds (Motor Trend)
Also consider: Honda Accord V-6, Volkswagen Passat 2.0T, Toyota Camry V-6

The Good:
• Bold head-turning styling
• Stylish, comfortable cabin
• Solid fuel economy almost equal to base 4-cylinder
• Strong V-6-like performance

The Bad:
• $1,500 to $1,700 more to get extra performance

The Ugly:
• Gauges tend to wash out in bright sunlight

Hyundai Aims For New Record On Pikes Peak

2011-06-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

Hyundai Motor Co. hopes to make a lasting impression later this month in a race that is arguably as much of an American motorsport tradition as the Indianapolis 500 or Nascar’s Daytona 500. The Korean car maker is taking aim at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Longtime competitor Rhys Millen will drive an exotic racer called the RMR PM580, which looks like a cross between a Le Mans-style prototype sports car and an off-road buggy. The car is powered by a Hyundai engine with the same block, heads and valve setup as the Lambda V6 found in some production cars.

Millen previously set a record in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the production-based class for two-wheel-drive cars in 2009. This year he will drive in the unlimited class, in which pure, lightweight racing machines with turbocharged 1,000-horsepower engines often slide sideways while winding their way from the starting line at 9,390 feet to the finish at the Peak’s 14,110-foot summit.

Millen’s father, Rod, drove the course in 10 minutes, 4 seconds in 1994. That spectacular run made it seem like the 10-minute barrier would within a year or two, but the elder Millen’s record stood for 13 years.

The race course is famous for its mix of paved and unpaved road surfaces. This year there is more pavement close to the end of the course than in years past, which could make all the competitors a little faster. For the top unlimited-class drivers it could mean a chance to finish in less than 10 minutes.

“Breaking into the 9’s has been a dream of mine for the last 10 years,” said Rhys Millen. “With the precise technical adjustments we made to the PM580 this year, coupled with the increase in tarmac near the course summit, the prospect of another world record is better than ever,” he says.

The main person in Millen’s way is Nobuhiro “Monster” Najima, who has won the race several times and set the current record of 10 minutes, 1 second in 2007. Last year he hoped to break the 10-minute barrier with a more powerful car than before, but clocked 10 minutes, 11 seconds.

You can ride with the hard-charging Najima on a run up the mountain here. This year’s event is June 26.

Read More: http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/06/04/hyundai-aims-for-new-record-on-pikes-peak/?mod=google_news_blog

Driving Sports TV: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid First Drive Review

2011-06-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Ryan ventures to San Diego for a first drive in the new 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. This car is important because it marks Hyundai's first mainstream venture into the hybrid market. How did they do? Watch our exclusive Driver's Seat review and find out.

To Hyundai's Rivals: Prepare For A Bumpy Night

2011-06-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

The big winner in the auto industry in the last few months has been the Korean automaker Hyundai. Last month, while car sales stalled, Hyundai had its biggest month ever in the U.S., selling nearly 60,000 autos. Analysts point to Hyundai's success as a sign of the increasingly competitive nature of the U.S. car market. Long gone are the days of the Big Three — now it's more like the Big 13.

The car industry can be a lot like a movie. It has scenes, it has characters, and boy, does it have conflict. Right now, if the industry were a movie, it might be the 1950 classic All About Eve, where actress Bette Davis has to fend off her rival.

In the movie, Bette Davis hires a young assistant, Eve, played by Anne Baxter. By the end of the movie, Eve has learned the game and Bette Davis loses her part.

Let's pretend, for the sake of this story, that Toyota — the world's largest car company — is Bette Davis and upstart Hyundai is Eve.

Learning From Toyota

"It's a very interesting analogy," says Dave Zuchowski, head of sales for Hyundai. He says there's no doubt Hyundai has been watching and learning from Toyota — even through numerous problems with recalls and bad public relations.

"Everything we've really patterned after the way they did it," Zuchowski says. "We also stepped back when they experienced some of their problems last year and wanted to make sure we didn't end up falling into the same trap."

This year Toyota has new problems. The earthquake and tsunami have hurt its production. Meanwhile, Hyundai is running at full capacity. At its Georgia plant, Hyundai is doing something it's never done before: adding a third shift. Zuchowski says it's not just that Toyota has bad luck and Hyundai has been fortunate.

"The Koreans are incredibly determined to establish themselves as a global power player," he says.

Compared to All About Eve, it's about the same, says David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. Eve "had the motivation to be that person that could take over from Bette Davis."

A Promotional Powerhouse

Champion says while Hyundai is hungry and keeps making better cars, many of the other major manufactures have gotten lazy.

"This young upstart, Hyundai, they're going, 'I want to beat No. 1. I want to be there, and I'm going to do everything in my power to get there.' And that's the motivation they have," he says.

Because essentially, Hyundai wants to usurp Bette Davis. Jesse Toprak from the automotive website TrueCar.com says just like the upstart girl in the movie, Hyundai had to overcome a checkered past by using excellent marketing. Its Hyundai Assurance plan, for instance, promised to take back your car if you lost your job.

"At the end of the day, I think they only had a handful of people — if that — actually return their cars," Toprak says. "But everybody talked about it. And it was just an amazing promotion — and hit exactly the reason why some people may not have been buying cars, which was uncertainty."

He says Hyundai's incredible success is a sign that the U.S. car market has never been so open.

"So what that means is from consumer's perspective it's fantastic, because you have so many choices," Toprak says. "In fact, it is so good that it is somewhat confusing as to what to choose, really. From a manufacturer's perspective, it means that the job is a little bit tougher now."

Toprak and other analysts say on any given day, almost any of the automakers could surge ahead, so as Bette Davis would say, "Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy night."

And for everybody who sells cars in the U.S., dawn's a long, long way away.

Read More: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/04/136949106/hyundais-rivals-better-prepare-for-a-bumpy-ride?ps=cprs

Chicago Hyundai

2012 Hyundai Veloster First Ride and Video

2011-06-02T11:57:00.001-07:00

Our driver threads the white 2012 Hyundai Veloster through light midday traffic on the northbound Pacific Coast Highway. Traffic is a mix of Aston Martins, new Porsches and rental Mustang convertibles.

"The most important part has to be the way it drives," he says. "It has to be fun to drive. You can add the technology items afterward to any car."

Those were the priorities given to Hyundai's development team. First, it had to make the 2012 Hyundai Veloster fun to drive. If anyone knows this, it's this guy behind the wheel. He's John Krafcik, CEO and president of Hyundai Motor America.

We're riding shotgun in the Veloster while Krafcik wheels it to our chosen lunch spot, a ramshackle restaurant in Malibu that serves fish so fresh it'll pinch your backside in the kitchen. Our time in the passenger seat is the closest anyone outside of Hyundai proper has come to driving the squat hatch.

Veloster in the Wild Krafcik nudges the console selector backward to command a downshift and points the Veloster's puggish nose down the sun-drenched blacktop. The car he brought is a preproduction prototype loaded with all the trick bits it has to offer, including a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

"That's one difference between this prototype and the production one," says Krafcik. "All production [DCT-equipped] Velosters will have steering wheel paddles, but this car doesn't have them."
Then he woods the throttle and the direct-injected 1.6-liter four spins sweetly toward its 6,700-rpm redline as we reel in traffic. The little 138-horsepower mill is quite smooth and seems to relish being wrung out. It could use more aural personality, an area Krafcik acknowledges they're still working on.

For sure, the Veloster won't pin you to your seatback; it's not that kind of car. Instead, Hyundai has built a latter-day Honda CRX. That very car — in second-generation, 1988-'91 guise — came under heavy scrutiny during the Veloster's gestation, an association that Krafcik is eager to share: "We benchmarked the CRX. Fantastic car, not just from a dynamics standpoint but the overall package, and what that car was to the marketplace at the time. We saw a huge opportunity to capture some of that."

Light Weight Is the Key Another couple taps of the console selector and the revs drop to cruising speed. The gearchanges of this dry-clutch automated manual gearbox aren't the quickest we've experienced but are totally devoid of shift shock. For a prototype, this Veloster is pretty well finished. It feels tight. Solid. The cabin is said to be production-representative, and it's quieter than we expected for a car that starts right around $17,500. Conversation in the cabin at freeway speeds requires no raised voices or concerted effort at all, even from the backseat.

This kind of lateral thinking used to be the bastion of Honda. Is Hyundai the new Honda?

Krafcik continues, explaining that lightness is an integral part of the Veloster experience. No, not quite CRX light, as that car wouldn't have a prayer of meeting the crash regulations faced by modern cars. Think current Mazda MX-5 light. That's a noteworthy feat for a car that seats two adults in true comfort up front and two more in relative comfort in the backseat.

We've been driving for almost 30 minutes and Editor in Chief Scott Oldham, who stands a strapping 6 feet tall, still claims to be comfortable back there, with plenty of head- and legroom.

More Light Weight Hyundai's in-house steel-making capability gives the company a built-in cost advantage in using tailored steels to pare vehicle mass. Weighing 2,584 pounds with a manual gearbox and 73 pounds heavier in DCT guise, the front-wheel-drive Veloster — built on a heavily revised version of the Elantra platform — is skewed toward agility rather than outright speed. That its trimness helps garner a predicted 30 city/40 highway mpg means its arrival couldn't have been timed better.
As if on cue, Krafcik whipsaws the tidy steering wheel in an impromptu slalom on the Pacific Coast Highway as we pass an antique shop. The car transitions brightly, juking instantly from lane to lane with genuine spunk.

Its steering is quite quick, Krafcik's hands moving very little to yank the Veloster's leash around. "I think the Caterham Super 7 has the best steering of any car ever made," ponders Krafcik. "That was my own personal reference point [for the Veloster] from the steering point of view. We didn't quite get to Caterham levels, but no car ever has." This is tougher to dismiss as mindless patter when you consider that Krafcik keeps a Caterham Super 7 in his home garage alongside a Porsche 911 (997).

Then we come up on a beautifully restored Honduras Maroon 1962 Corvette. Top down. Krafcik starts spouting specs. "327. T10 four-speed. Nice." But the guy in the Vette is all over the Veloster. We have a moment, exchange a wave and move on.

Later it occurs to me. I'd bet my first born there isn't another CEO at an OEM who knows what engine and transmission came in a '62 Corvette. Including Akerson at GM, and they made the thing. Krafcik is a real car guy and it's one of the reasons Hyundais and Hyundai are red-hot right now.

Feeling the Hardware After the Corvette, we start talking hardware.

Light weight has obvious advantages when it comes to vehicle dynamics, which works out in the Veloster's favor as its suspension underpinnings are not at all exotic. MacPherson struts and twin-tube dampers support the front end, and a torsion beam and monotubes locate the rear.

"Early in the program, our engineers knew what the development brief was, and they got to work to make the most sporty torsion beam ever," boasts the CEO. The Veloster's long 104.3-inch wheelbase provides a primary ride that has a natural gait with none of the hobby-horsing you experience in, say, a Fiat 500. That car wasn't on Hyundai's radar when it dreamt up the Veloster, but it'll surely compete for the same dollars.

Scion tC and the two-seater Honda CR-Z were the intended targets, and the Korean hatch is more firmly suspended than its contemporaries, in line with its sporting intent. It rounds off the road's sharp edges well, although there's also an underlying busyness to this prototype's ride that suggests that additional refinement of the dampers' valving is needed. We're told that the development team is still in the process of finalizing the suspension, steering and transmission calibrations, so there's still some fiddle room remaining.

The base Veloster will roll on 17s. This preproduction prototype is rolling on the optional 18-inch wheels and Kumho Solus all-season tires measuring 215/40. Summer tires will be available on the turbocharged Veloster, which Inside Line confirmed is heading for production back in January at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. It'll be powered by a 1.6-liter direct-injection turbo motor making 208 hp at 6,000 rpm.

Sharp Cabin and All the Tricks While Krafcik slices around a lawn truck, I peruse my surroundings. The center stack is really tidy, its concentric HVAC controls serving to make the most efficient use of space possible. The 7-inch touchscreen is sharp and bright, and there are enough storage nooks to keep most pack-rats happy.

Its crisscross dashboard graining and chunky, silver-accented door handles and vent rings mesh well with the angular motif inside. There's a welcome lack of reflective trim, and comfort is easy to find in the front seat. Rear-seat passengers will find decent space and will be baked through the glass overhead on sunny days, though the additional light imparts a sense of spaciousness to the cabin.

Hyundai wisely didn't aspire to Caterham-grade interior austerity, as the Veloster's cabin is striking and well-appointed. This particular example is chock full of all available goodies and would be at the very upper end of Veloster pricing at around $22,700 were it to reach a showroom in September with other Velosters. It includes both option packages, Style and Tech, and among the highlights are keyless ignition, navigation and a panoramic sunroof. The DCT will be a stand-alone $1,200 option over the six-speed manual gearbox. The Hyundai Veloster will even let you play Xbox video games directly through its multimedia screen.

What's With the Doors, Though?  You can call the Veloster's signature door configuration a gimmick, but there's real function here. The single door on the driver side is long for easy ingress, and for tall drivers, the rearward B-pillar improves visibility through the side glass. You can also easily slot your man-purse or regular purse behind the seat.

The sedan-style doors on the passenger side facilitate multiple passengers more easily than a coupe without the drawbacks of a suicide door. "[Suicide doors are] the way that many unsuccessful coupes and pickups have been done," says Krafcik. "You get that thing in a parking lot and you have to send out a search party to find the poor person who's stuck in the middle since you have to open the front door to get the rear door open. It's really never worked in practice."

This kind of lateral thinking used to be the bastion of Honda. We press Krafcik. Is Hyundai the new Honda? "Hyundai is the new Hyundai. Honda's a great company. Maybe they're going through a rough patch right now but with the engineering talent they have I'm sure they're gonna be back strong and fighting. And their powertrains are just absolutely terrific.

"We've been consciously upping the ante of the innovation side and we've been taking a lot of risk, frankly." Not so much risk that they'll let a journalist drive the Veloster just yet, but that will come in time.

SAFE AND FUEL EFFICIENT 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EARNS IIHS “TOP SAFETY PICK”

2011-06-01T14:37:00.001-07:00

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2011 Hyundai Elantra a “TOP SAFETY PICK”— achieving the highest rating of “Good” in all crash test categories including front, side, rollover and rear crash protection. Additionally, in order to be considered for an IIHS “TOP SAFETY PICK,” a vehicle must also feature Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which Elantra has offered since 2007. IIHS recently evaluated 13 small cars with Elantra being one of the six to be named a “TOP SAFETY PICK.” The 2011 Elantra, with a standard 40-mpg highway fuel economy rating, demonstrates that vehicles don’t have to compromise efficiency for safety. “Elantra safety has improved tremendously over the years with the vehicle now earning IIHS’ top safety distinction,” said David Zuby, the IIHS’ chief research officer. “The big things the automakers have done to improve crashworthiness are designing better front crush zones to manage crash energy, stronger occupant compartments to limit intrusion, and stronger roofs to better protect people in rollovers.”

The 2011 Elantra takes compact car safety to the next level with the introduction of Vehicle Stability Management (VSM). Similar to the one found in the Hyundai Equus, VSM optimally manages ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS). Elantra features six airbags—including dual front, front seat-mounted side impact, and front and rear side curtain airbag.

The Elantra also features a state-of-the-art braking package including four-wheel disc brakes and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist, which provides maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), to automatically adjust the braking force to front and rear axles based on vehicle loading
Conditions.

“Hyundai is committed to applying the most effective life-saving vehicle technologies and the all-new Elantra is no exception,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “The 40 mpg highway 2011 Elantra is proving that compact cars can be fuel efficient while offering tremendous safety.”

Hyundai takes three top spots in AutoPacific's 2011 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

2011-05-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

Ford has the most wins (seven) at the manufacturer level, while Toyota (four), GM (three), and Hyundai (three) were other top-rated automakers.

The annual awards, now in their 15th year, are based on the consulting firm's gathered responses of more than 68,000 new-vehicle owners. Over 48 different categories, they look at satisfaction in the first several months of ownership.

Carmakers are constantly improving their products and relationships with their customers. They communicate their success by citing the satisfaction of their owners. "Proof of satisfied customers is as good as gold," says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "We've found that more than one-third of new car buyers are positively influenced by objective awards based on owner ratings when deciding on a new car or truck."

"Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes," says Peterson. "The winners perform well in 48 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience."

Look below for the full list of individual model winners, all 2011 models.

PASSENGER CARS
Mercedes-Benz S-Class - Premium Luxury Car
Hyundai Genesis - Aspirational Luxury Car
Lincoln MKZ - Luxury Mid-Size Car
Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon (tie) - Large Car
Hyundai Sonata - Premium Mid-Size Car
Suzuki Kizashi - Mid-Size Car
Volvo C30/S40/V50 - Premium Compact Car
Hyundai Elantra - Compact Car
Honda Fit - Economy Car
Porsche 911 - Sports Car
Scion tC - Sporty Car
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Hybrid Car

AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year AutoPacific publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office
in the Detroit area. Additional information can be found on AutoPacific's websites: www.autopacific.com and www.vehiclevoice.com.

Fortune Magazine - Hyundai's hot hand

2011-05-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

FORTUNE -- With production by Japanese automakers still snarled by the after-effects of the March earthquake and tsunami, the Detroit Three are all but licking their lips in anticipation. They are expecting that shortages of Toyotas, Hondas, and Nissans on dealer lots will give them a once-in-a-generation shot at taking back market share and winning new customers.

But are they are the ignoring another Asian automaker whose production has been unimpeded by the disaster and now has more momentum in the U.S. market?

All but invisible to industry outsiders, Hyundai and its sister company Kia are blowing the doors off the competition.

In an overall U.S. market that is up 20% after the first four months of 2011, the Koreans have seen their sales jump 36%. Having sold 356,222 cars and trucks this year, they are just 4,662 vehicle sales away from displacing Nissan among the six U.S. top-selling manufacturers.

What's more, they are targeting what's become the sweet spot of the market: small cars. The compact Hyundai Elantra and midsize Hyundai rank as the ninth and tenth best-selling vehicles in the U.S.
The combination gives Hyundai a one-two punch comparable to the Toyota (TM) Corolla and Camry, or Honda's Civic and Accord.

Hyundais have always offered exceptional value, and I've raved about the Genesis, Equus, and Sonata. But now they consistently adding an element they didn't have before: style.

6 cheap cars that go easy on the gas

Take the 2011 Elantra I drove this week. It is an inexpensive small car that doesn't look small -- or cheap -- and drives better than larger cars costing more.

Describing its design invites the cliché "looks fast while it is standing still." The sheet metal is wrapped tautly around the frame, and a crease stretching from the headlights upward to the rear door handle and tail lamps seem to stretch it length. The effect is to give the Elantra a swoopiness you don't often see in small cars. If you like the Hyundai Sonata, you'll love the Elantra: its proportion and cues are almost identical.

It is the view from behind the wheel that really sold me on the Elantra. The instrument panel, gauges, and switches are both stylish and functional, and look as if they belong in a much more expensive car. Hyundai deserves to rank with Volkswagen among the very best at interior design.

With that kind of appetizer, the main course comes almost as an afterthought. The Elantra delivers on the road with a smooth and willing 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine that feels peppier than its 148-hip rating would suggest. Zero to 60 miles per hour has been measured at 8.6 seconds. The EPA scores the fuel economy at 29 miles per gallon city/40 mpg highway. I was getting around 33 mpg after some fairly aggressive pedal work.

A mere $19,980 takes this Elantra package away. Add in a navigation system and the as-tested price for the Indigo Blue Pearl loaner came to $22,830. Another $5,000 wouldn't have shocked me. It's made at Hyundai's plant in Montgomery, Ala. though it isn't getting much of a lift from the cheap dollar; 65% of the parts come from Korea.

Read More: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/10/autos/hyunadai_kia_success.fortune/index.htm

Hyundai Expands Four-Cylinder Engine Production in the U.S.

2011-05-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

• Spurred by booming U.S. demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles, including the Hyundai Elantra
and Sonata, the Korean automaker said it is investing $173 million to expand its Alabama engine
plant.
• The Montgomery plant will be modified and expanded to produce the 1.8-liter Nu engine that is
used in the Elantra, as well as the Theta engines that are used in the Sonata and Santa Fe.
• The engine plant will build 300,000 units a year and will supply the Hyundai assembly plant in
Alabama.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Spurred by booming U.S. demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles, including the Hyundai Elantra and Sonata, Korean automaker Hyundai said it will invest $173 million to expand an engine plant in Alabama.

The Montgomery plant, which quit building V6 engines earlier this year, will be modified and expanded to produce the 1.8-liter Nu four-cylinder engine that is used in the redesigned 2011 Elantra. Hyundai also is expanding production capacity for the 2.0T and 2.4 Theta four-cylinder engines that are used in the Hyundai Sonata. The Elantra and Sonata are built at an adjacent assembly plant in Montgomery. The 2.4 Theta engines also are used in the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Production capacity at the Montgomery engine plant is being expanded to 300,000 units a year. Construction is expected to be completed this fall, with new production set to begin in March 2012.

Hyundai's Montgomery assembly plant makes two of the hottest-selling cars in the U.S., the Elantra and Sonata. Hyundai Motor America said Elantra and Sonata April sales in the U.S. each topped 20,000 — a company first — and that more than 90 percent of the vehicles it sold last month in the U.S. were equipped with four-cylinder engines.

The announcement of the investment in Hyundai's Alabama engine plant also triggered media speculation that another Hyundai assembly plant may be in the works. In response to a query from Inside Line regarding the company's plans for a new U.S. assembly plant, a Hyundai spokesman on Tuesday said, "We don't have anything to announce."

Inside Line says: A bit of good news for American manufacturing and workers, as Hyundai continues to expand its presence here. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent

Read More: http://www.insideline.com/hyundai/hyundai-expands-four-cylinder-engine-production-in-the-us.html

Area officials await announcement on possibility of Hyundai expansion

2011-05-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama may announce an expansion soon, economic development officials said Wednesday.

Alabama Development Office Director Seth Hammett mentioned the Montgomery Hyundai plant in an example of the state's strong automotive sector Wednesday while speaking to several hundred at an Alabama State University's Bridge Builders breakfast.

"We hope that in a few days we will have some news about further expansion," Hammett said.

Following his presentation, Hammett said that he couldn't discuss what Hyundai may be planning and said it was only a possibility.

"They may have some announcement coming up," he said.

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said an announcement could come in two weeks.

"We are working toward having some good news regarding Hyundai in the near future," he said.

He also said that because of a confidentiality agreement with the automaker, he couldn't discuss the details of any potential expansion.

Robert Burns, a local Hyundai spokesman, said Wednesday that he didn't have any information about a possible expansion.

Earlier this year, John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America CEO, said the company may decide next year to build a new U.S. plant. That prompted Montgomery and Alabama economic officials to say they would welcome and support a new or expanded facility.

The 2-million-square-foot Montgomery plant occupies about 539 of the 1,744 acres of land the company owns.

The 2,500-employee plant is Hyundai's only American plant, though its Santa Fe is built at a Kia plant in Georgia.

The Montgomery plant has been working at capacity for several months. It runs two 10-hour shifts five days a week and one Saturday shift each week. In March, the facility beat its previous production records by making 31,730 Sonatas and Elantras. But even that has not been enough to meet demand in North America. The automaker imported 9,000 Elantras from Korea in March.

A delegation of about 20 business and civic leaders from around the city will be going to Korea later this month for a "familiarization" trip, said Randall George, president of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

Read More: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110505/BUSINESS/105050348/Area-officials-await-announcement-possibility-Hyundai-expansion

Trading Places: A Value Comparison

2011-05-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

Value is, of course, a relative measure. When you feed a family of four for $5 with a box of spaghetti and jar of tomato sauce, you got a good value, as a practical matter. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when you feed a family of four for $250 at an exclusive restaurant with excellent service and a chef who elevates cooking to an art form, well, that could also be considered a good value. The same is true with automobiles. The price you pay should be inextricably linked to the performance, reliability and satisfaction you get from owning your vehicle, and not just how much it costs.

For the sake of perspective, let's do a little comparison shopping in a sector of the car market where there is considerable overlap in form and function from vehicle to vehicle — the 4-door family sedan. Specifically, we'll take a look at two vehicles that appear similar on paper, but that few people would ever cross-shop: the well-equipped Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T, priced at $27,245; and the base trim Mercedes-Benz E350, at $49,400. Auto shoppers would never put these two vehicles on the same list, with one costing almost twice as much as the other.

Why compare an optioned-out vehicle to a base trim? To be fair, it's because the entry-level, $19,395 Hyundai is a bit Spartan to go toe-to-toe with the Mercedes, but only a few thousand dollars in options spruces it up quite a bit. Now, we know, true Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts would scoff at the comparison here. The three-pointed-star is a badge that connotes a 100-plus-year tradition of craftsmanship, quality and elegance that goes beyond a mere listing of features. That may be true, but a detailed look at the numbers and specs is nonetheless quite revealing.

Dimensions

The E-Class is definitely the larger car, but not by much. It measures 191.7 inches long to the Sonata's 189.8 inches, and the E-Class is 81.5 inches wide, while the Sonata is only 72.2 inches wide. So surely the E-Class must have more room inside, right? Not really. The E-Class has 37.9 inches of headroom, 57.8 inches of shoulder room and 41.3 inches of legroom for front passengers, while the Sonata gives 40 inches of headroom, 57.9 inches of shoulder room and 45.5 inches of front-seat legroom. The Mercedes gives a little of the volume back to the rear-seat passengers, however, delivering 38.2 inches of headroom, 56.9 inches of shoulder room and 35.8 inches of legroom. The Sonata is a bit more cramped with 37.8 inches of headroom, 56.7 inches of shoulder room and only 34.6 inches of legroom.

Powertrain

Here's where the top-tier 2.0T engine option on the Sonata makes a difference when compared with the Mercedes engine. By volume, the E350's 3.5-liter V6 engine should blow the Sonata's tiny 2-liter inline 4-cylinder engine away. But, thanks to some creative turbocharging, the Hyundai actually delivers 274 horsepower compared with the E-Class' 268. In practice, it hardly matters, as both vehicles post zero-to-60 mph times at around 6.5 seconds. But the fuel economy numbers definitely tilt in the Sonata's favor. EPA estimates put the Mercedes at 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway, while the Hyundai posts 22/33 mpg. What's more, the Hyundai takes regular 87-octane fuel, while the Mercedes sips a pricier vintage — premium unleaded fuel only, please.

Compare: Hyundai Sonata vs. Ford Taurus vs. Honda Accord

Safety

Mercedes has a well-deserved reputation for safety, and the E-Class is certainly packed with safety features. Standard are anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist — which can automatically boost braking during emergency stops — as well as stability control. The E-Class also comes with Mercedes Pre-Safe, which tightens seatbelts, closes windows and optimizes seating positions for maximum safety when the system senses a potential crash. There's even a drowsiness monitor that checks how the driver is performing, and gives audible and visual warnings if the car thinks you're dozing off. Plus, the E-Class comes with airbags from every direction and 4- and 5-star crash ratings for front and side passengers, respectively (at least for the 2010 model, the last one that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tested).

As it turns out, the Hyundai Sonata gets the exact same crash-test ratings as the E-Class. (Actually, the Sonata may even prove to have more impressive ratings, since its 4- and 5-star results come from NHTSA's revised and tougher 2011 tests, which the E-Class has not yet undergone.) The Sonata also has ABS, stability control, a full complement of front and side airbags and Hyundai's own version of brake assist. The truth is that both cars are safe enough to keep all but the most inattentive drivers from killing themselves in traffic. If we had to give the award for safety zealotry, Mercedes would win because of the advanced built-in nanny tech.

Read More: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1184001

REVIEWS: 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE - Four Seasons Update - April 2011

2011-05-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Miles to date: 24,555
Months in service: 10

The drive from Michigan to New York City takes roughly six times as long as hopping on a plane, but that didn't stop associate web editor Evan McCausland from making the ten-hour trip in our Four Seasons Sonata last month. Our Sonata was the affordable way to travel, as the frugal 2.4-liter four squeezed 35 miles out of every gallon of regular over the 1378-mile journey. And sacrificing time means big rewards in comfort. "The Sonata's cabin is by no means luxurious," he reports, "but it's far more hospitable than a cramped coach seat on a Bombardier CRJ."

Days before McCausland's trip, we took a look at the mid-April sky, said a little prayer, and finally removed the winter tires. The Sonata is back on its original eighteen-inch wheels and Hankook Optimo all-season. We're exited to have the Sonata back on stiffer rubber that brings more responsive steering, better handling, and an improved ride -- exactly the stuff that earned the Sonata its All-Star award last year. And our timing proved to be just right.

Although the bitter cold has disappeared, the rattles that we first noted a couple months ago have not. "When you're driving on a rough road and have the radio off or the volume low, it can be very annoying," noted copy editor Rusty Blackwell. Several drivers have traced the noise to the sunroof area and observed that closing the shade either stops or significantly dampens the chatter.

While our Four Seasons fleet has plenty of utility vehicles, the Sonata's large trunk proved just as practical for new homeowner McCausland, who loaded the car with provisions for cleaning: "Mops, vacuums, folding chairs, card tables, et cetera. I was able to fit everything in the trunk, although I folded a portion of the rear seatback to make room for a tall vacuum." Not long thereafter, senior web editor Phil Floraday easily filled the trunk with "a big roll of plastic (to replace the rear and side windows in a race car) plus a couple pieces of luggage." His home-brewed beer would have fit, too, but it rode in the air-conditioned cabin instead.

Floraday's Ann Arbor-to-Chicago trip was flawless save for a minor hiccup in pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth but playing audio through the USB cord. "Unfortunately, the phone wanted to communicate with the Sonata's stereo through Bluetooth streaming instead of the dock connector," he grumbled. "Each time I got in the car, the iPhone would play music through the dock connector for a few seconds before defaulting to the Bluetooth audio connection."

The solution is fairly simple, but inconvenient when you want to jump in the car and drive without fussing with the phone. To send the audio through the phone, the audio source has to be changed on the iPhone after both connections are made. "I presume this is an Apple software issue since I recently upgraded my iPhone OS and I don't remember this happening with our Sonata before," he noted. "It was a bit annoying to have to manually change the audio source each time I got in the car, but the system worked very well once I did my part to make it work."

Hyundai's Latest Assurance Program Could Be Trouble for Competitors

2011-04-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

Within a week Hyundai will roll out its latest promotional campaign, and it has the potential to cut through the clutter and make Hyundai stand out from the competition. It's a variation of the Hyundai Assurance program with a new hook. This time, instead of agreeing to take back your car if you lose your job (that was the old assurance program the Korean automaker discontinued earlier this year) Hyundai is now guaranteeing how much your new Hyundai will be worth when you trade it in 2, 3 or 4 years from now.

It's called the Hyundai Assurance buy-back program. And here's how it works.

When you buy a new Hyundai, the dealership will give you a projected residual value for some point in the future.

As long as you have the car maintained at a Hyundai authorized dealer, when you trade in your car in the future, the dealership will compare its residual value with the projected value you received when you bought your car. You will then get the higher of the two, either the projected value or the actual value.

When Hyundai introduced the program at last week's New York Auto Show, I heard more than a few comments from reporters, other auto execs, and auto industry veterans. In general they all said the same thing: "Hyundai is doing it again." What they're talking about is the fact Hyundai has shown a knack in the last 3-4 years of coming up with marketing programs that cut through the clutter.

And car buyers are paying attention.

This is not to suggest that Hyundai's promotions are the only reason the company is growing sales (up 27.9% this year while the industry is up 20.2%) and picking up market share. Better designs, better mileage, and better reliability are all big reasons that have contributed to Hyundai's resurgence. But the marketing has been important because it's bringing in first time buyers. It's telling people who may have automatically dismissed Hyundai in the past that they should at least think about the Korean brand. And in the auto game, if you can get 'em in the showroom to at least look, you've got a shot at closing a sale.

Which brings up the new Assurance program. I'm not sure how many people will buy a Hyundai because of the offer, but I do think it will at least make people turn their heads and say, "hmm." That's cutting through the clutter.

Read More: http://www.cnbc.com/id/42748675

Compact car sales: Hyundai, Kia outsell Toyota

2011-04-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hyundai and Kia have first been known to produce decent entry-level compact cars offering a wide range of standard features at low prices. Both automakers first offered a limited number of compact cars and later gradually expanded their presence with introducing more cars including the Accent, Elantra, Rio, Forte and others.

The above-mentioned compacts have always sold pretty well on the U.S. soil, but lately their sales have skyrocketed to new heights. According to latest sales data, Hyundai-Kia’s compact cars have topped the small car market in the U.S. during the first quarter of the year. It has happened for the first time that the South Korean carmaker outsold more established rivals, including the Toyota, Nissan and Ford.

Combined sales of Hyundai-Kia’s compact cars in the first three months of the fiscal year have hit 81.424 units. A number slightly outpaces Toyota’s 81.424 units – also set during the first quarter of 2011. The Korean carmaker’s market share among small and compact cars in 2011 rose to 16.5 percent from two years ago when it stood at 12.5 percent.

Carmaker’s compact car sales have soared significantly shortly after introducing a wide range of stylish cars including the 2011 Elantra four-door sedan, Kia Forte 5-door and Soul crossover. Hyundai Elantra has only been on sale for three months but already gained thousands of sales. Last month, when Hyundai recorded an overall monthly sales of 61.873 units, dealers across the States sold 19.255 units of new Elantra (best-ever sales result for the model), enough to take the second spot among Hyundai cars sold in the U.S. market.

Read More: http://www.hyundai-blog.com/index.php/2011/04/11/compact-car-sales-hyundai-kia-outsell-toyota/

Chicago Hyundai

HYUNDAI IMPROVES IN J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES VEHICLE DEPENDABILITY STUDY

2011-03-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

Finishes in the Top 10 for the First Time and Third Among Non-Premium Nameplates

Hyundai significantly reduced problems per 100 vehicles and finished 10th overall, and third among non-premium nameplates in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS). Hyundai improved by three non-premium rankings and gained one position among all nameplates. The Hyundai overall score was 132 problems per 100 vehicles, 19 problems fewer than the industry average and 16 fewer than last year. Elantra (Compact Car) and Accent (Sub-Compact Car) both finished in the top three in their respective categories.

The VDS results continue Hyundai’s momentum in J.D. Power and Associates quality rankings. Hyundai was the third ranked non-premium nameplate in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) and ranked seventh among all nameplates.

The 2011 VDS study measures problem symptoms of three-year-old vehicles primarily in categories such as vehicle exterior, driving experience, features/controls/displays, audio/entertainment/navigation, seats, HVAC, interior, engine and transmission. The VDS is one of three J.D. Power and Associates quality studies, along with the Initial Quality Study (IQS) that measures quality after 90 days of ownership, and the Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study that measures customer perceptions on the design, content, layout and performance of their new vehicles.

Hyundai takes top honours in ‘Brand Keys’ 2011

2011-03-08T09:29:00.001-08:00

The Hyundai brand continues to grow, earning the No. 1 position in the automotive category of the 2011 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index. Brand Keys, a New York-based brand, customer loyalty and engagement consultancy, publishes an annual syndicated study which examines customers’ relationships with 528 different brands in over 79 categories. For the second year in a row, Hyundai Motor Company is the highest ranked brand in the automotive category.

“Hyundai has been able to best meet customer expectations and has, again, scored the highest levels of loyalty when it comes to the Automotive category, taking the number one spot in our Customer Loyalty Engagement Index,” said Robert Passikoff, Brand Keys Founder and President. “Of course, the true test of loyalty and engagement always shows up in the marketplace, so we weren’t surprised to see their sales are up again over last year. We congratulate them on another win.”

Hyundai’s ongoing success is largely attributed to the positive reception of the all-new i45* mid-sized sedan and Elantra compact sedan, both of which have received significant consumer interest and positive reception since their respective launches in the U.S. Both these vehicles contributed to Hyundai’s success in the U.S. last year, breaking the 500,000 vehicle sales barrier and increasing market share to nearly five percent. Hyundai is now moving ahead to be the first automaker to achieve a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) rating of at least 50 mpg (4.7L / 100kms) by 2025 for its line-up of passenger cars and light duty commercial vehicles.

For the complete 2011 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, visit
http://www.brandkeys.com/awards.

KBB: Top 10 Family Cars of 2011

2011-03-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

These days more than ever families come in all shapes and sizes, so it only makes sense that the family vehicles of today follow suit. Whereas back in the dark recesses of time the typical family owned a sedan or station wagon, contemporary families can choose among SUVs, crossovers, minivans, wagons and hatchbacks in addition to the prosaic family sedan. Certainly, it is nice to have options, but a wide variety of choices can also make the choosing all the more difficult, so each year we at Kelley Blue Book put our collective heads together to sort out the Top 10 Family Cars.

Among the wealth of criteria we use in the spirited judging are the characteristics that make vehicles family-friendly - safety, comfort, economy of operation, child-friendliness, a reasonable purchase price and good resale value tops among them. Just as there is no perfect family, there is no perfect family vehicle that is right for all families all the time. But that being said, we believe that all of the worthy vehicles on this list will provide excellent service and a fine ownership experience for the families who choose to make them their own. Here, then, are our choices as the Top 10 Family Cars of 2011, presented largest to smallest.

2011 Hyundai Sonata The all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata has taken the mid-size sedan market by storm with a compelling mix of design, quality and value. The Sonata is also chock-full of safety features, comes with one of the best warranties on the market, and even offers a fuel-sipping hybrid model. With enough style and versatility to transform effortlessly from child-hauler to client shuttle on a daily basis, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is an easy choice for someone who needs to impress while still being practical.

Read More: http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/top-10-family-cars-9

HYUNDAI SONATA NAMED A BEST CAR FOR COMMUTERS BY FORBES

2011-03-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hyundai Sonata made the Forbes list of this year’s Best Cars for Commuters

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata , acclaimed for it’s modern approach to the traditional midsize sedan segment, made the Forbes list of this year’s Best Cars for Commuters. Forbes recognizes Sonata’s fuel efficiency, reliability and space to get drivers through daily commutes with ease.

“More than 42 million Americans spend at least 30 minutes in the car on their morning commutes. Seven million spend over an hour,” said Forbes auto reporter, Hannah Elliot. “For that kind of time spent in traffic, it pays to have a reliable car: something spacious enough for comfort, small enough to get good gas mileage and durable enough to withstand the occasional fender-bender. This year mid-size sedans like the $19,395 Hyundai Sonata are best for surviving the slog.”

“The 2011 Sonata is a smart buy for commuters looking for class-leading comfort, a large interior and advanced standard safety technologies,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Couple that with a four-cylinder engine producing impressive fuel economy with the power of a larger V6, and the Sonata is the perfect mid-size sedan choice for drivers commuting to work.”

To compile the list, Forbes started with new vehicles listed as Consumer Reports “Recommended Picks” for 2011. “Recommended Picks” are models that have average or better predicted reliability and that meet Consumer Reports' safety standards and have performed well in accelerating, braking, handling, comfort and other user-oriented tests. Of these vehicles, the 11 with the best combination of highway fuel efficiency, legroom and headroom made the list. For more information about the Best Cars for Commuters from Forbes, visit http://www.forbes.com/2011/02/08/best-cars-for-commuters-business-autos.html.

TWO HYUNDAI MODELS NAMED 2011 “BEST BETS” FROM THE CAR BOOK

2011-03-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

Genesis and Sonata Recognized for Meeting the Safety and Performance Needs of the American Car Buyer

Two Hyundai models, Genesis and Sonata earned the distinction of “BEST BETS” from The Car Book and the Center for Auto Safety, the nation’s leading auto safety advocacy group. For Genesis, this is the third year in a row that it’s been honored with the “BEST BETS” distinction.

“We appreciate the fact that Hyundai has made a significant contribution to improving the market choices for the American car buyer,” said Jack Gillis, author, The Car Book. “During these most challenging times for the auto industry, the fact that Hyundai vehicles have the quality and features most important to today’s car buyer is a testament to their desire to meet customer needs.”

For 31 years, The Car Book has selected vehicles for the “BEST BETS” honor, based on how well they respond to the safety and performance needs of today’s consumer. The Car Book analyzes new vehicles each year to identify those making a significant contribution to improving the market. “BEST BETS” vehicles are rated in nine key Car Book categories: crash tests, safety features, rollover, preventative maintenance, repair costs, warranty, fuel economy, complaints, and insurance, with the heaviest emphasis on safety.

“Having two Hyundai models named as ‘BEST BETS’ by The Car Book demonstrates our continued commitment to excellence in quality, value and design for all of the vehicles in the Hyundai lineup,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “The Genesis and Sonata are prime examples of models that not only meet but exceed customer expectations in safety and performance.”

Hyundai’s all-new 2011 Sonata represents a modern approach to the traditional midsize sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, emotional design and luxury features offered with Hyundai’s strong value proposition. The Sonata launched with a new Theta II 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine and in-house six-speed automatic transmission and also offers both hybrid and turbo powertrain options.

Read More: http://sweb.hyundaiusa.com/about-hyundai/news/Corporate_The_Car_Books_2011_Best_Bets_release-20110224.aspx

USATODAY Review: Hyundai Elantra is a high-end 'economy' car

2011-02-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

Junior was making a show of luxuriating in the heated rear seats and Dad was eyeballing the backup camera view to ease into a spot.

Heated back seats? Rearview camera? In an "economy car"?

Yes, if it's the redesigned 2011 Hyundai Elantra compact. The high-end test car featuring those premium items had a window-sticker price of $22,110.

For that, you also got perforated leather upholstery, XM satellite radio, proximity key with push-button start, 17-inch diameter alloy wheels, sunroof — an upscale vehicle that happened to have a compact size and price.

Not that twenty-two grand is dirt-cheap, but nowadays, it's better than reasonable for a car equipped as the tester was.

Too much stuff and money for you? You can drop all the way to $15,550 for the bare bones Elantra GLS with manual gearbox and no air conditioning.

Elantra, remade from the ground up less than 41/2 years after the previous generation was launched in the U.S., is arguably Hyundai's most important vehicle. It's the hard-charging South Korean car company's weapon in the ever-fiercer compact-sedan market, against such marquee troops as Honda Civic and Ford Focus, both with redesigns due this spring.

The compact market, already the second-best-selling category after midsize sedans, is expected to boom as tightening federal fuel-economy rules all but dictate smaller, lighter cars with smaller engines. Too, there's a sense among car companies — not necessarily shared by industry analysts — that Americans crave smaller, cheaper vehicles to better suit their budgets and assuage eco-guilt.

There were no bare-bones Elantras available at the Philadelphia-area test session, but a midlevel GLS with automatic transmission was just as satisfying to drive and comfortable as the high-end Limited Premium model.

Hyundai has applied the midsize Sonata's sweeping look to the compact Elantra, and the smaller car wears it surprisingly well. Often, such dramatic styling doesn't scale down well, looking stubby and truncated. Elantra escapes that.

The interior felt roomier than expected, and the rear seat comfortably holds adults, attributes that soften the main objections to small cars.

HYUNDAI SONATA MOST SHOPPED VEHICLE IN ENTIRE INDUSTRY

2011-02-25T11:51:00.000-08:00

Sonata Has Been on More Shopping Lists than Any Other Vehicle in Seven of the Last Nine Months According to Compete Data

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 02/22/2011

Hyundai Sonata, the game-changing midsize sedan with its emotional ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design and all four-cylinder engine lineup, was the most-shopped vehicle in January according to data from Compete, a Kantar Media company. Sonata has been on more shopping lists than any other vehicle in the industry in seven of the last nine months, continuing to top perennial leaders like Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Ford Fusion, according to Compete’s analysis of consumer automotive shopping behavior.

Lead by Sonata, Hyundai demand continued its momentum with more than 268,000 in market shoppers in January, representing a 21 percent increase from December 2010. The all-new 2011 Elantra was the second most shopped Hyundai model achieving a six-month high in demand and a 39 percent increase from December. Industry wide, January shopper volume (2.8 million) increased 11 percent compared to January 2010, demonstrating the continued recovery in automotive shopping interest.

“Sonata’s ability to attract and engage consumers over the past nine months has been impressive and they have successfully converted many of these shoppers into actual buyers with Sonata sales up 150 percent in January," said Dennis Bulgarelli, director of Automotive at Compete. “Shopping activity for the entire industry is up 11 percent, starting off what we think will be a strong year for the automotive industry.”

Hyundai’s all-new 2011 Sonata represents a modern approach to the traditional midsize sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, dynamic design and luxury features offered with Hyundai’s strong value proposition. The Sonata launched with a new Theta II 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine and in-house six-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle offers class-leading fuel economy of 22 mpg city/35 mpg highway and 198 horsepower standard. Sonata is also available in Turbo and Hybrid versions, with Hybrid achieving class-leading 40 mpg highway fuel economy.

With many safety features, including Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and Anti-lock Braking System, Sonata was the first midsize car to receive a five-star crash test rating under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new, more stringent 2011 system and an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick honor, placing it in a safety position unsurpassed in the industry.

“A year after its initial launch consumers continue to be attracted to Sonata’s exciting design, best-in-class fuel economy and outstanding residual value,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Starting off the year as the most shopped vehicle, Sonata is picking up right where it left off in 2010, when it set its U.S. sales volume record.”

AutoSpies.com Chooses The 2011 Car Of The Year-Bet You Can't Guess!

2011-02-22T13:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we found out who was the champion of the world in football so AutoSpies.

com thought it would be fitting to announce our choice for Car Of The Year today.

As you know, we are the number one automotive social media site with a focus on the premium market.

But every once in a while a great car comes along that deserves our praise even though it doesn't compete in the markets our community is usually most interested in.

This year's car of the year is special for a number of reasons.

1. It's groundbreaking in the segment
2. It changes the paradigm in its segment
3. It offers best of breed capabilities that the competitors can't touch.
4. And this year, because it's price is almost too good to be true

So with no further ado, this years winner is....

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra.

Hybrid like mileage (40 mpg hwy), gorgeous styling not even known in the compact category until now, acres of interior room with gorgeous fit and finish and a starting price of $14,830 makes this the first 'Premium' compact car for the masses.

Congratulations Hyundai on a job well done!

Read More: http://www.autospies.com/news/AutoSpies-com-Chooses-The-2011-Car-Of-The-Year-Bet-you-Can-t-Guess-61535/

2011 Hyundai Sonata joins the cream of the midsize crop

2011-02-22T13:27:00.000-08:00

It's difficult to knock the classics whether we're talking fashion (black tuxedo), literature ("Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck), or rock (the Beatles).

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is destined to join the classics of affordable midsize cars. That's not because of its fuel efficiency (22 mpg city, 35 mpg highway), its bounty of standard features (think sunroof with slide and tilt mechanisms) or its high-end styling. Rather, it's the entire package that makes the Sonata a standout.

Not that Hyundai was under pressure to rethink the Sonata. The previous generation was attractive if somewhat unremarkable, with some auto reviewers noting its look -- inside and out -- was reminiscent of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. There was nothing wrong with it, inside or out. Yet there was nothing that broke it out of the pack, either.

One look at the long, light, low exterior of the Sonata and you know those days have passed. What was once a bland box is now sleek and athletic with flowing lines and signature chrome extending from the headlamps, along the hood and through the belt line. Gone is the boxy grille, replaced with a long, sweeping grille that is an ideal focal point accented by the sloping fog lamps and headlamps.

2011 Hyundai Sonata Suppliers

2011-02-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

Hyundai’s Swift Growth Lifts Alabama’s Economy

2011-02-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Few people in this city 800 miles south of Detroit cared much about the auto industry until Hyundai announced it would build cars here nine years ago.

These days, Montgomery cannot stop talking about it.

Hyundai and its sister company, Kia, which opened a plant last year just across the Georgia state line, have brought thousands of well-paying jobs to the region and even helped nurture a little Korean culture in Montgomery, the first capital of the old Confederacy. Hyundai is running its Montgomery plant almost nonstop. Rarely do more than a few weeks pass without word that another parts supplier has dozens of new positions to fill, typically offering good benefits and double the pay that the average Alabaman earns.

Hyundai, which will observe its 25th anniversary selling vehicles to American drivers on Sunday, was little more than an ambitious, second-tier brand when it chose to build its first United States car factory just south of Montgomery. But during the recent recession, the South Korean company thrived as Americans sought out cheap cars just as Hyundais were improving in quality.

In 2010, Hyundai and Kia each posted their highest sales in the United States and, taken together, surged ahead of Ford Motor to become fourth-largest automaker worldwide. Hyundai built 300,000 cars in Montgomery last year and sold most of them in the United States.

“If folks looked deeply at how far we’ve gone so quickly, from having no U.S. production five years ago to where we are today, it’s amazing,” John Krafcik, chief executive of Hyundai Motor America, said. “I don’t know that any company has gotten to such a high level of local assembly as Hyundai that fast.”

While Michigan’s dependence on the auto industry caused it to have one of the nation highest unemployment rates in recent years, the presence of Hyundai and Kia has helped Alabama keep its jobless rate among the lowest in the Southeast even as textile mills continue to close.

“As far as the pay, nobody else around here can compete with them,” said Richard Watson, a former auto mechanic who was out of work for a year and a half before getting a temporary job at the Kia plant in West Point, Ga., last fall. He said some of his co-workers drove two hours each way because the plant’s jobs were in such demand.

Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/business/19hyundai.html

Chicago Hyundai

Elantra raises compact bar

2011-02-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

The very first thing I said to myself when I sat down in the 2011 Hyundai Elantra was "Well, this is going to screw things up."

For months, I have been advocating that the best compact cars were imported from Detroit. (Hey, maybe I should copyright that line before some carmaker steals it?) The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2012 Ford Focus were far and away my top picks for mainstream compact car transportation. But now, I'm not as sure. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is simply gangbusters in nearly every category.

It has the looks of Hyundai's all-new Sonata, which is awesome. It gets better gas mileage than most subcompact cars. It comes with out-of-this-world amenities, such as second-row heated seats, a crystal-clear navigation system, and more than 43 inches of legroom in the front row. And it has a starting price under $15,000, giving it a dollar to luxury quotient of incredible.

Realistically, the base-model Elantra GLS feels more like a price statement than a civilized modern machine. It only comes with a six-speed manual, and things like air conditioning, cruise control and 16-inch wheels are optional. Lots of carmakers pull off this stunt.

But it's when Hyundai starts adding options that the Elantra begins to feel like a bargain. A top-of-the-line Elantra Limited starts at $21,980 — both the Cruze and Focus can still cost thousands of dollars more.

My fully loaded Limited was a cocoon of luxury and leather, at a cost of $22,000. The 7-inch, high-resolution monitor at the top of the center stack provided a crisp navigation system that's easy to use. There is also a slew of technology features that are quickly becoming the norm on many compact cars: Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation, voice recognition and push-button start.
Hyundai also adds a proximity feature, which unlocks the door when you touch the handle — meaning you don't have to pull your keys out of your pocket to unlock the door. It's a feature that you never knew you needed until you start using it.

Stunning interior delivers

The interior is simply stunning.

There's an elegant center stack that roughly resembles an hourglass. Throughout the cabin, waves of luxury roll through every surface, reflecting an emotive design. At the top of the center stack is a sliver of blue light that cuts out of the dash and relays information. At night, the cabin fills with a soft blue light that is easy on your eyes — and your night vision.

The instrument panel includes two chrome-trimmed gauges and the same blue lighting. Every individual piece looks and feels well crafted, and together, they combine into a masterpiece.
Even the comfortable seats offer just the right touch of environmental sensibilities with lightweight, eco-friendly foam. It's only a seat, but, somehow, you feel better about it. Then again, you also feel better because it's heated — in the front and back row.

Hyundai also has managed to help the environment another way: The Elantra hits 40 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city. Unlike the Cruze and Focus, which reach 42 mpg and 40 mpg, respectively, those cars need special fuel-efficient models to do that. Hyundai does it with all of its cars — not a small difference.

Responsive, peppy engine

The little 1.8-liter dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine with dual-continuously variable valve timing provides 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. Its performance on Detroit's streets was good. The engine is peppy and the six-speed automatic transmission in my test vehicle was extremely smooth — almost too smooth. It changed gears quickly and rarely rewarded me with that gear-shifting lurch. Lots of carmakers do this to improve fuel economy, but in the Elantra it was more noticeable. There is a manual override on the automatic that allows more aggressive drivers to get more out of the engine and the car.

On the road, the electric motor driven power steering was very linear and precise. I would have preferred more resistance the farther I moved the steering wheel, especially at highway speeds, when the Elantra felt a little twitchy.

However, it was comfortable on the highway and driving at low parking lot speeds, something to remember for people who drive in heavy traffic. It was also extremely quiet, making it all that much better to sit back and enjoy the 360-watt optional stereo system.

And a stereo is important — as this car is so good looking it should come with its own soundtrack.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110217/OPINION03/102170329/Elantra-raises-compact-bar#ixzz1EKKPJCyS

Hyundai Dealers

Hyundai On Top For Second Year In Loyalty Index

2011-02-15T08:24:00.000-08:00

Karl Greenberg, Feb 07, 2011 03:25 PM

Hyundai's ascendance in recent years might not be a surprise to younger people who know the brand for its 10-year warranty, its Assurance program launched in 2009 (offering to let buyers return their vehicles if they hit a big life-changing speed bump), as a maker of visually stylish vehicles like the Genesis, and now the Sonata and Elantra; or as the newest entrant to the luxury market with the Equus.

But to people who have kept an eye on the industry for more than, say, 10 years, Hyundai's turnaround is remarkable, not least because the automaker is for the second year in a row No. 1 in the auto category in Brand Keys' 15th Customer Loyalty Index. More impressive, although perhaps less meaningful in terms of consumer behavior, is the fact that Brand Keys has also ranked the automaker No. 5 overall among the 528 brands in 79 categories it measured for the study.

After #1 Hyundai, the top auto brands in this year's index are:
#2 Ford
#3 Honda and Nissan (tied)
#4 Mercedes and BMW (tied)
#5 Kia, and GM (tied)
#6 Subaru; Jeep and Toyota (tied)
#7 Mazda and Mitsubishi and Volkswagen (tied)
#8 Chrysler; Audi, Chevrolet and Volvo (tied)
#9 Saab

Hyundai grabbed the top spot with the Assurance program and hasn't looked back, says Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys. "That was genius," he tells Marketing Daily. "It comes down to delight. You have consumers who know who you are, know where to get you, know what you do, and they know what they think you're worth. Now the issue is experience and innovation: what it has come down to is 'delight me.' And that takes time -- it doesn't happen overnight."

Perhaps as surprising as Hyundai's keeping a grip on the top spot are the changes below the peak: Toyota was second place last year, followed by Subaru, then Ford, Saab and BMW. Mercedes-Benz was in fifth place last year, with Audi and Honda at sixth. Chevrolet was eighth place and parent company General Motors was way down at 11th place. The irony of GM's jump to fifth place is that under the marketing direction of Joel Ewanick, the company has tried to make GM, as a brand, nonexistent. Chevrolet -- which has seen its brand equity improve with cars like the Camaro, Cruze, and Volt -- was the top-selling auto brand in the U.S. last month.

Passikoff says Ford's rise from 12th place in 2009 to fourth place last year to No. 2 in 2011 is partly emblematic of the leveling of the playing field insofar as safety, durability and quality are concerned, and the increase in importance of vehicle features, design elements and technological attributes. "Consumers have new expectations now. Things like safety and protection are the least important drivers because everyone offers that. You have to go to India and buy a Tata Nano to get an unsafe car for the U.S. There was a time Toyota could beat the shit out of GM because General Motors cars were just not good. Not now."

Also noteworthy in the study are the number of shared rankings of two, or three, and even four-way ties, which Passikoff says reflects that leveling of the field in terms of fundamentals. "They are in so many ways perceived to be pretty much the same. So unless you can do something striking with product innovation you can't stand out. That's where Ford has taken the lead," says Passikoff.

Passikoff points out that the index is not a market model but a behavioral model, meaning it is predictive of sales based on how delighted consumers are with a brand, but it doesn't directly track sales. "It is, for us, an issue of how they are being perceived by the customer group in relation to the ideal," he says. "We work on a kind of reverse engineering axiomatic: if people are behaving better toward you, you ought to make more sales. It tells you whether people are willing to give you the benefit of the doubt."

Hyundai Dealers

Torque News: Hyundai Will Report Monthly CAFE Numbers

2011-02-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

Hyundai Motor America’s president and CEO John Krafcik has gone to great lengths in recent presentations to the media to demonstrate that corporate average fuel economy numbers of 50 mpg are attainable by 2025 largely because CAFE is based on older EPA reporting standards and not the current fuel economy tests.

Currently, CAFE numbers are only announced on an annual basis and those numbers don’t come out for months. The 2009 CAFE numbers, for example, were announced in November 2010.

For January 2011, Hyundai's sales-weighted CAFE level was 34.7 miles per gallon, with a model year mix for the month of 86 percent 2011 and 14 percent 2010 model year vehicles. This is a significant increase from Hyundai's most recent official CAFE level for the 2009 model year of 31.7 mpg.

That 34.7 mpg number is significant to Hyundai because the Korean manufacturer made a commitment back in 2008 to achieve a CAFE number of 35 mpg by 2015. As sales of its Hyundai Elantra and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid get stronger (both average over 40 mpg), that CAFE goal becomes more attainable.

Read More: http://www.torquenews.com/108/hyundai-will-report-monthly-cafe-numbers

Market Watch: Hyundai posts 22% jump in January U.S. sales

2011-02-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Hyundai Motor America on Tuesday reported a 22% surge in January U.S. sales from a year earlier to 37,214 cars and trucks. Retail sales, which are more profitable than fleet sales, saw a 58% increase from a year ago. "Our January sales results were encouraging, continuing the momentum of our best year ever, amidst signals that the economy is stabilizing on a trajectory of steady, sustained growth," said Dave Zuchowski, head of Hyundai Motor America sales.

Read More: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hyundai-posts-22-jump-in-january-us-sales-2011-02-01

ELANTRA…YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTFIUL CARS IN THE WORLD…SO SAYS MSN.AUTOS.COM

2011-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

The World's Most Beautiful Cars

Hyundai Elantra (2011)

If cars were living beings, the newest Hyundai Elantra might feel out of place amid rare and expensive European sports cars. But just look at it: There simply is not a line or a curve wrong with this new Korean compact sedan, introduced at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show. Say what you will, we think this bright, new design truly belongs here. The 2011 Elantra, powered by a new 1.8-liter 148-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, will go on sale next fall.

Read More: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=1175094#8

Hyundai Elantra Illinois

Ettleson Hyundai - Moving Ad

2011-02-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

Motor Trend - First Test: 2011 Hyundai Elantra

2011-02-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

The only real thing "wrong" with the old Elantra, really, was that it was about as interesting to look at as a bar of soap. That didn't stop Hyundai from completely reworking its bread-and-butter compact, and the result is an impressive pole vault from forgettable to formidable.

The new 2011 Hyundai Elantra gets a liberal helping of Hyundai's new "scoopy and swoopy" styling, as one Hyundai employee put it, making the Elantra unmistakable while still drawing a familial connection to its recently updated Hyundai stablemates. It may seem odd that the new Elantra's headlights nearly touch the A-pillars, but like many individual styling elements, the whole car comes together nicely into a sort of shrink-wrapped Tucson, only better.

Actually, shrink is the wrong word. The Elantra has grown by 2 inches in length and added an inch to its wheelbase. What's impressive is that Hyundai was able to do all this and still drop the curb weight by 187 pounds compared to the last Elantra we tested, making the car feel quite nimble on the road. As you might expect, the ride is smooth and comfortable, though the handling is best described as less than sporty. Still, the steering is quick and accurate, if not communicative. As seems to be a trend in new Hyundais, the power steering feels remarkably similar to a video-game steering wheel we used to have in the office-elastic and artificial. But when chucking the Elantra around the corners, its handling is very neutral once the rear end settles in, and the car grips better than you expect. Objectively, it's nearly dead even with the turbocharged Chevrolet Cruze - one of its main bogies -- on the skidpad and our figure eight.

With the new "Nu" 1.8-liter engine under hood producing 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque (10 more horsepower than before, but 5 fewer pound-feet) and that feathery curb weight, Hyundai is claiming a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio. Matched with a new in-house-developed six-speed automatic, the Elantra hits 60 mph in 9.1 seconds, 1.1 seconds quicker than before, and 0.5 seconds slower than the turbocharged Chevrolet Cruze. It's not fast, but the six-speed automatic's gear ratios keep the engine in its powerband and make the car feel quicker on the road than the numbers indicate.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1012_2011_hyundai_elantra_test/index.html#ixzz1DJLwwcEy

Hyundai Elantra Dealers

New York Times - Crowd-Pleasing Composition in 3 Movements

2011-02-04T09:16:00.000-08:00

WHEN it comes to describing precisely what makes the 2011 Hyundai Sonata so undeniably excellent, the structural metaphor that applies best is, obviously, the crunchy taco.

What makes a great taco is its shell. If the shell is fresh, crisp and robust, it doesn’t get soggy quickly or crack and crumble, and the flavor of what’s inside will shine. Chicken, steak or pork carnitas, it’s all tastier when served in a perfectly fried corn tortilla taco shell.

Before Hyundai stuffed the all-new version of its midsize front-drive sedan, it built a great shell. By forgoing the option of a V-6 engine (unlike most of its rivals, as well as the previous-generation Sonata), the car’s basic structure could be optimized around 4-cylinder engines, which take up less space.

So the nose doesn’t have to cover a wider V-6, the engine bay doesn’t require the strength to carry a heavier V-6 and room need not be made for an exhaust system evacuating two banks of cylinders. Dozens of other less obvious challenges were also avoided. By sticking with 4-cylinder engines — in mild naturally aspirated, spicy turbocharged and righteous hybrid flavors — Hyundai made it easier to engineer a relatively lightweight, rigid and efficient shell.

There’s nothing exotic or even clever about the Sonata’s structure. It’s a standard steel unibody with a pair of MacPherson struts constituting the front suspension and a multilink independent rear suspension. Hyundai has just sweated the details better this time than it ever has before.

Size-wise, the new Sonata’s dimensions are almost right atop the Honda Accord sedan; the Hyundai’s 110-inch wheelbase is just 0.2 inch shorter than the Honda’s and the Sonata is within a half-inch of the Accord in overall width, height and wheel track. The “almost” lies in overall length, where the Sonata’s 189.8 inches is 4.3 inches shorter than the Accord. But despite that, the Sonata offers virtually the same interior room (the back seat is a little tighter) and 16.4 cubic feet of trunk space compared with the Accord’s 14.

Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/automobiles/autoreviews/30hyundai-sonata.html

Hyundai Sonata Illinois

Kiplinger Magazine - Deals on New Wheels

2011-02-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

For the traditional gasoline engine, downsizing is the trend. Turbocharging and direct injection help increase efficiency without compromising power. J.D. Power forecasts that a fourth of light vehicles will have turbocharged engines by 2015, and a third will have direct injection. Transmissions with more gears and CVT transmissions boost fuel economy, too.

Hyundai's new Sonata exemplifies these trends perfectly. The redesigned 2011 model forgoes a six-cylinder version altogether -- unheard of in the midsize market. With its 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, the Sonata achieved best-in-class efficiency of 35 mpg on the highway while beating the power of its four-cylinder midsize competition. Rodney English of Chevy Chase, Md., gets 37 mpg on the highway in his leased Sonata with no trade-off in power or roominess. For $219 a month, he says, "the driving experience for the price is very good." The Sonata is also available as a hybrid and in a powerful, 2.0-liter, direct-injected, turbocharged version.

Hyundai Sonata Dealers

Hyundai 4th Largest Automaker, Overtakes Ford

2011-02-01T09:15:00.000-08:00

According to data published today by Ford, the company sold 5,313,000 units worldwide “to wholesale” (i.e. out of the door.), up 447,000 units or 9.19 percent. With Volvo eliminated, the growth was 771,000 units. Record sales in the U.S.A. and Asia were partially offset by lower sales in Europe. Ford is not strong enough in China to profit like its competitors that are strong in China. One of these competitors is Hyundai.

According to TTAC data, the Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai and Kia) booked global sales of 5,744,018 units in 2010. With these numbers, Hyundai Motor Group moves up into the #4 spot, Ford slips down to #5.

Top 5 Automakers 2010
Rank	Name	Production
1	Toyota Group	8,557,351
2	General Motors Group	8,389,769
3	Volkswagen Group	7,140,000
4	Hyundai Motor Group	5,744,018
5	Ford	5,313,000

Ford had held the #3 position until 2006, when Ford was overtaken by the Volkswagen Group. A year before, Hyundai-Kia was in the #9 position. From 2006-2008, Hyundai and Kia reported separately, in 2009, Hyundai and Kia reported as a group again and were in the #4 slot.

The performance of Hyundai, which 10 years ago still was a target of ridicule, a company in a small country of 48 million, deserves respect.

Read More: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/01/hyundai-4th-largest-automaker-overtakes-ford/

Hyundai Sonata Named 2011 International Car Of The Year

2011-01-31T14:33:00.001-08:00

Hyundai continues to break down barriers illustrating its consumer lifestyle compatibility with the 2011 International Car of the Year (ICOTY) win for the all-new Sonata. The award was presented at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The ICOTY Awards honor vehicles based on lifestyle compatibility and the emotional connection between car and consumer.

“With a completely new look for 2011, the Sonata really took us by surprise,” said Courtney Caldwell, ICOTY Executive Producer. “Hyundai laces the new Sonata with serious hardware including sporty suspension tuning and a strong powertrain that achieves best-in-class fuel economy scores. Combine that with a stunning shape and design, it truly is a complete package that will satisfy the emotional connection consumers seek when shopping for a mid-size sedan.”

Photo Caption: Hyundai Motor America CEO, John Krafcik, accepted the award for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata named International Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show on January 17. Presenters included jury members, Courtney Caldwell, Editor-in-Chief, Road & Travel Magazine; James Bell, VP Corporate Communications and Executive Market Analyst, Kelley Blue Book; Mike Martini, Bridgestone OE President and Perry Stern, editor of MSNAutos.com.

“We’re delighted the ICOTY committee validated the choice of over 200,000 new Sonata owners in North America in 2010,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “The 2011 Sonata shows the power of Hyundai’s product recipe – industry-leading fuel economy, engaging design, and great quality – which we’ll continue to enhance with new models like the 2011 Elantra and the 2012 Veloster.”

The 2011 Sonata is the new industry standard for mid-size sedans with a unique fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine delivering class leading fuel economy, emotional design, high-tech and luxurious convenience features and standard safety equipment. It was the first mid-size car to receive a five-star crash test rating under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’

s new, more stringent 2011 system and an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick honor, placing it in a safety position unsurpassed in the industry.

Hotly-Anticipated New 2012 Cars - Hyundai Veloster

2011-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

2012 Hyundai Veloster – It’s a cross between a coupe and hatchback in compact form, with the fuel economy of a sporty hybrid (Hyundai says up to 40 mpg highway), and the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is just getting started. Power comes from a direct injected 138-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated with either a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox or six-speed manual transmission. Lighter than a MINI Cooper, Hyundai’s Veloster should be a hoot to drive. Get more information by checking out the Veloster preview and Detroit Auto Show Veloster quick look.

Read More: http://www.familycarguide.com/blog/1054151_five-more-hotly-anticipated-new-2011-2012-cars

Hyundai Dealers

Hyundai Kia Overtakes Ford, While G.M. Threatens Toyota in 2010 Global Sales

2011-01-31T14:23:00.000-08:00

High placement on the global best-seller list may not have the same immediacy for vehicles as it does for books, but it brings bragging rights and probably influences sales to some degree.

The biggest global-sales story of 2010 may be the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, which overtook Ford — despite the latter’s string of profitable quarters — for fourth place by a margin of more than 400,000 vehicles. In 2009, Ford topped the Korean automaker by about 40,000 vehicles.
Another switch found Nissan besting Honda and Peugeot, a year after both makers outsold Nissan. Similarly, Renault, which had trailed Suzuki, overtook it in 2010.

Volkswagen held onto its No. 3 spot with sales of 7.14 million, an improvement of more than one million over 2009. But VW would have been shut out of the top three if the Renault-Nissan sales figures — which, including Lada, totaled 7.28 million — had been reported as one. Combined, Fiat and Chrysler sales would have put their relatively new alliance at No. 9.

For many years, General Motors held the top spot, but Toyota surpassed the American automaker in 2008. In 2009, Toyota solidly trounced G.M., recording 7.2 million global sales to G.M.’s 6.4 million, but in 2010 G.M. made up ground as Toyota suffered from recalls and bad publicity. G.M., for its part, benefited from a government infusion of cash and an improving United States auto market. Toyota eked out its win, topping G.M. by about 30,000 units.

Read More: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/hyundai-kia-overtakes-ford-while-g-m-threatens-toyota-in-2010-global-sales/

Chicago Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata Put to the 40-Hour Test

2011-01-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

There’s nothing like a big ‘ole road trip to truly take the measure of a car. It exposes weaknesses that may never surface in a week-long stint or a year of overnight commutes. This year’s family holiday rotation tapped our Tallahassee relatives as the turkey-day cooks, which gives the Detroit-based eaters and dish-washers a 2250-mile trip and about 40 hours of total seat time. But what seat to choose?

The last time we did this drive we procured a then-new ultra-low-sulfur-diesel-sipping 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec. Back then we were cautiously optimistic of clean-diesel’s future, and indeed our test car managed an impressive 33 mpg over that round-trip jaunt. These days, gasoline direct injection, downsizing, and transmissions with six or more ratios are closing in on diesel’s efficiency for way less money.

So to optimize both comfort and fuel costs on this year’s trip we chose Hyundai’s 200-hp Sonata SE, powered by a 2.4-liter GDI engine mated to a 6-speed paddle-shifted automatic. By comparison with the earlier Benz, it’s similar in size (slightly smaller outside and larger inside), almost a second slower, 750 pounds lighter, and rated better by the EPA — 22/34 mpg city/hwy versus the E320 Bluetec’s 22/32 (on the 2008 scale; today’s E350 Bluetec rates 22/33). Our results were similarly impressive. Our overall trip average was 30.2 mpg, which included a 9.5-hour blast to Atlanta driven at an indicated average of 77 mph during which we averaged 30.2 mpg. Those figures led to some equally impressive range figures: We drove 597 miles on one well-topped-off 18.5-gallon tank.

As for comfort, we found no fault with the seats after 12 hours, the manual climate control was easily manipulated to maintain a comfortable temp as exterior temperatures gradually rose from hat-and-gloves to shorts weather. Between the armrest tray, the deep bin beneath it, the center console and glove boxes, and door and seat-back pockets there was plenty of space for all our stuff. Two 12-volt sockets allowed us to plug in both the Escort iQ and one recharger. Interior noise levels and sound-system brilliance are in keeping with the Sonata’s $26,050 price point (which is to say, no match for the Benz’s). Our biggest refinement complaint was with the engine note which sounds a bit thrashy and cheap when accelerating from low speeds with little wind or road noise to mask it.

Chicago Hyundai

FEATURES: First Look: Hyundai Curb Concept

2011-01-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Sensory overload seems to be the name of the game with the Hyundai Curb concept at the 2011 Detroit auto show. The Curb showcases all the style and technology the Korean automaker can possibly stuff into one vehicle, it seems. It’s Hyundai’s attempt to catch the attention of easily distracted, city-dwelling, young college grads.

The Hyundai Curb is roughly the same size as the Kia Soul, another youth-oriented crossover. Hyundai designer Jason Brown explains that “We wanted it to be urban tough without looking like a Brink’s truck. City driving was going to be its forte, not crossing the Rubicon Trail, but we wanted it to have urban armor for daily driving on city streets. It needed to empower its passengers in this setting.” What is it with these types of vehicles being slab-sided? We need bigger greenhouses, not smaller, in our urban vehicles, to make it easier for drivers to see both other cars and pedestrians. End it with the tired urban armor theme, please. How many years have we been hearing this auto-designer bromide? Too many.

The Curb’s trussed A-pillars, supposedly inspired by Big Apple skyscrapers, are a better idea because they provide some measure of visibility through the A-pillars, just like the 2001 Volvo SCC concept did. Surrounded by a wraparound windshield, the open trusses visually counter the thick C-pillars, which are similar to those on the 2011 Ford Explorer. A sharp boomerang character line sweeps along the bottom of the pillars from the taillights to just shy of the front door cut. Adhering to recent concept-car custom, the Curb has no door handles, and the exterior mirrors have been replaced with cameras.

LEDs abound on the Curb. Both the headlights and the taillights are comprised of the diminutive diodes, and LEDs combined with one-way paint supplied by Shamze Custom Coatings take the place of traditional exterior badges. To open the doors you swipe your finger across a touchpad. We doubt that most of this lighting and swiping is ready for prime time, but, hey, this is a concept.

The interior gets a softer touch. A ceramic panel inspired by a river flows from the instrument panel into the center stack and continues down to the center console. The displays within the panel are all touch-screen. The entertainment system will be able to stream Pandora radio, play video on rear-seat video screens, and display a head-up display with navigation. The latest version of Blue Link, Hyundai’s answer to GM’s OnStar, shares your location and route plan with your friends; friends who reciprocate will show up as points of interest on your navigation screen. We wonder if Blue Link will check into FourSquare for you, too.

Ettleson Hyundai Dealers

HYUNDAI SONATA TOPS THECARCONNECTION’S LIST OF TOP TEN MOST POPULAR REVIEWS IN 2010

2011-01-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

The all-new Hyundai Sonata, a North American Car of the Year finalist, led TheCarConnection’s (TCC) list of top ten most popular reviews in 2010. The all-new Sonata, TheCarConnection's Best Car to Buy 2011, topped all other models, boosting viewership and site traffic each time a new story was posted.

Joining Sonata on the TheCarConnection’s list is the 2010 Hyundai Tucson. Following its early 2010 debut, Tucson continued to hold the attention of car shoppers throughout the year with its daring design and sub-$20,000 sticker price.

“The list of the most popular reviews on TCC in 2010 shows you're shopping brands like Hyundai more often than ever,” said Marty Padgett, editorial director for TheCarConnection. “The 2011 Hyundai Sonata led all comers with a boost each time we wrote about it: as a base car, as a turbo 2.0T, and as a Hybrid.”

“Consumers have discovered the new Sonata this year with its exciting design, best-in-class fuel economy and outstanding residual value,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “This combination makes Sonata a top contender in the competitive mid-size category and we are pleased by its outstanding market reception this year. Not only are shoppers showing interest in the Sonata, they are buying the vehicle as well – we’ve sold more than 200,000 Sonatas in North America this year, a highpoint for the nameplate.”

The 2011 Sonata represents a modern approach to the traditional mid-size sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, emotional design and luxury features offered with Hyundai’s strong value proposition. In addition to the standard 2.4-liter, gasoline direct injection powertrain making 35 miles-per-gallon highway, Hyundai added a 2.0-liter, 274-horsepower turbo and first-ever hybrid to the Sonata lineup. The Sonata Turbo went on sale in September and the Sonata Hybrid, achieving 40 miles-per-gallon highway, will hit showrooms in January 2011.

The revolutionary new Tucson joined the rapidly evolving Hyundai product line in early 2010. The sleek crossover from Hyundai, with its athletic European design, improves in every functional area, from its roomier cabin with extra cargo space to its leap in fuel economy and technology.

Both the Sonata and Tucson achieved the 2011 Top Safety Pick honor from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new, more stringent 2011 system.

Read More: http://www.hyundaiusa.com/about-hyundai/news/YF_top10_mostpopular_review_thecarconnection-20101230.aspx

Hyundai Chicago

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Crosses U.S. on Two Tanks of Gas

2011-01-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

With gas prices on the rise and CAFE regulations requiring higher fuel economy getting ever closer, every automaker is out to prove the worth of its hybrids with a hypermiling challenge. Hyundai, with the help of professional driver and hypermiler extraordinare Wayne Gerdes, just completed such a challenge by driving the 2011 Sonata Hybrid across the U.S. on two tanks of fuel.

Gerdes started in San Diego and drove to Jekyll Island, Georgia, a trek of almost 2300 miles, stopping only once for gas. The single fuel stop occurred more than 1200 miles into the trip — far eclipsing the Sonata Hybrid’s official range of 700 highway miles as estimated by the EPA. After finishing the second leg of the trip, Gerdes had roughly 2.5 gallons of fuel left in the tank. In total, Gerdes used a mere 38 gallons of gas to cross the country and averaged 60 mpg.

Hyundai’s fuel economy challenge was completed yesterday as Gerdes rolled into Georgia after traversing mountains, valleys, deserts, and braving the occasional thunder and snow storm. This particular fuel economy challenge was unique in that it was a true point-to-point drive across the country rather than a planned loop. Given this information, the drive is more strenuous than most owners would likely undertake, indicating that they could see even better fuel economy if they use Gerdes’ techniques.

“As a fan of fuel-efficient vehicles, I enjoy the challenge of putting new technology to the test,” said Gerdes after finishing the 2300 mile drive. “This demonstration shows how the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid can deliver extremely impressive fuel economy and range for drivers who value fuel savings.”
“This is the first time I’ve driven a car that ‘does it right!’” concluded Gerdes.
Hyundai’s 2011 Sonata Hybrid goes on sale later this month at a starting price of $26,545 including destination.

Chicago Hyundai Service

247 Wall Street.com - Hyundai Ruins The US Car Market For Its Competition

2011-01-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

Hyundai and its stablemate Kia had almost no presence in the US car market five years ago. Hyundai and Kia now have 7.8% of monthly domestic sales, higher than Nissan, and have begun to approach Chrysler’s 8.6% share.

Hyundai’s cars are well-regarded and have started to replace Japanese models as the low-cost, high-quality products in the minds of many Americans.

Hyundai is a significant threat to Toyota (NYSE: TM), Nissan, Chrysler and VW, which has nearly no market share in the US. It competes in the value car market and mid-tier sports car sector. These are among Hyundai’s strong spots. VW has said its goal is to pass Toyota in worldwide sales. That cannot happen without a larger market share for its cars in the U.S.

Hyundai has become a viable alternative to a number of Toyota cars. Toyota’s market share has dropped from nearly 18% in late 2009 to about 15% this year, due primarily to damage done to its reputation by recalls. Hyundai’s Sonata competes with Toyota’s mid-tier sedans. Its Santa Fe is a challenger to Toyota’s lower end SUVs. Kia has a number of sedans and coupes aimed at the low end of the market once dominated by Toyota.

Nissan and Chrysler have the most to be concerned about as sales of the Hyundai line increase. Neither company has gained market share in the last year. Nissan has a limited line of mid-tier sedans, modestly priced sports coupes, and mid-level SUVs. Chrysler has the advantage of its strength in the minivan market and its Jeep franchise. Otherwise, the No. 3 US manufacturer has a modest line of coupes, sedans, and sports cars. Many of these compete directly with Hyundai products.

Nissan, VW, and Chrysler in particular have a problem if Hyundai’s unit sales continue to grow. Toyota, at least, has a model line-up and balance sheet to guard its US share.

Pomplamoose driving a Hyundai to stardom

2011-01-06T13:59:00.000-08:00

If you ever wondered how big your career could get with that Hammond organ you got as a kid, consider the budding success of Pomplamoose. Hyundai tapped the YouTube-born indie-rock duo to star in some holiday ads (see below). Now, the pair are populating the Korean carmarker's YouTube channel with making-of videos (one posted after the jump) and are planning a weekly webcast. This isn't the first time Pomplamoose have been featured in car advertising. Their version of "Mr. Sandman" was used in a Toyota Avalon spot. But the Hyundai spots are unusual for featuring Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn as prominently as the cars. It's hard not to like Pomplamoose. For one thing, it's refreshing to see a couple having this much fun working together. Beyond that, their style of music and the videos are like a Saturday Night Live send-up of a couple making music, with a little Mighty Wind thrown in for good measure. It's fun stuff. And Hyundai's in-house agency, Innocean, continues to prove it can outmuscle many of the independents when it comes to creative and viral marketing. The ads were shot in the band's garage, as the making-of video documents.