2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan Facelift

var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true}; As Hyundai continues its ascent to the top, the South Korean automaker-that-could is getting bolder every day. This time the company entered new grounds at the Chicago Auto Show with the unveiling facelifted Genesis sedan that gets a new sporty variant for the for the 2012 model year.  The new model sports the R-Spec moniker and comes with

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New Hyundai i40 is the European Market Sonata, Sedan Model to Follow Later in the Year

Hyundai had shared the first photos of its all-new i40 ahead of the car's world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show on March 1. Revealed here in station wagon form, the estate is the first i40 body style to be introduced to Europe, with a four-door sedan model to follow later this year. The i40 essentially replaces the older generation Sonata in Europe eyeing the highly competitive D-segment

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2011 Hyundai Elantra Review

As cars become larger, heavier and increasingly complex, there’s been a rise in pseudo-nostalgic grumblings for “the good old days” of 20 years ago, when vehicles were light-weight, fun to drive and fuel-efficient.

FAST FACTS

1. Every 2011 Hyundai Elantra model, regardless of trim level or transmission, gets an EPA rated 29/40-mpg (city/hwy).2. A 1.8L 4-cyl makes 148-hp and 131 ft-lbs of torque and can be had with either a 6-speed manual or automatic. 3. Optional equipment includes luxury items like a 7-inch Nav system, a 360-watt audio system, proximity key, a bush-button ignition, as well as heated from and rear seats. 4. Pricing starts at just $14,830 with top trim levels at $21,980.

Fetishizing a bygone era is nothing new, and in some respects, these people are right. Does a Honda Civic sedan really have to weigh over 3000 lbs? Do we really need a Toyota Camry with 268 horsepower?
On the other hand, the automobile has made some profound advancements in the last couple decades, and the 2011 Hyundai Elantra is one of the best examples of this phenomenon.

40-MPG HIGHWAY FOR EVERY ELANTRA

With their new compact car, Hyundai is emphasizing two of the increasingly important aspects of the automobile – technology and fuel economy. You won’t find horsepower figures or 0-60 times being flaunted on the Elantra’s spec sheet. The big news on the quantitative front is the 29-mpg city and 40-mpg highway fuel economy rating, giving the Elantra bragging rights over the rest of the competition.
Rivals like the Ford Fiesta or Chevrolet Cruze can only return this sort of mileage with specially prepared models that have been tweaked to deliver every last mpg. On the other hand, every Elantra, from the $14,830 base model with a 6-speed stick shift, to a $21,980 fully loaded automatic transmission Limited model, will return 40 mpg on the highway.

WINNING THE WAR AGAINST WEIGHT

While outright speed isn’t a selling point, Hyundai’s performance path for the Elantra does include various measures to cut weight from the car, notably using high strength steel in different areas, to increase rigidity and keep the curb weight down. So as much as an aerodynamic shape (with a drag coefficient of 0.28 cd) helps reduce drag and improve fuel economy, a lighter drivetrain does its own part to help by dropping 62 lbs from the outgoing model.
A base Elantra weighs 2,661 lbs, while a loaded model tips the scales at 2,877 lbs. Considering that the Mazda Miata, long considered the benchmark of light weight cars, now weighs 2,511 lbs, the Elantra isn’t doing too badly while carrying two rear doors, a proper back seat and a real trunk.
The Elantra is technically classified as a mid-size car, and Hyundai claims that interior passenger space is on par with a Lexus ES350. The svelte weight is even more impressive when one looks at the opulent features available on the Elantra – heated front and rear seats, a back-up camera, Bluetooth connectivity, a 360 watt stereo, automatic headlights and a power sunroof.
At the launch even in San Diego, we were able to sample a base model GLS with the 6-speed manual and a fully optioned Limited model with the 6-speed automatic transmission. One Hyundai representative suggested that the Limited, with its 17-inch wheel and tire package, was the one to have for the twisty stuff, and while an automatic gearbox is as exciting as lima beans, we decided to trust him based on his experience developing the chassis for the Genesis and Equus, not to mention the first generation Miata during his previous tenure at Mazda.
Truthfully, none of the Elantras are corner carvers. The car certainly feels light, and doesn’t have the overbuilt feeling that the Cruze does, but it’s really difficult to imagine a single Elantra buyer driving one in anger.
That’s not to say you can’t have fun with this compact car. The old maxim extolling the fun of driving a slow car at its limits applies directly to the Elantra.
The biggest impediment to having fun are the four-wheel disc brakes, which are not linear in their application, and bite hard very early on. In every day driving, this might stop you from flattening a kid who ran into the street to chase his errant basketball, but it also prevents you from smoothly braking in a straight line and can lead to a less-than-smooth driving experience – although owners are likely to get used to the feeling quickly.

ALL-NEW 1.8-LITER MAKES 148-HP

The new 1.8L four-cylinder (annoyingly code named “Nu”, after the Greek letter) has an adequate 149-hp, but lacks the torquey punch of the Cruze’s turbo engine, particularly during passing maneuvers. On the other hand, the Elantra’s gearbox is world’s better, without any of the coarseness or unacceptable lagging between shifts, helping the engine utilize the powerband in an efficient and expedient manner.
The 6-speed manual is expected to have a single digit take rate, and we’re not surprised. Aside from American buyers’ antipathy towards stick shifts, this one isn’t very good, with a shifter that feels like its being rowed through a tub of yogurt, although the clutch requires little effort and should make city driving a breeze.

SPACIOUS CABIN, SMOOTH DRIVE

The interior materials are certainly on the upper end of the spectrum for this segment, with the majority of the controls placed on the tight, compact center stack. The iPod integration on the base GLS model can be little tedious, with users being forced to scroll through their ostensibly large list of artists and songs using the standard audio controls, but the LCD screen on the Limited makes the task less frustrating.
Once you get your music sorted out, you’ll find the Elantra is at home on the highway, where the car moves silently and effortlessly across the open road, immune to crosswinds or buzzy powertrain noises that plagued the previous generation of small cars.
The driving position immediate strikes us as better than many competitors, and the ride quality, while not as composed as the Cruze or Corolla, won’t trouble the average customer looking for a comfortable, compliant ride.
Rear seat passengers will find adequate space, despite the sloping roofline’s propensity to minimize headroom on other cars. Overall, we’re pleased with the Elantra’s styling, which looks like a more rotund version of the current Sonata, and will likely prove a hit with style-conscious consumers who can’t quite afford a premium nameplate.
Interestingly, the Elantra does share one trait with premium German luxury cars in that it looks best when equipped with large wheels and low profile tires.
One notable selling point not being touted by Hyundai is safety. One Hyundai rep stated that he wasn’t able to confirm if the Elantra would get a 5-star crash test rating, a near ubiquitous rating in the compact car category, let alone the mid-size class that the Elantra is technically classified as by the EPA.

THE VERDICT

Car manufacturers face a two-fold problem in today’s market. Auto sales have always been a zero-sum game; the consumer’s money can go to one product and one product only, forcing other competitors to lose out on a sale.
As little as 10 years ago, there was a clear hierarchy of product quality, and Hyundai was firmly entrenched at the bottom. But times have changed, and today, it’s pretty hard to buy a bad car. The argument can even be made that the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are the inferior products, having been languishing on the market past their expiration date.
With such a hyper-competitive market, Hyundai has delivered exactly what customers are looking for, by offering a stylish, affordable compact loaded with cool gadgetry and class-leading fuel economy. It may not be the most thrilling drive in its class, but it’s hard to find a more practical choice than the 2011 Elantra, and this alone will make the car a winner in this crowded segment.

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Hyundai Releases First Real Life Photo of the New i40 Mid-Size Model

Hyundai today gave us a new sneak peek of its upcoming i40 mid-size model with the release of the first real life image of the car, which is scheduled to receive its world premiere at the Geneva Salon on the 1st of March. The new i40 will replace the older generation Sonata in Europe competing in the D-Segment with the likes of the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. At Geneva, we'll see the estate version of the model (probably named i40 CW) with the four-door sedan variant to follow before the end of the year.

Up until now, South Korea's largest automaker had only released a set of illustrations of the i40 CW (CrossWagon). The new photo shows off the interior of the i40, and in particular the dashboard with its sculpted shapes.

There's a big screen display mounted high up on the middle of the dash flanked by a pair of small air vents, underneath which nestle a bank of push buttons for ventilation and minor controls.

The company claims that new i40 "will move the company towards a ‘modern premium’ positioning that will bring high-end features and vehicle quality to Hyundai customers at accessible prices."

Hyundai has not released any details on the engine line-up, but it is believed that at launch, the i40 will be offered with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol with direct injection and an output of around 170-horsepower, plus two variants of the a 1.7-liter turbo-diesel with 115 HP and 136 HP.

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Hyundai i10 1.0 Blue

It’s a car that Hyundai reckons could become a serious rival for eco-superminis like the VW Polo Bluemotion. No, seriously.The three-pot version of the revised i10, called Blue, could be a worthy contender. Its new 1.0-litre motor has 68bhp and trims a second from the 0-62mph of the old 1.1 i10. But the Blue also comes with stop-start, low-resistance tyres and a gearshift indicator, so it

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2012 The Hyundai-Veloster

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know by now that Hyundai unveiled its Veloster coupe at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show. So, what's with the 'scoop' title of our post, we here you ask? Well, this here example is the European spec Veloster and it was caught undisguised by our spies in Germany ahead of its debut at the at the Geneva Salon in the beginning of March.

If you have not looked at the Hyundai line in some time, you may have missed many of the updates the Korean automaker has made in just the past few years.

2012 The Hyundai-Veloster

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SCOOP: European Hyundai Veloster Coupe Shows its Face, will get 1.6-liter Turbo with 208HP

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know by now that Hyundai unveiled its Veloster coupe at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show. So, what's with the 'scoop' title of our post, we here you ask? Well, this here example is the European spec Veloster and it was caught undisguised by our spies in Germany ahead of its debut at the at the Geneva Salon in the beginning of March.

The only visible styling changes over the North American model concern the use of clear indicators up front, all-red tail lamps at the back and the newly styled alloy wheels. Unfortunately, our spies couldn't get close enough to the prototype to snag the interior, but don't expect to see any significant modifications other than trim and color options.

Up until now, we were in the dark about the engine lineup of the European model. However, we just learned from an official source that the Veloster will be offered with two gasoline engines including a flagship turbocharged four banger.

The Veloster will launch in Europe with the same 1.6-liter direct-injection four-banger as the NA-spec model, producing 140-horsepower and 167 Nm of peak torque for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of under 10 seconds. Power is transferred to the front wheels through a standard six-speed manual gearbox, or an optional dual-clutch transmission.

Europeans will also get a Blue Edition version that pairs the 140-horse motor with a start-stop system and some additional fuel-saving features, which help drop CO2 levels from 138 g/km to 129 g/km.

The crown jewel of the Veloster lineup will be a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct-injection technology and an output of 208-horsepower, allowing the car to complete the standard sprint in around 7 seconds. We don't know if or when Hyundai will offer this engine in North America.

The naturally aspirated models will go on sale in most European countries this April, with the UK following later in the year. The Veloster 1.6 Turbo will be added to the range in early 2012.

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SCOOP: European Hyundai Veloster Coupe Shows its Face, will get 1.6-liter Turbo with 208HP

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know by now that Hyundai unveiled its Veloster coupe at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show. So, what's with the 'scoop' title of our post, we here you ask? Well, this here example is the European spec Veloster and it was caught undisguised by our spies in Germany ahead of its debut at the at the Geneva Salon in the beginning of March.

The only visible styling changes over the North American model concern the use of clear indicators up front, all-red tail lamps at the back and the newly styled alloy wheels. Unfortunately, our spies couldn't get close enough to the prototype to snag the interior, but don't expect to see any significant modifications other than trim and color options.

Up until now, we were in the dark about the engine lineup of the European model. However, we just learned from an official source that the Veloster will be offered with two gasoline engines including a flagship turbocharged four banger.

The Veloster will launch in Europe with the same 1.6-liter direct-injection four-banger as the NA-spec model, producing 140-horsepower and 167 Nm of peak torque for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of under 10 seconds. Power is transferred to the front wheels through a standard six-speed manual gearbox, or an optional dual-clutch transmission.

Europeans will also get a Blue Edition version that pairs the 140-horse motor with a start-stop system and some additional fuel-saving features, which help drop CO2 levels from 138 g/km to 129 g/km.

The crown jewel of the Veloster lineup will be a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct-injection technology and an output of 208-horsepower, allowing the car to complete the standard sprint in around 7 seconds. We don't know if or when Hyundai will offer this engine in North America.

The naturally aspirated models will go on sale in most European countries this April, with the UK following later in the year. The Veloster 1.6 Turbo will be added to the range in early 2012.

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Hyundai Begins Producing Cars at its New Russian Plant

Hyundai is continuing its ambitious plan to further increase global sales with the start of production at its first factory in Russia located at Saint Petersburg. The company’s sixth newest overseas assembly plant will make the Solaris, a subcompact sedan we will come to know as the new Accent.

“This is a historic moment, not only for Hyundai, but for Russia, as we are the first foreign automaker to operate a full-cycle manufacturing plant here,” said Gui-Il Chun, General Director of HMMR, a fully-owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company. “We are now truly part of Russia and we will focus on supplying customers with the best products at the best time.”

The Korean firm's Saint Petersburg factory currently employees more than 1,300 workers, but Hyundai has stated that it aims to create some 5,300 jobs by 2012, together with eleven parts suppliers. The plant’s annual capacity is said to be around 150,000 vehicles, while this year’s production target is 105,000 units.

The plant's first car, the Solaris, will be offered with a four-cylinder gasoline engine available in 1.4- and 1.6-liter displacements. Hyundai said the subcomact sedan has been adapted to cope with Russia’s vicious weather and tough road conditions. Aside from raising the car's ground clearance to 160mm, the company's engineers also added a large four-liter washer fluid reservoir with fluid-level sensor to warn drivers when a refill is required, a more robust 60Ah battery for improved cold-start performance and a heater duct for rear-seat passengers.

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