Hyundai Blue2 fuel cell concept brings ‘Intersected Flow’ design to Seoul

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Sedan, Hyundai, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style

Hyundai Blue2 Concept

Hyundai Blue2 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai is revealing its new Blue2 fuel-cell concept car at this week’s Seoul Motor Show – a vehicle that the automaker hopes will help it gain “early leadership of the FCEV market.” Does this mean that a production version of the Blue2 (pronounced: “Blue square”) is on its way? It’s hard to say right now, but if Hyundai does bring some sort of fuel-cell vehicle to market, we hope it looks a lot like this stunning concept.

The Korean automaker calls the Blue2’s exterior design philosophy Intersected Flow,’ incorporating both innovative and dynamic design elements. Will Intersected Flow’s tenets replace Fluidic Sculpture as the surface language of choice at Hyundai? We’re not sure, but we like the wraparound-style greenhouse combined with a flat, slightly slanted roof (Saab 9-5, anyone?), and we’re surprisingly fond of the glossy black strip that runs from the bottom of the C-pillar all the way back to the bottom of the front wheel well. Hyundai has executed some exceptional production designs as of late, but this is the first concept that we’ve fallen for from the brand in some time. Notice the LED screen panels at the front and rear – they display messages about the vehicle’s condition. Like many new concepts, conventional door mirrors have been replaced with cameras, and the car even features a welcome system that recognizes the driver and automatically opens the door.

The big news for the Blue2 is its hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain, which delivers a stack power of about 120 horsepower and will return about 34.9 kilometers per liter – that’s 82.1 miles per gallon when converted to the U.S. cycle. The Blue2 is fitted with low-rolling-resistance tires and uses an extremely aerodynamic shape in an effort to reduce drag to aid overall efficiency.

Things are just as high-tech inside the cabin, where the Blue2 uses a combined center cluster and fascia, using an organic LED monitor and ultra-light tempered glass to display vital information. There are even seat-mounted entertainment holders that house things like Apple iPad tablets and other tablet devises, as well.

Follow the jump for Hyundai’s official release, and be sure to see the shapely concept for yourself in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: Hyundai Blue2 Concept

Hyundai Blue2 ConceptHyundai Blue2 ConceptHyundai Blue2 ConceptHyundai Blue2 ConceptHyundai Blue2 Concept

[Source: Hyundai]

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Hyundai Blue2 fuel cell concept brings ‘Intersected Flow’ design to Seoul originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Kia Optima Hybrid delayed due to Hyundai Sonata Hybrid pushback

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Hyundai, Kia

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid – Click here for high-res image gallery

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was supposed to go on sale in December, but at the eleventh hour, the company decided on a last-minute engineering change to enhance safety. When the automaker learned that President Obama planned to sign a bill that would ban a switch that can disable a noisemaker designed to warn blind pedestrians, the Korean automaker decided it was best to remove the switch. The move delayed mass availability of the Sonata Hybrid from December to late April.

But what about its twin, the Kia Optima Hybrid? Ward’s Automotive reports that the mid-size hybrid has been delayed until late in the second quarter, or about five months after its scheduled January launch.

Will the substantial delay of the Optima and Sonata Hybrids hurt sales and satisfaction? We’re sure there are probably some impatient buyers out there who don’t understand why they have to wait, but in the long run, we’re likely looking at a mere bump in the road.

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

[Source: Ward’s Automotive – sub. req.]

Report: Kia Optima Hybrid delayed due to Hyundai Sonata Hybrid pushback originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hyundai vehicle return program ending tomorrow

Filed under: Car Buying, Hyundai, Earnings/Financials

Hyundai dealership window

Effective tomorrow, Hyundai is reportedly ending its vehicle return program, which allowed Hyundai owners who unexpectedly lost their income to return their cars. The program was a breakthrough when it was introduced in January, 2009 at the height of the global credit crunch.

According to Inside Line, only 350 people have taken advantage of the program, which fell under the blanket of the automaker’s Hyundai Assurance coverage package. With the job market slowly returning to a somewhat normal state and economic conditions on the rise, Hyundai apparently feels that the program has outlived its usefulness.

In the face of a worrying economy, Hyundai of America moved 538,228 vehicles in 2010. Despite the loss of the vehicle return program, the Korean automaker will apparently continue other programs associated with Hyundai Assurance, including its 10-year/100,000-mile warranty and five-year roadside assistance plan.

[Source: Inside Line | Image: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty]

Report: Hyundai vehicle return program ending tomorrow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Veloster Rally Car makes its race debut

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Hyundai, Racing

Hyundai Veloster Rally Car

Hyundai Veloster Rally Car – Click above for high-res image gallery

Just a little over a month after it was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, the Hyundai Veloster Rally Car made its competition debut at the Global Rally Championship this past week.

Flying under the Rhys Millen Racing banner, which also works with Hyundai in Formula Drift and for the Pikes Peak Hill climb, a duo of Veloster rally cars managed to make it through the entire weekend trouble free – something that couldn’t be said for some of the more established teams. Hyundai’s team did experience some teething problems with tire compounds and gear ratio selections, but they plan to rectify those issues for the next round of RallyCross next month in Snoqualmie, WA.

We got up close and personal with Millen’s Veloster at the event, and came away with plenty of photos for your visual enjoyment. Check out the gallery below for a closer look at the 500-horsepower, 2,600-pound, all-wheel-drive, carbon fiber rocket ship.

Gallery: Hyundai Veloster Rally Car

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Hyundai Veloster Rally Car makes its race debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing

Filed under: Podcasts, Hybrid, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Electric

Autoblog podcast logo

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Here’s Autoblog Podcast #223. The crew this week is Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth. Topics covered are Ford’s commitment to the 2012 Focus by giving early cars a 30-mile shakedown drives, Japan’s amazing ability to repair roads in days, the Autoblog long-term Hyundai Equus and the sad passing of David E. Davis, Jr. Your feedback in our Q&A module winds it up, and we’ve embedded that in the post below, as well. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing

Japanese road crew repairs quaked damaged road in six days
Ford giving 2012 Focus 30-mile quality exam prior to sale
Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins the long-term Autoblog Garage
Auto journalism pioneer David E. Davis, Jr., dead at 80

In the Autoblog Garage:

  • 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  • 2011 Kia Sportage
  • 2012 Ford Focus Titanium


Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman Chris Paukert
  • Runtime: 01:17:50


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Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins Autoblog’s Long-Term Garage

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Luxury, Long-Term Garage

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate long-term

Long-Term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Equus proves that Hyundai has the Lexus LS 460 in its sights by offering the best value proposition in the luxury flagship segment. We’re eager to see how Hyundai’s new range-topping model stands up to the day-to-day rigors of American life, and so we’ve just added one to the Autoblog Long-Term Garage.

Our Equus is the fully loaded Ultimate model in White Satin Pearl, and though it’s packed with premium equipment, the as-tested price is only $65,400. The Ultimate trim level adds the four-passenger seating configuration, and no other option packages are available.

Things are pretty luxurious for rear seat passengers, as features like power recline and massage functions have been added, as well as a rear entertainment system, refrigerator, power headrests and illuminated vanity mirrors. And yes, our car does have the reclining right rear passenger seat. Check out our car’s full list of equipment on its Monroney.

Before we go on, we must confess that we haven’t been as regular as we had planned with updates on our other two long-term cars – the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT and Volkswagen Jetta TDI Street Cup. You’ll be hearing about the fate of both in the very near future, and to fix this issue with irregularity, we’re going to do our long-term updates a bit differently with the Equus.

We’ll be publishing the majority of our on-the-go Equus coverage on Autoblog’s official Facebook page. Be sure to Like the page so you can join the conversation. We’ll also be posting instant impressions to our Twitter account, @therealautoblog, so be sure to follow us and look for any tweets with the #ablongterm tag. Finally, we’ll publish a monthly update right here on the site that includes data like fuel economy and maintenance costs.

We’re ready to add thousands of miles to the Equus’ odometer, so let us know what questions you’d like answered in the comments below and see our car from every angle in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Long-Term

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate

Photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins Autoblog’s Long-Term Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hyundai may be piling on the sales, but dealers aren’t piling on the profits

Filed under: Car Buying, Hyundai, Earnings/Financials

2011 hyundai sonata 2.0t

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai is holding a hot hand with its current lineup. Sales are climbing and perception of the brand is swinging strongly in the right direction. Not everyone is singing just yet, however, because Hyundai dealers are apparently lagging behind the competition in one very important area: profits.

In 2010, the industry-wide average dealer profit was 2.1 percent of total sales. Hyundai has seen its average dealer profit rise over the last few years, but according to Automotive News, it’s still below industry average; last year, Hyundai dealers earned 1.9 percent. On the flip-side, Honda dealers enjoy an average profit of nearly three percent of total sales.

One area where dealers see hefty profits is from the service bays and parts sales. Ford and Chevrolet dealerships might see 85 percent of their overhead costs taken care of by the service department. A typical Hyundai dealer may earn enough to handle 40 percent.

Hyundai dealers also have to contend with shortages of their popular models and weak used-car sales. Yet as more folks buy Hyundai vehicles, the dealers will increase the speed at which they catch up with the competition. More vehicles on the road will lead to a rise in trips to the service bay and parts sold. More used current-generation vehicles will help turn around used-car sales. Hyundai dealers know this, and 85 percent of the nearly 800-strong network is operating in the black.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Hyundai may be piling on the sales, but dealers aren’t piling on the profits originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Hyundai Genesis Coupe facelift on the way

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Hyundai

Hyundai Genesis Coupe spy shots

Hyundai Genesis Coupe spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai debuted the refreshed 2012 Genesis Sedan at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, and in addition to revised styling and a brand new 5.0-liter V8, the Korean sedan’s 3.8-liter V6 gets a slew of enhancements. By adding direct injection, the V6 now makes 333 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque – gains of 43 and 27, respectively, over the outgoing V6.

During the Chicago festivities, we asked Hyundai PR spokesperson Jim Trainor about how soon this updated V6 would be available in the Genesis Coupe. We were originally told that upgrades wouldn’t be seen “for a little while,” and this latest set of spy shots shows that styling revisions are on deck for the Genesis Coupe, perhaps even with the upgraded V6 underhood.

Expect the Coupe to get slightly reworked front and rear fascias, and we won’t rule out the possibility of enhancements to the interior, as well. Mum’s the word on when the updated two-door will bow, though we’d guess that the Los Angeles Auto Show later this year sounds about right.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Hyundai Genesis Coupe spy shotsHyundai Genesis Coupe spy shotsHyundai Genesis Coupe spy shotsHyundai Genesis Coupe spy shotsHyundai Genesis Coupe spy shots

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: Hyundai Genesis Coupe facelift on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delay due to modifications of virtual engine sound

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

In mid-October, Hyundai announced that its 2011 Sonata Hybrid would be eligible for a $1,300 tax credit. The electrified midsize sedan was scheduled to hit dealerships in late 2010 and the first 60,000 buyers in line to plop down some cash for the Sonata Hybrid would’ve pocketed that credit. However, there was a hitch: the Sonata Hybrid was delayed, dashing any chance of snagging the $1,300 credit.

What caused the delay? Well, according to Hyundai chief executive officer John Krafcik, a last-minute modification to the vehicle’s “virtual engine sound” system, made “amazingly late in the process” was the culprit. The automaker initially developed the Sonata Hybrid with a feature that would allow drivers to disable the vehicle’s pedestrian warning system, but after the Senate and House voted to approve a measure requiring hybrids and plug-in vehicles to automatically emit audible sounds at low speeds, Hyundai’s manual disable functionality had to be axed.

According to Green Car Reports, that modification required changes to the vehicle’s wiring harnesses, user-interface software and owner’s manual, which caused the lengthy delay. Hyundai delivered the first 2011 Sonata Hybrid in January.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: Second Drive

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Green Car Reports]

Report: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delay due to modifications of virtual engine sound originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Sonata Wagon? Comely i40 revealed ahead of Geneva debut

Filed under: Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hyundai

Hyundai i40

Hyundai i40 – Click above for high-res image gallery

In advance of its debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, Hyundai has released the first pictures and details of its new i40 wagon. Developed at Hyundai’s European facility in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the i40 is to be launched in Europe in wagon form before the sedan follows later in the year.

Showcasing Hyundai’s latest design language, the i40 packs numerous features you’d normally expect to see on a higher-end products – like Hyundai’s own Genesis and Equus models, for example. Included in the package are features like heated and reclining front and rear seats and an intelligent de-mist system that automatically keeps the windshield fog-free.

The question of relevance for North American consumers, however, is whether the i40 makes it Stateside as a wagon counterpart to the Sonata sedan. We know that both a majority of our readers and a few key folks at Hyundai of America want it, but we’ll have to wait and see if everyone gets their wish. In the meantime, you can check out the pair of images in the gallery below and scope out the specs in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Hyundai i40

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai Sonata Wagon? Comely i40 revealed ahead of Geneva debut

Hyundai Sonata Wagon? Comely i40 revealed ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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