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Hyundai sports coupe officially named Veloster, new teaser vid and site released [**UPDATE*]

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Hyundai

Hyundai Veloster teaser

Hyundai Veloster flashes its LEDs for us – Click above to watch video after the jump

Hyundai is bringing its hotly anticipated sports coupe to the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, and it appears from a new teaser video and microsite that that the car will indeed be called Veloster, ending months of speculation that the affordable model could be named something else (Tiburon, FS, π, etc.).

Hyundai has also released a video of the Veloster, but it’s pretty low on the fulfillment meter and heavy on the teasing. The clip, which you can watch after the jump, tells us the Veloster will have a direct-injected engine, a dual-clutch gearbox, hit an estimated 40 miles per gallon and will come with Bluetooth connectivity. At this point we can only stare at the pretty blue LED lights seen above and continue to pour over camo-clad examples in spy shots.

*UPDATE: Through some Photoshop wizardry, readers Brendon and APV have managed to provide a better look at the Veloster. Click to see Brendon’s image & APV’s image. Thanks to both of you!

[Sources: YouTube, Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai sports coupe officially named Veloster, new teaser vid and site released [*UPDATE]

Hyundai sports coupe officially named Veloster, new teaser vid and site released [*UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Elantra configurator hits the web

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Hyundai

Hyundai Elantra Configurator

2011 Hyundai Elantra configurator – Click above for high-res image gallery

Have you been itching to build your 2011 Hyundai Elantra? Scratch away, because the Elantra configurator is now up and running. We went through and built one ourselves… our fully-spec’d black-on-black 2011 Elantra Limited will only cost us $22,830, not too shabby since that includes the Premium Package, carpeted floor mats and an iPod cable.

After spending some time with the car, we opted for the surprisingly fun automatic transmission instead of the manual gearbox. We know that might be sacrilege to some, but the auto makes for a more enjoyable vehicle. How would you spec your new Hyundai Elantra? Sound off in the comments. Thanks for the heads up, Matchbox1966!

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Elantra: First Drive

2011 Hyundai Elantra

2011 Hyundai Elantra configurator hits the web originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid priced from $25,795*

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

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

Hyundai has garnered quite a bit of praise with its all-new 2011 Sonata sedan, with its most recent accolade being named to the finalists of the North American Car of the Year. In addition to the naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions, the Korean automaker is offering up the eco-friendly Sonata Hybrid with tweaked styling and the ability to achieve up to 35/40 miles per gallon, city/highway. The first Sonata Hybrids will go on sale this January, and the automaker has just announced that the car will carry a base price of $25,795 (*not including $750 in destination charges).

In addition to the more efficient powertrain, the Sonata Hybrid comes standard with things like LED headlight accents, LED taillamps, fog lights, iPod/USB connectivity, Bluetooth and automatic headlamp control. Adding the $5,000 premium package adds things like a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation, a rear backup camera, HD radio, leather seats and an Infinity premium sound system.

Compared to its American rival, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Sonata undercuts the Ford’s price by just over $3,000, though the Blue Oval’s claim to fame is its 41-mpg city fuel economy number. Still, we’re big fans of the Sonata Hybrid’s styling and refinement and we suspect it will make a big splash within the mid-size hybrid sedan segment. Follow the jump for Hyundai’s official release.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: Second Drive

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid priced from $25,795*

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid priced from $25,795* originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hyundai shows off super slick Equus owners manual app for iPad

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Videos, Hyundai, Luxury

2011 Hyundai Equus Apple iPad owners manual

Hyundai Equus and its iPad owner’s manual – Click above to watch video after the jump

We know that the all-new Hyundai Equus features an Apple iPad in place of a traditional owner’s manual but now we’re getting our first opportunity to see it in action. In a new ad that will certainly appeal to tech-savvy luxury car buyers, Hyundai shows off the iPad app that provides any information that an Equus owner might need to know about his or her car.

Rather than just providing written information, Hyundai has taken advantage of the iPad’s capabilties to deliver an app that shows you what it’s talking about, be it the Equus’ available right-rear jet-style reclining seat or its adaptive headlights. Better yet, the app is free to download on iTunes regardless of whether an Equus is sitting in your driveway (so you can see what you’re missing). Hop the jump to check out an ad featuring the iPad owner’s manual in action. Top tip, Fred!

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus

[Source: YouTube via Unncessary Umlaut]

Continue reading Video: Hyundai shows off super slick Equus owners manual app for iPad

Video: Hyundai shows off super slick Equus owners manual app for iPad originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll]

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Kia

2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata

2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata – Click above to enlarge

The Koreans are coming! Actually, strike that… they’re already here. As a matter of fact, both the 2011 Hyundai Sonata and its corporate kissing cousin, the 2011 Kia Optima, rank very highly on our own midsize sedan pecking order chart. All of this begs the question: Which one is better, and why?

The boys from Inside Line decided to pit the two sedans, which share most major components and assemblies, against each other in a no-holds-barred fight for supremacy. Not surprisingly – both use 2.4-liter four cylinder engines (plus or minus California emissions…) and six-speed automatic transmissions, and both weight nearly the same – picking a winner means delving into the details.

And IL found that the details favored the Kia. There are a number of reasons given for the why and how of this conclusion, which you can read all about right here. Basically, though, IL found that the Optima is tuned more for the enthusiast as opposed to the competent and comfortable nature of the Sonata.

Which one would you pick? Take our poll below and then feel free to talk about your choice in Comments.

View Poll

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima: First Drive

[Source: Inside Line | Main Image: Kurt Niebuhr for Edmunds]

Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Preview: Hyundai i40/Sonata wagon gets officially rendered

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

Hyundai i40 wagon renderings – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai is preparing to launch a new European D-segment model at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March that will compete against such vehicles as the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat, and it’s released a slew of advance renderings of what we might expect.

Filling the slot in the Korean automaker’s European line-up that’s filled in North America by the Sonata (with which it is a very close twin), the i40 has been designed and developed in Germany by the company’s European R&D center in Rüsselsheim. The design closely follows those of recent Hyundai design studies, the Genus concept most closely.

The i40 is slated to go on sale shortly after its debut in Geneva in wagon form, with a sedan version expected to follow. The engine range is expected to include a 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and a 1.7-liter turbodiesel with outputs ranging from 115 horsepower to 136, with more powerful versions to follow. In the meantime, take a stroll through the image gallery below for a closer look, as the i40 is almost certainly what a Sonata wagon would look like were Hyundai ever to launch it in the States.

Gallery: Hyundai i40 wagon sketches

[Source: Hyundai-blog]

Geneva Preview: Hyundai i40/Sonata wagon gets officially rendered originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delay means no $1,300 tax credit?

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Hyundai, Earnings/Financials

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 mid-size sedan was to officially hit the market before the end of the year and the first 60,000 buyers who plopped down some coin for the Sonata Hybrid would’ve walked away with that juicy credit in their pockets. However, there’s a hitch: the Sonata Hybrid has been delayed and its release date pushed back until January, and GreenCarReports.com indicates that that will dash any hopes of receiving the credit, which expires on December 31.

Even so, the Sonata Hybrid still remains one of only a few mid-size hybrid sedans capable of achieving great fuel economy – 36 miles per gallon city and 40 mpg highway – and many of its competitors like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid either no longer qualify for the tax credits or aren’t available for purchase. The Sonata Hybrid is a capable car and one of the most compelling new vehicles in the mid-size segment, so missing out on the credit probably won’t affect sales dramatically, but its delay will mean that early adopters won’t have an extra $1,300 in their couch cushions next year.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

[Source: GreenCarReports]

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delay means no $1,300 tax credit? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hyundai considering more luxury models, separate luxury brand [w/poll]

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Hyundai, Luxury

First the Genesis sedan, then the Equus. Clearly, Hyundai is pinning its ears back and charging upmarket like Ndamukong Suh rushing Aaron Rodgers. And, like the rookie Husker-bred defensive end, the Korean automaker is making a rather successful transition to the next level. What’s next? Quite possibly a sedan designed to compete directly with the benchmark entry-level luxury sedan, the BMW 3 Series. After that, Hyundai may craft a crossover to go up against the segment-defining Lexus RX CUV.

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Hyundai isn’t nearly done refining the image of its top-level nameplates. Hyundai USA head John Krafcik told the WSJ in an interview that the automaker is actively considering whether it should break its premium models apart from the rest of its lineup, much in the same way Honda does with Acura, Toyota does with Lexus and Nissan does with Infiniti.

While this isn’t exactly news, Krafcik’s level of candor is. Three options are apparently on the table. First, an entire separate dealer network could be created to sell these Genesis-branded machines, but this would be very costly. Second (and reportedly most likely), a subset of the automaker’s current set of dealers could add a section to their dealerships designed to cater specifically to upmarket clients – a showroom-within-a-showroom, if you like. They could even have their own dedicated employees. Lastly, Hyundai could stick with its current scheme of training at least one salesperson on the Genesis line, leaving the dealerships alone.

Whichever way Hyundai chooses to move, don’t expect any hasty decisions. Krafcik says the company will keep a close eye on the success of its Equus sedan in the States before making any judgments on its dealer network. In the meantime, expect Hyundai to unveil a new global branding strategy at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show along with a slogan to replace the current “Drive Your Way” message.

One thing is clear: this decision will shape the way forward for Hyundai’s continued performance in the United States. We’re keenly interested in your take on the matter, and we know the automaker’s execs are listening, too. What strategy should Hyundai adopt in its bid to move further upmarket? Make yourself heard in our informal poll below, as well as in Comments.

View Poll

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus: First Drive

[Source: The Wall Street Journal, Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Hyundai considering more luxury models, separate luxury brand [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Touring going five-door, leaving the wagon train behind

Filed under: Budget, Wagon, Hatchback, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Elantra

2011 Hyundai Elantra – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fear not, hatchback fans. According to Hyundai CEO John Krafcik, the next-generation Hyundai Elantra Touring will debut in late 2012 as a 2013 model. Krafcik tells Autoblog that while the Elantra sedan is styled specifically for the American market, the Elantra Touring is being penned with European customers in mind. The company sells a long-roof version of the Elantra in the old country under the i30 banner, but from what we understand, American buyers will get a taste of the next-generation vehicle in about two years.

“We launched the Elantra touring a couple of years after we launched the Elantra and we’re going to have the same model cycle for Elantra Touring here,” Krafcik said. “We’re going to get the next-generation i30 here in the U.S. market in a couple of years.”

But don’t expect the vehicle to share too much DNA with the old long-roof Elantra. Krafcik tells AB that the new Touring will be significantly different from the model on sale right now: “It’s a great design. The Elantra Touring design actually came out of our California studio. We’re going to go with the shorter five-door hatchback bodystyle instead of the larger wagon style we have now.”

That means that when it debuts, the 2013 Elantra Touring will be squaring off against the likes 2012 Ford Focus and Mazda3 in a big way. While no one at Hyundai was willing to say exactly how much fuel economy we can plan on seeing from the five-door Elantra, we’d be surprised to see the figures slip much below the 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway of the sedan.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Elantra: First Drive

2011 Hyundai Elantra

2013 Hyundai Elantra Touring going five-door, leaving the wagon train behind originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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