HYUNDAI

Hyundai to Become a Member of ACEA in 2012 

Hyundai Motor Europe’s application for membership in the ACEA has been accepted by the General Assembly of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, and will begin in January 2012. ACEA was established in 1991, is based in Brussels and its members include BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler, FIAT S.p.A., Ford of Europe, General Motors Europe, MAN Truck & Bus, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault Group, Scania, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars and Volvo Group.
Hyundai has been present in the European market since 1977, with an ever-expanding line-up and marketshare (in May it sold its fifth million car in Europe). Hyundai Motor Europe’s Technical Centre is base in Russelsheim, Germany, while its plant in the Czech Republic, in which the company has invested more than € 1.1 million, produces more than 50% of the cars intended for Europe.

Hyundai Rumored to Debut New Elantra Coupe at 2011 LA Auto Show 

We are a long way from the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and many things may change in the meantime, but for now, the word from the team over at Insideline is that Hyundai will head to California this fall to unveil a new coupe version of its freshly launched Elantra model. The two-door model will offer Hyundai a direct rival to the 2012 Honda Civic Coupe in the U.S. market. Recently, Autonews reported that Hyundai has already shown the Elantra Coupe to U.S. distributors who were pleasantly surprised. “They showed us a photo of it and it's gorgeous,” Doug Fox, a multi-franchise dealer who owns a Hyundai dealership in Ann Arbor, Mich., told the news site of the Elantra coupe. “We weren't expecting that.”
The Elantra Coupe is expected to be offered with the sedan model’s 1.8-liter engine delivering 148-horsepower and 138 lb-ft of peak torque, coupled to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Insideline also reported there’s a good chance Hyundai may also add a sporty Elantra Coupe R-Spec model in 2012 equipped with the upcoming top-end Veloster’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with 208-horsepower, details of which we first revealed back in January

Hyundai Reaches 5 Million Sales in Europe 

South Korean carmaker Hyundai announced it has sold five million vehicles in Europe since the first Hyundai Pony was imported in 1977. The five millionth vehicle was an i30, which was launched in 2007 and has sold a little over 320,000 units on the continent. From the five million sales, the last million was achieved in just three years, a proof of Hyundai's accelerated growth in Europe. The first million sales mark was reached in 1996, nineteen years after the brand's introduction to Europe. The second million mark was achieved in 2001, with the brand hitting three million sales in 2005 and four million in 2008.
The Korean automaker gained momentum with the introduction of the “i” range, starting with the i30 in 2007, the first Hyundai product designed and engineered for European customers. Built at the company first European plant at Nošovice, Czech Republic, the i30 was followed by the i10, i20, the ix20 compact MPV and the ix35 crossover.
“Hitting five million sales is a wonderful achievement for Hyundai, and it marks us out as a major player in what is the world’s most competitive car market. But this is just the beginning for the brand. We are planning for further sales growth during 2011, to take us to 3% market share in Europe,” said Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe.
In order to achieve these ambitious targets, Hyundai will increase the output of its Czech plant to 300,000 units a year, with the company also counting on the success of the all-new i40 sedan and wagon, set to launch in Europe during the last quarter of 2011.

All-New Hyundai i40 Tourer Priced from £18,395 OTR in the UK 

Hyundai has priced its entry into the medium family estate car market, the new i40 Tourer, announcing that it will take from £18,395 (equal to US$30,340 or €21,100) for UK buyers to park one under their house. In comparison, the Ford Mondeo Estate starts from £18,955 for the 1.6i 120HP model, while the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer from £19,350 with the 1.8-liter engine. The estate version of the i40 will arrive in British showrooms this September followed shortly after by the sedan model, which was unveiled at the Barcelona International Motor Show in May.
The i40 Tourer is offered in three trim levels (Active, Style and Premium) and with a choice of four engines including a 1.6-liter petrol (output has not yet been announced), a 1.7-liter diesel with 115HP or 136HP, and a 2.0-liter petrol delivering 177-horsepower. All powerplants come equipped with Hyundai’s start/stop technology.
Standard features on the Active model include 16-in. alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, leather steering wheel with audio controls, electric heated door mirrors with integrated LED indicators, electric front and rear windows and electric parking brake with automatic hold function.
The Style range benefits from touch screen satellite navigation with rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and dual zone climate control.
The top-of-the-range Premium models add leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and the firm’s so-called supervision instrument cluster with LCD color display, plus the option of the Lane Departure Warning and Smart Parking Assist, heated leather steering wheel and ventilated front seats.

Hyundai Prices Refreshed 2012 Genesis Sedan, 429HP 5.0 R-Spec Model Starts from $47,350 

 

We had our first motor show look at the facelifted 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan earlier this winter in Chicago, but now, as it reaches dealers across the country, the South Korean automaker is ready to talk about pricing. In the U.S., buyers can choose from three models, the entry-level 3.8 V6 starting at $34,200, the 4.6 V8 priced at $44,500 and the all-new 5.0 R-Spec with a starting price at $46,500. None of the above prices include an $850 freight charge. The styling updates for the 2012 Genesis include restyled headlamps with new LED accents and daytime running lights, revised front grille, redesigned bumpers and tail lamps, refined rocker panels plus new exhaust tips, alloy wheels and optional puddle lamps for the exterior mirrors.
Under the sheetmetal, the entry-level 3.8-liter V6 engine receives direct injection (GDI) technology, boosting its output 15 percent from 290 to 333 horsepower, while peak torque is also lifted from 264 lb.-ft. to 291 lb.-ft. Despite the increase in power, fuel economy increases more than seven percent from 27 mpg to 29 mpg on the highway. This is also due to the new in-house developed eight-speed transmission, which replaces the previous six-speed unit.
The 4.6-liter V8 with 385-horsepower is also equipped with the 8-speed automatic transmission and returns17 mpg in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway. Both the 3.8 V6 and 4.6 V8 Genesis models receive some minor chassis tweaks with suspension damping calibrations and a larger rear stabilizer bar.
The newest addition to the Genesis range is the flagship 5.0 R-Spec, which is motivated by freshly developed 5.0-liter V8 Tau engine linked to a sportier-tuned version of Hyundai's 8-speed auto. The V8 churns out 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 lb. ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm, and returns an estimated fuel consumption of 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
The R-Spec model is also distinguished by unique 19-inch machined-finish alloy wheels with optional Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position summer performance tires, and according to Hyundai, a sport-tuned suspension and steering calibrations. 

Hyundai Set to Become Sixth Biggest Automaker in the U.S. In 2011 

In the realm of U.S. automotive sales, 8% is a magic number. When an automaker hits 8%, they know they’ve become one of the big guns. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Dodge and Nissan have all made it, and 2011 is expected to be Hyundai’s year. So sayeth market research firm Polk, and I’m tempted to agree. Hyundai and its partner-brand / internal rival Kia have steadily been evolving into truly world-class carmakers. They’re keenly priced, inoffensive to look at and comprehensively covered quality-wise – everything the vast majority of new car buyers want in this day and age.
Add to that the Little Automaker That Could is experiencing faster market growth than any other offshore-based company selling vehicles in the U.S.; topping the likes of Honda, Toyota and Nissan.
According to Polk, the biggest hurdles facing the South Korean carmaker are the need to add a pickup / ute to its range (see the Toyota Tundra and Honda Ridgeline for more on why this could be a problem) and a lack of focus in its brand image. After all, how does one derive a singular vision out of a range that includes at one end the US$12,445 Accent and at the other the US$58,900 Equus? It’s just not possible.
Still, it’ll be interesting to see how Hyundai’s market share will evolve in the future. With the U.S. automakers finally cleaning up their game and a dearth of low-cost imports on the horizon from China, there’s sure to be some exciting years ahead.

New Hyundai i40 Sedan Bows at Barcelona Motor Show, gets 177HP 2.0-liter Engine 

This is Hyundai’s all-new i40 sedan and it was unwrapped today at the 2011 Barcelona Motor Show. It follows the presentation of the i40 station wagon showcased at the 2011 Geneva Salon in March, and it’s Hyundai’s submission in the highly competitive D-segment in Europe with rivals such as the Citroen C5 and the Volkswagen Passat. In terms of design, Hyundai’s newcomer may look very similar to the latest Elantra sold in North America and other parts of the world. However, measuring 4.74 meters (186.6-in.) in length, the i40 approximately 380 mm or 15-inches longer than the compact sedan. Europe’s equivalent of the Sonata rides on a wheelbase of 2.77-meters, with Hyundai claiming it offers best-in-class room for front head, shoulder and leg. The Korean carmaker also boasts that the i40 will provide passengers with "the most comfortable ride available in the D-segment".
In Europe, the i40 sedan will be available with four Euro V-compliant engines, two petrol and two diesel units. Hyundai says the most popular choice should be the 1.7-liter diesel unit developing 136 horsepower.
The i40 also receives an all-new 2.0-liter gasoline engine with direct injection, called “Nu”. The four-cylinder unit delivers 177 horsepower and 213 Nm (157 lb-ft) of torque. In combination with a six-speed manual gearbox, this engine accelerates the i40 sedan to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.7 seconds while achieving a fuel consumption of 6.8 liters/100 km (34.5 mpg US) and a CO2 rating of 159 g/km.
The most fuel-efficient version is the 115HP 1.7-liter diesel with Blue Drive technology that includes a start/stop system, low rolling-resistance tires and an alternator management system. This model posts a fuel economy rating of 4.3 liters/100 km (54.7 mpg US) and a CO2 rating of 113 g/km.
The i40 is offered with many amenities including a smart-parking assist and lane departure warning systems, as well as Bluetooth with voice recognition, navigation system and rear view camera. Convenience features include ventilated and heated front seats, heated steering wheel, electric parking brake and an auto-defog system. Hyundai didn't say which of these are offered as standard.
The car will go on sale across Europe during the last quarter of 2011 and will be offered with five years of unlimited warranty, roadside assistance and vehicle health checks.
Hyundai said it expects sales of around 60,000 units a year, with the company aiming for a 3 percent market share in Europe by the end of 2011.

New Hyundai i45 gets a Smaller Engine in Australia 

The Australian market version of Hyundai’s Sonata mid-size sedan, called i45, has received a smaller displacement engine that becomes the new entry point for the range. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivers a maximum output of 121kW (162HP) at 6,200 rpm and a peak torque of 198Nm at 4,600 rpm, and is mated to either 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions. Hyundai says the i45 2.0L returns a combined fuel consumption of 7.6lt/100km (equal to 30.9 mpg US) when fitted with an automatic transmission. The 2.4-liter engine, which produces 148 kW (198HP) of power and 250 Nm of torque, is rated at 7.9lt/100km (equal to 29.8 mpg US) when combined with the 6sp auto.
At the same time, the South Korean automaker said that the manual transmission is deleted from the range of the 2.4L model.
Local prices for the i45 2.0L start at AU$26,990 for the manual version and at AU$28,590 for the automatic. 

Hyundai Sketches All-New i40 Sedan for Europe, will Debut in Barcelona 

 

Just a couple of months after debuting the i40 Station Wagon at the Geneva Salon in March, Hyundai is now getting ready to lift the covers off the sedan version of its mid-size model, which will receive its world premiere at the upcoming 2011 Barcelona Motor Show on May 12th. The South Korean automaker released the first teaser rendering of the i40 Sedan, which will effectively replace the older generation of the Sonata in the European market and compete in the D-segment against the likes of the Opel Insignia, VW Passat, Toyota Avensis and Citroen C5. Like the estate model, the saloon is the product Hyundai’s European R&D center in Rüsselsheim, Germany. So far, Hyundai has released very details about the car as we only get to know that it will ride on a wheelbase measuring 2.77 meters long and that according to the company, will deliver “best-in-class dimensions for front head (1025mm), shoulder (1455mm), and leg (1170mm) room”.
European buyers should expect the same engine lineup as the estate including a 1.7-liter turbo diesel and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit, with more information to be released after its presentation in Spain.
Not surprisingly, the i40 sedan follows Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language, which includes a big crease along the shoulder line and a heavily profiled rear end.
“We have used very strong, fluid lines from front to rear to give i40 a distinctive appearance,” commented Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre. “We wanted to move away from the typical three-box saloon and create a car that was in keeping with the sporty nature of the i40 estate. By sculpting a low, elongated roof line, we’ve given the i40 saloon a striking coupe-like silhouette,” he added.

2011 NYIAS: Hyundai Pulls the Wraps off U.S. Market 2012 Accent 

With fuel prices on the rise again, efficient sub-compact models like the Accent are coming back to the spotlight. At the 2011 New York Auto Show, the South Korean automaker pulled the wraps off its latest iteration of the Accent in U.S.-spec. Slated to hit dealerships this summer, the 2012 Accent is offered in both five-door hatchback and four-door saloon body styles and promises to deliver a best-in class fuel economy of 30mpg city and 40 mpg highway. Dressed in Hyundai’s familiar ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design outfit, the new Accent introduces a new aluminum 1.6-liter Gamma engine with direct-injection technology delivering 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder gasoline unit is paired to either six-speed automatic or manual transmissions, with Hyundai claiming a highway-only driving range of up to 456 miles (733 kilometers).
Both body styles of the new Accent ride on a 101.2 inch wheelbase, 2.8-inches longer than the previous generation. The 66.9-inch width on all 2011 models increased by 0.2 inches for 2012. The Accent 4-door's overall length has increased by 3.5 inches to 172 inches, while total length of the new five-door version is 162 inches.
Pricing for the new Accent starts at $12,445 for the GLS four-door and $14,595 for the GS five-door, not including a $750 freight fee.

Shanghai Auto Show: Hyundai Elantra Puts on a New Face for China 

 

The Hyundai Group is now pointing its arrows to the world’s biggest auto market with the unveiling of two new models for China at this week’s 2011 Shanghai Auto Show, the Elantra Yuedong compact sedan and the mid-size Azera, which is badged as Grandeur in some markets. If the Elantra Yuedong looks familiar, that’s because it is a facelifted version of the fourth generation model sold in the States until 2010. The most prominent change on the outside concerns the revised front that draws on the Azera’s styling.
According to Hyundai, the interior has also been upgraded with higher quality materials and new convenience and safety features such as a smart key / button start, front side airbag, Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), Navigation, USB2.0 port and eco-driving guide system.
The 2011 Elantra Yuedong will be offered in China with two four-cylinder engines in China sporting a displacement of 1.6-liters and 1.8-liters. The compact sedan will compete in China’s biggest segment, which surged from 2.11 million units in 2008 to 3.24 million in 2009 and 3.95 million in 2010, and is expected to reach an astonishing 6 million units by 2013, according to industry forecasts.
As for the Azera, the South Korean maker’s saloon will be marketed in China as an affordable alternative to premium models in the mid-size segment. The 4,910mm-long sedan comes with a choice of two gasoline engines, a 250HP 3.0-liter V6 and a 180HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit, both of which are matted to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Azera and new Elantra Yuedong are scheduled to hit showrooms in China within the next few months. 

New Hyundai Blue2 Fuel Cell Concept Debuts at Seoul Motor Show 

The 2011 Seoul Motor Show that runs in South Korea from March 31 to April 10 plays host to the world premiere of the all-new Hyundai Blue2 concept study. The name ‘Blue2’, which is read ‘Blue square’, is a combination of Hyundai’s sub eco-brand ‘Blue Drive’ and the number `2’ from H2, the symbol for hydrogen gas.
Codenamed HND-6, the prototype is Hyundai’s first sedan-style Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). The four-door saloon is powered by a fuel cell electric system that delivers a stack power of 90kW or 121HP and fuel economy of 34.9km/ℓ (of hydrogen, of course), which is equal to 82mpg US and 2.9lt/100km. The concept is also equipped with low-resistance tires and alloy wheels which are designed to improve aerodynamic performance.
Aside from the fuel-cell powertrain, the Blue2 sedan also hints at a possible direction for the South Korean firm’s next design language, albeit in a futuristic form.
The car’s interior styling continues the futuristic look of the exterior and comes packed with features such as a unique infotainment system operated by a Motion Sensor Moustick, a haptic wheel and motion sensor that respond to the driver’s touch and hand movements, respectively.
The dashboard has an asymmetric design while Hyundai added that it used a variety of eco-friendly materials.

More than 280,000 Hyundai Elantras Recalled Over Air-Bag Problems 

Hyundai has issued two separate recalls for its Elantra sedans over air-bag related problems. The first action covers approximately 95,783 Elantras from the 2007-2008MY manufactured from July 14, 2006, through August 29, 2007. In this case, the air bag control module may receive an unstable electrical signal from the seat track position sensor and cause the driver's airbag to deploy at a higher pressure than intended. To fix the problem, the South Korean firm’s dealers will reprogram the air bag control module free of charge. The second Elantra recall affects around 188,697 cars from the 2007-2009MY built from July 14, 2006, through November 1, 2008. Hyundai said that the weight sensor that deactivates the right frontal airbag when occupants of certain weights occupy the seat may become contaminated and malfunction causing the airbag deploy in crashes in which it should not deploy. Hyundai said it will take care of this issue by installing a protective cover over the weight classification system connector to prevent contamination.
Both Elantra recalls are expected to begin during April 2011. Concerned owners of the affected models may contact Hyundai's customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151