A week after Hyundai announced its first electric car, sister company Kia Motors will continue the Korean automaker’s EV plans with a battery-powered crossover set to debut next year. “We plan to produce 2,000 electric vehicles based on Kia’s upcoming cross utility vehicles (CUVs), and 500 BlueOns by 2012,” said Hong John-hee, the head of...
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Hyundai is embarking on a $150 million expansion of its Orange County, California headquarters, allowing it to double in size from 700 to 1400 employees. “This investment ensures that Orange County will remain U.S. hub, with our headquarters in Fountain Valley, for the foreseeable future,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “The...
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Hyundai has just revealed its first ever electric car, the BlueOn, based on the small i10 hatchback. Able to travel up to 87 miles on a single charge it’s capable of a top speed of 80 mph. The initial plan is to roll out several units to government agencies later this year before offering the...
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Hyundai has pledged to donate $100,000 each to 68 hospitals and non profit organizations to help fight pediatric cancer. Dealers will contribute $200 from each vehicle sale to the cause, and most of the financing is said to be arriving in this way. The program, known as Hyundai Hope on Wheels will oversee the distribution...
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Recently a report circulated online claiming that the Hyundai Veloster would debut at the LA Auto Show. The folks in Hyundai’s PR department denied the claims and went so far as to say another “very important” model would be the focal point of their LA Show press conference. (That vehicle is believed to be the...
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Hyundai‘s subcompact crossover, the ix20, will be revealed at this month’s Paris Auto Show media days, but the company has released a rendering of the car in advance of its launch. Based on the Kia Venga, the ix20 is an interesting blend of a crossover and small car, similar to a Ford Fiesta hatchback. With...
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The Japanese auto industry has always had a well-defined hierarchy, with Toyota, Honda and Nissan locked in a firmly established pecking order. But Toyota’s recent streak of quality problems has caused it to shed sales, causing a disruption in the marketplace. Customers fleeing Toyota are helping to propel the sales numbers of both Nissan and...
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Hyundai CEO John Krafcik confirmed to Autoblog that their next generation of Genesis, Genesis Coupe and Equus rear-drive cars would also be offered with all-wheel-drive. While no powertrains have been announced for any of the cars, the news of AWD will be welcome for those in the Snowbelt states, where traction going to all four...
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Contrary to several reports, Hyundai has confirmed that the Veloster compact sports coupe/hatchback will not debut at the LA Auto Show later this year. Speaking about the rumor, Hyundai rep Dan Bedore commented that, “there is no truth to this.” And while the Veloster will not debut in LA, Bedore did confirm that “We will...
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At the LA Auto Show this November, Hyundai will debut a new concept car that will give a better idea of how the Korean automaker intends to achieve its 50-mpg CAFE goal. Company CEO John Krafcik recently made the bold statement that Hyundai would average 50-mpg across its lineup by 2025. Currently, the automaker has...
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Ward’s Auto is reporting via their Twitter feed that Hyundai North America President and CEO John Krafcik told reporters that their North American arm will have a fleet average fuel economy rating of 50 mpg by 2025. Hyundai is currently planning the launch of their first hybrid, the Sonata Hybrid, for this fall, with more...
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The first rolling shots of the Hyundai Elantra have emerged from Korea, where the car is known as the Hyundai Avante. Rumors have it that the Elantra will be a few inches longer than the upcoming 2011 Ford Focus but put out identical power. The Elantra is also expected to return close to 40 mpg depending on...
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Porsche was the big winner for July 2010 sales, moving 75% more cars than in July 2009, with Hyundai/Kia, Jaguar/Land Rover and the Big Three all making solid gains. Japanese auto makers bore the brunt of the market, with Toyota and Honda losing a bit of market share, while Suzuki took the dubious title of...
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For most teenagers, a list of cars most suitable for their age group would likely be made up of low slung Italian droptops or monstrous pickup trucks. But for all but a few lucky “My Super Sweet 16” participants, the fact is that something more bland is in the cards for young drivers. That’s not...
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We already brought you the design mockups of the all new Hyundai Elantra, so here are some pictures of the real thing, driving on the road. With a direct injection 1.6L 4-cylinder making 138 horsepower, the Elantra’s interesting styling and efficient powerplant should make it a competitive alternative to the usual Civic and Corolla. Considering...
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Hyundai edged out BMW and Audi in leading German car magazine Autobild’s annual quality survey. Hyundai also beat out Toyota, long considered the benchmark for quality and reliability. Using owner feedback, recall information and data from Germany’s well known TUV technical inspection agency, the magazine’s yearly report is held in high regard in Europe. “Hyundai...
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Hyundai‘s upcoming pimpmobile ultra-luxury sedan will be offered in two trim levels, the Equus Signature and the Equus Ultimate. What’s the difference, you ask? The Signature is the plebian version, with features like, a massaging driver’s seat, parking assistance, an air suspension system and a 17-speaker, 608-watt Lexicon stereo, just like the Rolls Royce Phantom....
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Several weeks ago Hyundai gave us a look at the all-new 2011 Elantra when it unveiled the new car in South Korea badges as the Avante sedan. But when it debuted at the Busan Motor Show, we only got a look at the car’s exterior. Now, for the first time, we have a single snap-shot...
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At last year’s SEMA Show, Hyundai unveiled a tuner-special version of the Genesis Coupe 2.0T, known as the R-Spec. Now Hyundai has decided to expand its R-Spec lineup to include the 3.8-liter model. What this means is that you’ll be able to get the 306-hp version of the G Coupe with all the Track pack...
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Hyundai will expand its product offering in Europe with a new four-door coupe model that will rival the Volkswagen CC. According to a recent report, the vehicle will be based on the same architecture as the new 2011 Sonata (known as the i40 in Europe), but will take design inspiration from the iFlow concept that...
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By now, no doubt you’ve heard that Rhys Millen’s attempt to set a sub 10-minute time and reclaim the world record for his family at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb was less than successful. Not only did Millen fail to break the 10-second time, but he managed just third place with a distant 11:06.208 run...
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The Truth About Cars is reporting that Volkswagen executives are turning their attention towards Korean auto giant Hyundai, after comments made to the press by two Volkswagen managers came to their attention. According to a translation by TTAC’s Bertel Schmitt, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn spoke admirably about Hyundai in a German magazine, stating “I have...
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Back in 2000 Hyundai Kia CEO Chung Mong-koo refused a request by the company’s chairman, and his own father, to step down from the top post of the Korean automaker. Today, Mong-koo is getting the respect he rightly deserves, after being named Asia’s top automotive business leader by Automotive News. The industry publication sited Hyundai’s...
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When we first drove the all new 2011 Sonata, we commented that the time to buy the car is now, before Hyundai gets smart and jacks up the price. That price-hike may come sooner than later, with company CEO Steve S. Yang recently commenting that it is one of the automaker’s “main goals.” “When our...
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