Hyundai, Kia Upgrade U.S. Sales Target

Hyundai Motor Group (consisting of Hyundai and Kia) said yesterday that it aims to raise its U.S. auto sales in 2011 to 1.06 million units or by 18.2 percent. That figure is up from its previous target of 1.01 million vehicles. Chairman Chung Mong-koo made the announcement during his visit to the United States.

Hyundai is now targeting sales of 624,000 units in the U.S., while Kia is targeting 433,000. In 2010, both companies sold 894,496 units in the United States last year.

Hyundai and Kia are one of the fastest-growing automakers in the U.S. market. They have a combined market share of 10.1 percent as of May, up from 7.7 percent in 2010.

Hyundai will launch a new Veloster while Kia will launch its new Rio to keep the sales momentum going.

[Source: Reuters]

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Hyundai, Kia Combined for Largest Share in Mid-Size Class for May

Long considered the bread and butter of the United States new car industry, the midsize segment was until recently forbidden fruit for Korean automakers. Sure, Hyundai and Kia offered midsize cars, but it wasn’t until their latest models that either brand was taken seriously enough to sell in big numbers.

The tides have changed, with last month marking the biggest milestone yet: The platform-mate Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima combined for 30,155 units, enough to take home the largest slice of the midsize segment. That’s 22,754 Sonatas and 7,401 Optimas. Together, the Korean twins captured the largest share of the midsize sedan segment in March. And it’s likely that this trend will continue through the summer as inventory levels for Japanese-branded cars like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry continue to be low.

Last month’s best-selling midsize sedan was the Chevrolet Malibu, but with the discontinuation of the Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura, the Malibu is the only GM product to still ride on the automaker’s Epsilon architecture. Second in line was the Nissan Altima, but it too doesn’t share a platform with any other North American-market midsize sedan. That leaves the Optima and Sonata, both of which share powertrains, suspensions and platforms.

Certainly, it takes some number twisting to consider the Sonata and the Optima as the combined market share leaders for the midsize sedan segment. But that’s not stopping Korean media from jumping all over the story.

“The ranking signifies that U.S. consumers no long consider Hyundai and Kia to be low-end car brands,” an unnamed Hyundai spokesperson told the Yonhap wire service earlier today.

[Source: Yonhap News Agency]

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Hyundai Elantra Wins Compact Car Shootout by Cars.com

Hyundai’s 2011 Elantra is generating buzz after coming out on top in yet another comparison of compact cars. The latest contest was the Under 20/Over 35 Shootout conducted by automotive consumer site Cars.com.

The Elantra was up against four other compacts that have made big impressions in the past few months; the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Kia Forte. The cars all have room for five people, travel at least 35 miles per gallon and have a price less than $20,000.

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra came out on top during the editor’s evaluations of ride comfort and exterior and interior design. To find the winner, graders from Cars.com. USA Today and members of a Chicago-area family evaluated the cars’ performance and features over three days.

[Source: Cars.com]

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Kia Reunites Joyride Characters for 2012 Sorento Ad (w/VIDEO)

Though not as successful as their music-loving hamster counterparts, Kia’s oddball cast of life-size children's characters from last year’s Joyride commercials are back for a new advertising campaign.

Muno, Sock Monkey, MR. X, the vintage robot and teddy bear will star in two new 30-second TV spots for the 2012 Sorento CUV. As with the original campaign, "Joyride 2" was created by David&Goliath, KMA's advertising agency of choice. The first commercial begins airing today and will be followed up by the second spot next month.

"The Sorento has been Kia's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. every month since arriving in showrooms in January 2010 thanks in large part to the immense popularity of the original 'Joyride Dream' campaign," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, KMA.

"In just its second model year, the 2012 Sorento delivers significant performance and efficiency improvements as well as new convenience features that meet the ever-changing needs of today's consumers, and bringing back the popular 'Joyride' crew allows us to continue our momentum in a fun and entertaining way," Sprague concluded.



[Source: Kia]

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Hyundai Hires Former GM Exec Shannon as U.S. Marketing Boss

Hyundai has tapped a General Motors veteran as its new U.S. marketing chief, filling a spot that has sat empty for more than seven months.

Steve Shannon was named vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor America on Wednesday and will officially take his position on April 18, Hyundai spokesman Chris Hosford said.

Shannon, 52, spent more than 25 years at GM and was most recently executive director of marketing for Cadillac. He held that position from 2008 until March 2010 when he was cut in one of several executive shakeups under former CEO Ed Whitacre.

Shannon takes over a marketing department that has overseen memorable campaigns recently, including the Hyundai Assurance campaign that let Hyundai buyers get their money back if they lost their job and the "Hyundai: Uncensored" campaign that captured reactions of consumers impressed by the quality of Hyundai vehicles during test drives.

Hyundai marketers also signed Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges to do voice-overs for all of Hyundai's television ads.

Clever marketing has helped Hyundai boost sales from about 401,000 units in 2008 to more than 538,000 last year and increase U.S. market share from 3 percent to 4.6 percent in the same period.

Shannon's hiring comes after GM nabbed Hyundai's two previous marketing chiefs last year.

First to go was Joel Ewanick, the high-energy marketing executive and brainchild behind the Hyundai Assurance campaign. Ewanick left Hyundai for a brief stint at Nissan last March before being tapped to head GM's U.S. marking department in May. Ewanick's successor at Hyundai, Chris Perry, was then hired by Ewanick last August to lead Chevrolet's marketing department.

Shannon's resume includes leadership roles in marketing with Saturn, followed by senior posts at Oldsmobile, Buick, Saab, Hummer and most recently Cadillac.

Hyundai CEO John Krafcik said in a statement that he's "delighted" to have Shannon on board.

"He's a marketing innovator with strong convictions about serving the customer," Krafcik said in the statement. "At the same time, he's personable, enthusiastic and professional -- a perfect fit for us at Hyundai."

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Hyundai Equus Nabs Five Percent of U.S. Luxury Car Market Share

For all the skepticism surrounding the Hyundai Equus, the Korean luxury sedan appears to be doing well, even exceeding Hyundai’s own expectations.

Hyundai’s Midwestern PR head Dean Bedore gave us some insight into the success of the Equus, noting that it currently has a 5 percent market share of the luxury car segment, while Hyundai itself has the same overall market share. Bedore noted that the only thing stopping Hyundai from selling more of them was a lack of supply.

Equus sales are currently outpacing brands like Rolls-Royce, Maybach and Bentley, along with sports cars like the BMW Z4, Audi R8 and Nissan GT-R. We are well aware of the apples vs. oranges nature of these kinds of comparisons, but we still found it neat that a $58,000 Hyundai is succeeding when even 5 years ago, such a notion would have been unthinkable.

Examples of luxury marques and vehicles that the Equus has outsold include:

· Bentley
· Maybach
· Rolls Royce
· Acura RL
· Audi TT
· BMW Z4
· Mercedes SLK
· Porsche Boxster
· Porsche Cayman
· BMW 6-Series
· Jaguar XK
· Mercedes CLS
· Nissan GT-R
· Audi R8
· Ferrari
· Lamborghini
· Maserati
· Mercedes CL
· Mercedes SL
· Mercedes SLS
· Lexus HS
· Saab 9-5
· Toyota Land Cruiser
· Land Rover LR2
· Acura ZDX
· Mercedes R-Class
· Mercedes G-Class

[Image Source: Autoblog]

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Hyundai Recalls Over 280K Elantra's Due to Airbag Issues

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.

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Kia Recalls 70,000 Units of 2006-2008 Optima Over Rollaway Concerns

Kia Motors is recalling 70,000 units of the 2006-08 Optima over concerns some shift cables were improperly assembled, which could allow parked vehicles to roll away.

In March 2007, Kia identified certain Optima vehicles had been manufactured with the shift cable connection improperly attached to the shifter assembly and changed its manufacturing procedures to improve installation. In June 2007, Kia added positioning clips in vehicles produced to ensure correct assembly. KMA issued bulletins in August 2007 to advise service technicians how to reconnect the shift cable in case they were presented with a vehicle which had a disconnected cable.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into rollaway concerns on the 2007 Optima in November. NHTSA said it had received three complaints concerning automatic transmission shift cable detachment and inability to select and engage the gears — park, drive and reverse — in model year 2007 Kia Optima vehicles. One of the complaints also reported a rollaway incident after parking the vehicle.

As a result, Kia conducted a new evaluation of technical and field data regarding cable detachment issues and "concluded that this condition has not been creating real world safety incidents. However, it has concluded that under extraordinary circumstances a significant vehicle rolling event could potentially occur and has thus decided to conduct a recall," the company said.

Kia will notify owners later this month. The recall covers 70,115 Optima vehicles assembled between September 2005 and June 2007. Dealers will reinspect the shift cable and replace if necessary.

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2011 Kia Sportage SX with GDI Turbo Makes U.S. Debut, Pricing Announced

Kia Motors America announced the launch of the 2011 Sportage SX today. The SX models come with a more powerful four-cylinder turbo engine with direct injection, as well as exterior and interior styling enhancements. The Sportage SX arrives in showrooms later this month with a base price of $25,795 for the front-wheel drive (FWD) model and $27,295 for the all-wheel drive (AWD) model, both excluding a $695 destination charge.

This is Kia’s second vehicle in the U.S to feature the Theta II 2.0-liter Turbo GDI engine, following the 2011 Optima Turbo. The unit produces 256 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of peak torque, while delivering an estimated 22 mpg in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway.

On the outside, SX models receive unique 18" alloy wheels, a signature SX grille, dual exhaust, and special side sill moldings. Exterior updates are complemented by SX-specific interior enhancements, including standard aluminum door sills and a sleek new supervision gauge cluster.

In addition, the Sportage SX employs sport-tuned suspension featuring firmer shock and strut rates for improved handling and dynamic performance over non-SX models.

Available exclusively on the Sportage SX are the Orange and Blue interior color packages. The Orange Color Package includes orange stitching on the steering wheel, center console, and seats coupled with orange accents on the door panels and air vents. A unique blue patterned cloth seat and blue interior accents are included as part of the Blue Color Package.

Sportage LX and EX trims come standard with a 176 horsepower 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT).



[Source: Kia Motors America]

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2012 Kia Cadenza Spotted on U.S. Soil!

A reader of Carscoop recently spotted an undisguised example of the Kia Cadenza (K7) on U.S. soil and kindly took a quick snapshot of the prototype. "Saw this Kia Cadenza with Michigan plates going 55 North in Orange County, California," the reader told the website.

Already on sale in South Korea as the K7 and various Middle Eastern markets, the Cadenza will fill the void in Kia's line-up left by the Amanti it will replace when it goes on sale next year. A Kia Canada executive confirmed to us at the 2011 Canadian International Auto Show that the Cadenza will hit North American showrooms in "early 2012." We're left to wonder why Kia is delaying its release and we can only hope it's for good reasons.

[Source: Carscoop]

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2011 Kia Optima Earns Five-Star Rating from NHTSA

The 2011 Kia Optima has already made a splash in the midsize sedan market with its far-from-bland looks. It turns out that Kia’s midsizer has some substance to its style: it was already rated a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and has now received a five-star overall crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Optima earned a five star rating in each of NHTSA’s frontal impact, side impact, and rollover tests – the highest possible score from the government agency. This marks the first time a Korean-built car has received the top rating under NHTSA’s more stringent testing methods that went into effect for the 2011 model year. Joining the 2011 Honda Accord and 2011 Mazda 6, the Optima now sits at the top its class in terms of safety.

Click here for the official press release.

[Source: NHTSA/Kia]

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Named A Top Family Car by KBB.com

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 02/28/2011 - Kelley Blue Book’s www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new- and used-vehicle information, named the 2011 Hyundai Sonata to its annual list of Top 10 Family Cars. Sonata joins a list of family-friendly vehicles, including the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, 2011 Ford Explorer, 2011 Honda Odyssey, and the 2011 Volkswagen Golf.

Full press release after the jump.

According to kbb.com experts the Sonata is “taking the mid-size sedan market by storm with a compelling mix of design, quality and value. The Sonata also is chock-full of safety features, comes with one of the best warranties on the market, and even offers a fuel-sipping hybrid model. With enough style and versatility to transform effortlessly from child-hauler to client shuttle on a daily basis, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is an easy choice for someone who needs to impress while still being practical.

“We are proud to receive this recognition from kbb.com,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning, Hyundai Motor America. “With advanced standard safety features, three versatile powertrain choices including our class-leading 40 mpg highway BlueDrive Hybrid, unrivaled interior convenience technologies and enough space to comfortably fit the entire family, the Sonata is the perfect option for families looking for quality and value without sacrificing on performance and design.”

Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com editors assessed the winning models based on safety, comfort, economy of operation, child-friendliness, a reasonable purchase price and good resale value.

“This year was especially difficult for the kbb.com editors to narrow down the Top 10 Family Cars of 2011 choices, as there is such a variety of new cars on the market today that have appealing features for the American family; capable versatility, value, safety and economical factors, to name a few,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata features some of the most advanced technological options, such as a navigation system with voice activation and interactive touch screen through XM NavTraffic® and XM Data Services, integrated Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a Homelink transceiver. It has many safety features, including Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and Anti-Lock breaking systems. Sonata was also the first midsize car to receive a five-star crash test rating under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new, more stringent 2011 system and an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick honor, placing it in a safety position unsurpassed in the industry.

KELLEY BLUE BOOK

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, used car values, car reviews, new cars for sale, used cars for sale, and car dealer locations. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through about 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

[Source: Hyundai Motor America]

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Watch Out for Hyundai's Heavy Marketing Blitz During the Oscars

Hyundai once again joins Hollywood's biggest night as the exclusive automotive sponsor of the 83rd Academy Awards, broadcast on Sunday, February 27 on ABC. Nine Hyundai ads will air throughout the coverage – two pre-show and seven during the awards ceremony itself. In accordance with Academy rules, and to ensure that Hyundai's long-time "voice" gets to enjoy the spotlight for his second consecutive Oscar nomination, Hyundai cast a guest star for a portion of the evening. Jason Bateman provides the voiceover for four ads surrounding the "Best Actor" award presentation.

Hyundai's lineup includes spots for Sonata, Sonata Turbo, Sonata Hybrid, Elantra, Genesis and Equus. The two red carpet ads include "Good Things Come in Threes" featuring Sonata's three distinct powertrains, and "Comfy Home" featuring the luxurious Equus flagship sedan. In-show spots include "Family," featuring Sonata; "Anachronistic City" featuring Sonata Hybrid; "Drawing Board," "Childhood," and "Deprogramming" all featuring Elantra; "Greatest Luxury," featuring Genesis; and "iPad" highlighting Equus' unique application of an iPad owner's manual. Bateman lends his voice to "Drawing Board," "Greatest Luxury," "Anachronistic City," and "iPad." Hyundai's campaign also includes several animated billboards throughout the show. "Drawing Board" and "Greatest Luxury" are both making their debuts during the show.

"Hollywood's biggest night is a pillar of our 'Big Voices in Big Places' strategy, positioning Hyundai in the most-watched, high-profile advertising venues," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "With the compelling TV ratings combined with the glamour of the event and its attendees, it's an ideal venue to show off the stars of our vehicle lineup."

All of Hyundai's Academy Awards commercials feature Hyundai's 2011 "New Thinking. New Possibilities." brand vision. Innocean Worldwide Americas, Hyundai's agency of record, is responsible for all creative.

Watch all nine of the commercials here.

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Hyundai Confirms Elantra Coupe For This Spring, New Azera By 2012

Hyundai’s product onslaught is scheduled to continue with two new or redesigned models that will be launched by January 2012. Following the recent Hyundai Veloster that made its debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, Hyundai announced today at a dealer meeting in San Francisco that it plans to introduce a two-door coupe version of the Elantra this spring, as well as the redesigned Azera early next year.

No details have been disclosed about the upcoming Elantra Coupe. We expect it to carry the same 148 horsepower 1.8-liter engine, meaning we expect the highly touted 40 MPG rating to stick around as well. Following the Elantra, Hyundai plans to introduce the redesigned Azera for the North American market in January 2012. The 2012 Hyundai Azera will be powered by a direct-injected 3.3L V6 gasoline engine making 260-hp and will be more fuel-efficient than the current model.

Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai’s U.S. sales boss, said that the 2012 Azera will have the potential to sell between 18,000 to 20,000 units annually in the United States, which is a big leap from the model’s current volume.

[Source: Leftlane News]

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Kia Goes Full Force with Marketing for 2011 Optima

What do the Super Bowl, Times Square, and NBA arenas have in common? They are all places where you will find the 2011 Kia Optima. This New Years, look for the 40 foot by 20 foot digital billboard in Times Square advertising the all new Kia Optima. During the Super Bowl this year, look for the Kia Optima to be promoted in those famous ads which run during time outs and other station breaks. If you are a fan of the NBA, look for the Kia Optima in basketball arenas across the United States.

The Times Square billboard is expected to be seen by more than 1 million people every day. According to Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing and communications, "The Optima has been turning heads since its unveiling earlier this year, and its striking good looks will be right at home under the bright lights of Times Square beginning on New Year's Eve and continuing well into 2011."

[Source: Kia]

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Milestone: Hyundai Sold 200,000 Sonata's in 2010

Wonder why you’re seeing so many new Hyundai Sonata models on the road? Well, that’s because the Korean automaker sold a total of 200,000 units of the new Sonatas in North America in 2010, a huge milestone for the Sonata during a record-setting year in which Hyundai sold more than 530,000 vehicles in the United States and more than 110,000 in Canada.

“Sonata has delivered some pretty incredible results for us this year,” says John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. “Sonata is the Hyundai brand and it’s appropriate that it has led our best year ever. Sonata’s innovation has reset the most hotly contested, largest segment in the U.S. car market, with Sonata delivering more year-over-year retail sales growth – about 90,000 units – than any other car in the entire industry.”

Sales of the Sonata in the stateside were up 117 percent and 65 percent overall in the U.S. marking its best year ever. Canadian sales were up 60 percent.

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Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Priced from $26,545, Goes on Sale Next Month

The Sonata is likely Hyundai's best success story this year, and the awaited hybrid version is heading to dealers next month with a list price of $26,545, which includes the $750 destination fee.

Your $26,545 bank withdrawal nets a Sonata equipped with Hyundai's Direct Hybrid Blue Drive system. A 2.4-liter inline-four finds itself matched with an electric traction motor and power is sent through a six-speed automatic transmission. Combined output is 206 horsepower and 193 pound-feet of torque, and an all-electric drive speed of up to 62 mph is claimed, though the gas-fed engine may need to pulse on and off to help the electric motor. Outside, the front end was re-sculpted in the name of efficiency, leaving the hybrid sedan with fuel economy figures of 36 city/40 highway mpg.

For an extra $5000, the Sonata Hybrid's Premium Package adds a whole host of niceties, including a panoramic sunroof, navigation, an Infinity sound system, rearview camera, glossy black door surround, 17-inch alloy wheels, and leather seats and trim.

The Sonata Hybrid's current competition includes the Ford Fusion Hybrid ($28,990), Nissan Altima Hybrid ($27,530), Toyota Camry Hybrid ($27,335), and, soon, the Kia Optima Hybrid (price not announced).

[Source: Hyundai]

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2011 Hyundai Elantra (USDM): Officially Revealed

Nothing new to see here today. The embargo on the all-new 2011 Hyundai Elantra for the North American market has been lifted today, ahead of the car's scheduled unveiling later this week at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. But does that really matter when it has been on sale in its home market (as the Avante) for numerous months now? Nonetheless, we tip our hats to Hyundai for keeping the new Elantra relatively unchanged from its Korean counterpart.


The biggest news of the all-new Elantra, other than its widely-adulated design, is what's under the hood. Powered by Hyundai's brand-"Nu" 1.8-liter 4-cylinder, the new Elantra makes 148-hp at 6500 rpm and 131 ft-lbs of torque at 4700 rpm. Perhaps more impressive is the fact that with that power output, coupled with a standard 6-speed transmission (manual or automatic) the car will achieve 29-mpg city and 40-mpg highway. And even more impressive is the fact that the figures apply to all trim levels of the Elantra, negating the need for a special high-mileage trim like the Chevrolet Cruze Eco.

Just two Elantra trim levels will be offered: GLS and Limited, with all models getting features like power windows with driver’s auto-down, remote keyless entry, six airbags and disc brakes at all corners. Limited models add items like fog lights, heated mirrors, a sunroof, 17-inch aluminum wheels (15-inch steel wheels are standard), leatherette door inserts, a leather-wrapped telescopic steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, heated leather front seats and even heated leather rear seats.

Thankfully Hyundai also offers a packages for the base GLS model including a Popular Equipment Package that adds cruise control, A/C, a telescopic steering wheel and 16-inch steel wheels. A Preferred Equipment Package adds on 16-inch alloy wheels, steering wheel audio controls, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition, a sliding center armrest and some upgraded interior trim. A Navigation package can also be had with a 7-inch monitor, while the Limited Premium Package includes items like a 360-watt audio system, as well as a “proximity key” and push-button ignition.

Stay tuned for news on pricing with the official reveal this Thursday at the LA Auto Show.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Spied: 2012 Hyundai Accent US-Spec Undisguised

The folks over at LeftLane News have obtained the first spy shots of the North American-spec 2012 Hyundai Accent today. Having seen images of the Korean-spec Accent and the Russian-spec Solaris already, the latest shots of the virtually identical North American model are mere deja-vu moments for us. Nonetheless, head over to LeftLane News to feast your eyes upon the first camoflauge-free images of the all-new Accent destined for North American showrooms early next year.

[Source: LeftLane News]

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2011 Hyundai Equus Priced from $58,000: USA

Hyundai Motor America today announced pricing for the all new 2011 Hyundai Equus luxury sedan, which will go on sale nationwide in December in select Hyundai dealerships. The Equus Signature trim will start at $58,000, while the more lavishly contented Equus Ultimate trim will be priced at $64,500. Both prices exclude a $900 destination charge.

Every Equus comes standard with “At Your Service,” Hyundai’s approach to the luxury ownership experience that provides complimentary valet service and covers all maintenance needs for 5 years or 60,000 miles. With "At Your Service," owners enjoy no-charge maintenance, including complimentary oil and filter changes, brake pads and rotors, wiper blades, and battery. Valet pickup and drop-off is provided for all warranty, maintenance and service repairs, and a Genesis or Equus replacement vehicle is provided while the owner’s car is at the dealership.

[Source: Hyundai]

READ more for the full press release!

PRESS RELEASE: HYUNDAI ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR THE ALL-NEW EQUUS

Includes Complimentary Valet Service and Maintenance for 5 Years, 60,000 Miles

Fountain Valley, Calif., 10/19/2010 - Hyundai Motor America has announced pricing for the all-new Equus luxury sedan. The lavishly contented Equus Signature will be priced at $58,000 and the top-of-the-line Equus Ultimate at $64,500. Hyundai Equus brings a fresh approach to product innovation and the ownership experience in this price segment.

Every Equus comes standard with “At Your Service,” Hyundai's revolutionary approach to the luxury ownership experience that provides complimentary valet service and covers all maintenance needs for 5 years or 60,000 miles. With “At Your Service,” Hyundai Equus owners enjoy no-charge maintenance, including complimentary oil and filter changes, brake pads and rotors, wiper blades, and battery. Valet pickup and drop-off is provided for all warranty, maintenance and service repairs, and a Genesis or Equus replacement vehicle is provided while the owner’s car is at the dealership.

The Equus retail and ownership experience includes other innovative and time-saving premium services such as:

“Your Time, Your Place,” the industry’s first at-home vehicle demonstration program
Equus Champion (product expert) at each authorized Equus dealer
Apple iPad with interactive owner’s manual capability
Equus Customer Connect Center hotline (phone and e-mail) for VIP customer service
“We’re confident that smart luxury buyers will discover that Equus competes well with similar flagship products from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Lexus,” said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. “But the traditional luxury brands simply can’t compete with the unique retail and ownership experience we’ll be providing for the Equus owner, including “Your Time, Your Place,” the industry’s first at-home vehicle demonstration program; the “At Your Service” program, which provides complimentary valet at-home pickup and no-charge maintenance for five years or 60,000 miles; and the industry’s first iPad-based interactive owner’s manual.”

Equus arrives at select Hyundai dealerships in December. Hyundai expects the premium luxury market to total close to 45,000 units this year.

2011 EQUUS MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICING

Model
MSRP

Equus Signature
$58,000

Equus Ultimate
$64,500

$900 freight charge not included

“At Your Service” Summary

Valet service – The dealership will pickup and deliver the owner’s Equus for maintenance, replacement of wear items or warranty work
Replacement vehicle – If alternative transportation is needed while service is being performed, the dealer will provide a Genesis or Equus at no cost
Maintenance – Covers all factory maintenance for the first five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first
Wear items – Covers brake pads, brakes discs, wiper blades and battery

EQUUS SIGNATURE KEY STANDARD FEATURES

• 4.6L DOHC Tau V8 engine
• Six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®
• Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS)
• Electronically controlled air suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC)
• 19-inch chrome alloy wheels with P245/45R19 (front) / P275/40R19 (rear) tires
• Four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and EBD
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with TCS and Brake Assist
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system with pre-collision warning
• Nine airbags: advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, driver knee airbag, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags
• Electronic active front head restraints with power controls
• Electronic seatbelt pretensioners
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
• Smart Cruise Control
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with LED turn signal indicators
• Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS) with auto-leveling
• Fog lights and automatic headlights
• Front and rear parking assistance system with rearview camera
• Dual power-folding heated auto-dimming side mirrors with turn signal indicators and approach lamps
• Dual asymmetrical exhaust tips integrated with rear bumper
• Proximity key entry with push-button start
• Illuminated scuff plates, inside door handles and door armrest
• Premium leather seating surfaces and Alcantara® suede headliner
• 12-way power driver seat plus lumbar adjustment and 10-way power front passenger seat
• Driver seat massage system
• Heated and cooled front seats
• Heated, wood-trimmed and leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
• Integrated Memory System (IMS) for driver-side seat, mirror and steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped dash and real wood interior trim
• Electroluminescent cluster (Supervision) with 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen
• Electronic parking brake with automatic vehicle hold
• Power windows with auto-down/up
• Navigation system with DIS and multimedia controller
• Apple iPad interactive owner’s manual
• 608-watt Lexicon 7.1 Discrete surround-sound audio system with 17 speakers
• iPod/USB and MP3 auxiliary input jacks and iPod connection cable
• XM® Satellite Radio & NavTraffic® with trial subscription
• Bluetooth® hands-free phone system
• Dual automatic temperature control with air quality system
• Windshield-wiper deicer, rain-sensing wipers and auto-defogging windshield with humidity sensor
• Electrochromic auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with HomeLink® and compass
• Acoustic laminated windshield, front and rear side windows
• Power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof
• 60/40 power reclining and heated rear seats
• Power rear sunshade and rear side-window sunshades
• Luggage net
• Premium-grade floor mats
• Premium-grade trunk cargo mat
• First-aid kit (PIO)

EQUUS ULTIMATE ADDS ULTRA-LUXURY FEATURES

Equus Ultimate adds or replaces:
• 50/50 split rear seats (four-passenger seating) with reclining function
• First-class passenger-side rear seat: leg support and massage system
• Cooled rear seats
• Rear-seat entertainment system with eight-inch monitor
• Thermoelectric rear center console refrigerator
• Rear-seat power up/down head restraints with manual tilt
• Rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors
• Forward-view cornering camera
• Power trunk lid

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through almost 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program which now includes the 5-year/60,000 mile fully transferable bumper-to-bumper warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and 5-year complimentary Roadside Assistance in addition to the highly acclaimed vehicle return policy introduced in early 2009. For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com.

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