2012 Hyundai i-ioniq Concept

The 2012 Hyundai i-ioniq Concept was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. This car is an electric sports hatchback with a range extending petrol engine that works similar to the Chevrolet Volt system. This car was designed, developed and built by Hyundai’s European R&D center in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

Hyundai showcases their future design direction with this concept as well as advanced technology. The roof has a unique design that Hyundai calls the “penthouse roof” which is like a panoramic style. The scissor doors and LED headlights are nice design touches. Maybe we will see some of this design in the next generation of the Veloster.

Performance

The Hyundai i-ioniq Concept is powered by a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine that produces 60 horsepower. This engine is mated to a 107 horsepower lithium-ion electric motor which is powered by a 74 horsepower generator via a single speed transmission. In all-electric mode the i-ioniq can travel 74 miles and up to 435 miles with assistance from the gasoline engine. This concept has a top speed of 90 mph.

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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport

AUTO SHOWS: Rumors about the return of the seven-passenger Hyundai Santa Fe have been floating around for quite a while. While we expected the 2013 Santa Fe midsize crossover to grow in just about every dimension to better fit a third row, Hyundai is also debuting the 2013 Santa Fe Sport, a smaller five-passenger model with an optional turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

The two Santa Fes don't share a single powerplant. The shorter Santa Fe Sport goes for an all four-cylinder lineup, starting with a 2.4-liter 190 hp I-4 making an estimated 181 lb-ft of torque. The optional powerplant is Hyundai's now familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4, which produces 264 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque under the hood of the Santa Fe Sport 2.0T. The 8.5-inch longer Santa Fe gets a slightly more potent engine -- the 3.3-liter 290-hp V-6 ripped straight from the new Azera. All three engines are hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive with torque vectoring is available.

Fuel economy was a major focus with the 2013 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport. Though larger than before, thanks to the increased use of lightweight high-tensile steel, curb weight has dropped but fuel economy, for the most part, has improved. Hyundai expects front-drive Santa Fe Sports equipped with the 2.4-liter I-4 to achieve 23/33 mpg city/highway, and front-drive turbo models to get 23/31 mpg. Hyundai expects the V-6-powered Santa Fe to score 19/26 mpg in EPA testing. For comparison, the outgoing Santa Fe scored 20/28 mpg with the I-4, and 20/26 mpg with the V-6. All 2013 Santa Fes come standard with Hyundai's Active ECO system.

Hyundai incorporated a few new driver-oriented technologies into the new Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport, including its new all-wheel-drive system with Torque Vectoring Cornering Control, or TVCC for short. Hyundai's TVCC can distribute torque as needed to any single wheel at any time, allowing the system to reduce unwanted understeer or oversteer. Hyundai is seeking to improve steering feel with its new Driver Selectable Steering Mode (DSSM) system on the Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport. DSSM includes three operating modes - Comfort, Normal, and Sport - that can lower or raise steering effort depending on the mode. DSSM adjusts not only the assistance level, but also the on-center and in-curve build-up feel, which Hyundai says will offer "a very natural progressive feel." We'll have to wait and see on that one.

As for styling, the Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport wear Hyundai's new "Storm Edge" design language. Up front, both Santa Fe models feature Hyundai's large trapezoidal chrome grille with three bars on the Santa Fe Sport and four bars on the Santa Fe. The headlights visually link the Santa Fe to the new Genesis Coupe and Veloster. The Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport's lower front fascia features a faux aluminum skid plate flanked by two foglights, which have LED daytime running lights.

The Santa Fe Sport and longer Santa Fe stylistically diverge in the profile and rear views. The window line arches up aggressively, giving the Santa Fe Sport a small window behind the rear passengers. The Santa Fe has a less aggressive beltline and a larger window behind the second row.

Out back the larger Santa Fe has dual exhaust and large taillights. The Santa Fe Sport gets a more aggressive taillight design, and a twin-tipped exhaust that exits on the right side of the car. The base Santa Fe Sport rides on 17-inch wheels, while Santa Fe Sport 2.0Ts gets 19-inch wheels. The Santa Fe rides on either 18- or 19-inch wheels.

The interior of the two Santa Fes have a flowing center stack that's typical of Hyundai. Both models offer Hyundai's third-generation navigation system on a multifunction eight-inch touch-screen display. Hyundai's Blue Link service (think OnStar) is standard on all Santa Fe models, while the long-wheelbase Santa Fe gets blind spot detection. Other available features include a panoramic sunroof, push-button start with keyless entry, and heated seats front and rear.

Some of the more functional interior amenities include a second row that folds flat and splits 40:20:40, and is available with the ability to slide fore and aft. The three-row Santa Fe boosts 1.9 inches more second row legroom than the Santa Fe Sport. The Santa Fe's third row is split 50:50, can fold flat into the floor, and offers 31.5 inches of legroom.

The short-wheelbase 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport will go on sale in July. Those looking for seven-passenger utility will have to wait until January 2013 to get their hands on the larger Santa Fe, which replaces the oft-forgotten Veracruz in Hyundai's lineup. Pricing hasn't yet been announced, but expect the 2013 Santa Fe Sport to start around $25,000, and the 2013 Santa Fe to carry a base price closer to $30,000.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe

 

BASE PRICE: $25,000-$28,500 (est)

VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, FWD/AWD, 5-7 pass, 4-door SUV

ENGINES: 2.4L/190-hp/181-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4; 2.0L/264-hp/269-lb-ft turbocharged DOHC 16-valve I-4; 3.3L/290-hp/255-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6*

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic

CURB WEIGHT: 3450-4000 lb (mfr)

WHEELBASE: 106.3 in (Sport); 110.2 in. (LWB)

LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 184.6 x 74.0 x 66.1 in (Sport); 193.1 x 74.2 x 66.5 in

0-60 MPH: 7.0-9.5 sec (est)

EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON: 0.73-0.90 lb/mile

ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY: 0.73-0.90 lb/mile

CO2 EMISSIONS: 147-177/102-130 kW-hrs/100 miles

ON SALE IN U.S.: 147-177/102-130 kW-hrs/100 miles

July 2012 (Sport); January 2013 (LWB) 

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2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe

AUTO SHOWS: Hot on the heels of another record year, Hyundai has decided to take a shot at a particularly fickle segment of the market -- the compact coupe -- even as others, including Chevrolet and Ford, are leaving it. The 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe on display at the 2012 Chicago auto show isn't the Korean automaker's first foray into these waters, but some say its previous effort, the Tiburon, is best left consigned to the history books.

Like the sedan, the Elantra Coupe is powered by a 1.8-liter I-4 that makes 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai is estimating the coupe will hit 40 mpg on the highway with the manual (39 with the automatic). City mpg also drops by one to 28 from 29 with the automatic.

Unsurprisingly, the Elantra Coupe shares the sedan's 106.3-inch wheelbase, though the two-door is 0.4 inch longer. Surprisingly, interior space remains virtually the same, with the Coupe having slightly less hip room due to its sportier front buckets. Even cargo room and read headroom remain the same -- 14.8 cubic feet and 37.1 inches, respectively.

Because coupes are meant to be more fun to drive than their sedan equivalents, Hyundai has made some mild updates to some of the suspension and chassis components, including the steering knuckle design, rear torsion beam rigidity, and damper settings. Suspension settings are further tweaked on SE models, which come with 17-inch wheels and lower-profile 215/45 tires instead of the 16-inch wheels and 205/55 tires offered on the base GS. The Elantra Coupe also receives three unique color choices -- Monaco White, Black Noir Pearl, and Volcanic Red.

Visually, the Elantra Coupe looks much like the sedan. Looking head-on, the only way to tell one apart from the other are the fog lamps -- the Coupe's are considerably bigger and extend closer to the center of the car. From the side, the elongated front door and small rear window conspire to make the Elantra Coupe seem smaller than it really is. It's from the rear (or at least the rear three-quarter) where the Elantra Coupe looks the best and sportiest -- thanks in no small part to the visible exhaust tips.

It remains to be seen how much of an impact the Elantra Coupe will have on total Elantra sales, but a properly executed variant never hurt anybody. If this two-door gamble pays off -- given that the selection of compact coupes currently on the market consists of Honda's much-derided-though-not-that-bad Civic and Korean-sister-come-archrival Kia's Forte Koup, it doesn't seem that risky -- the Elantra, with additional help from the also-new GT hatchback variant, could take the sales crown in the compact segment.

2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe

Vehicle Layout: Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door coupe

Engine: 1.8L/148-hp/131-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4

Transmission: 6-sp manual, 6-sp auto

Curb Weight: 2700-2850 lb (mfr)

Wheelbase: 106.3 in

Length x Width x Height: 178.7 x 69.9 x 56.5 in

EPA City/Hwy Fuel Econ: 28-29/40 mpg

On Sale in U.S.: Summer 2013

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2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

AUTO SHOWS: Though it may look like a hot hatch, the Hyundai Veloster lacked the power needed to live up to that billing. But that might change. Hyundai unveiled the 2013 Veloster Turbo at the North American International Auto Show, with 63 more horsepower and 72 more lb-ft than the non-turbo and a few exterior tweaks that could make the Veloster Turbo eligible for a spot in the hot hatch pantheon.

On the outside, a few cosmetic enhancements give the already showy Veloster an even more rambunctious presence. The Veloster Turbo maintains the standard model's 104.3-inch wheelbase but grows 1.2 inches in length, and adds 0.6 inch in width. Gone is the standard Veloster's bucktoothed front end, replaced by a wide-open, hexagonal grille flanked by small, round foglights. The Veloster Turbo also gets a unique rear valance with a diffuser and new dual round-tip center exhaust setup. Turbo-specific side skirts and 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 215/40R18 tires contribute to the Veloster Turbo's tuner-inspired look. Two exclusive Turbo colors are Endurance Gray and Matte Gray, Hyundai's first-ever matte paint. In addition, the Turbo model can be had in Elite White, Kona Orange, and Hydrate Blue, the three new colors available for all 2013 Velosters.

Obviously, the biggest change is the addition of a turbocharger. Unlike a do-it-yourself turbo kit, the Veloster Turbo's forced induction system is engineered for both power and efficiency. The turbocharged, direct-injected 1.6-liter I-4 produces 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, up 63 hp and 72 lb-ft from the standard Veloster's non-turbo 1.6-liter. The turbo's exhaust manifold and turbine housing are integrated into a single stainless steel piece -- much like the unit found on the Sonata Turbo's turbocharged 2.0-liter.

Hyundai say the turbocharger uses exhaust energy more efficiently thanks to its twin-scroll, split-inlet turbine housing design. Boost pressure is controlled by an electronic wastegate that provides a maximum of 18 psi when the spurs are put to it and opens up completely when the turbo isn't needed, further improving efficiency. Hyundai says the manual-equipped Veloster Turbo will achieve an estimated 27 mpg in the city, and 38 mpg on the highway. Figures for automatic models have yet to be determined.

In true sporty car fashion, a six-speed manual transmission comes standard, with a wider gear ratio spread compared to the non-turbo car to make better use of the increased power and torque. A six-speed automatic is also offered, and comes with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. This unit was developed in-house at Hyundai, and features a slightly narrower gear spread compared to the standard model's dual-clutch Ecoshift DCT transmission, a feature that helps keep the car's turbocharged engine in its power band when changing gears.

Hyundai names the Volkswagen GTI, Honda Civic Si, and Mini Cooper S (and Clubman S) as the Veloster Turbo's main competitors, and claims its car has a better power-to-weight ratio than all of them. At 2800 pounds, the Veloster Turbo is 77 pounds lighter than the Civic Si and 234 pounds lighter than VW's GTI, according to Hyundai. This weight advantage could give the Veloster Turbo an edge in the performance department.

Apart from the increased power, the only other major performance upgrade is the steering - another area that we've found lacking on the base car. There's a quick-ratio steering rack with revised steering calibration meant to deliver better feedback and control. As with the standard Veloster, electric power steering is used on the turbo model for adjustability and fuel savings over a conventional hydraulic power steering system. The Veloster Turbo's suspension is mostly carryover from the standard model. Like all Velosters, it gets a McPherson strut front suspension with coil springs, gas shocks, and a 24mm front sway bar. The rear end gets the same V-torsion beam setup found on the standard model, complete with integrated 23mm rear stabilizer bar and monotube shocks.

Inside, the Veloster Turbo gets full leather seats with the word "Turbo" emblazoned on the seatbacks. The car also gets an exclusive Supervision Cluster that uses two TFT screens between the tachometer and speedometer to relay important info to the driver. Heated front seats are standard, along with a pushbutton start and alloy pedals. As with the standard model, the Veloster Turbo gets a standard 7-inch multifunction touch-screen display. The system has Pandora Internet radio capability, and can stream music from an iPhone to the Veloster Turbo's 450-watt, eight-speaker Dimension audio system with an 8inch subwoofer and iPod, USB, and auxiliary inputs. Bluetooth audio streaming is also standard, along with a hands-free phone system. Hyundai's Blue Link telematics system will also be offered, with features like voice-to-text messaging, Automatic Crash Notification, and SOS Emergency Assistance.

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2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Tops Consumer Award’s Hybrid Category

Winners of this year’s Autobytel & AutoPacific Consumer Awards have been released and the top-rated hybrid car winner is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

This is the 16th edition of this annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.

Based solely on input from actual owners—more than 75,000 of them—taken during the first quarter of the year, AutoPacific’s 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSAs) provide a unique look at which vehicles provide the most satisfying overall ownership experience. Many other awards focus solely on specific aspects of that experience, or the subjective opinions of the media, and can’t identify the vehicles that really satisfy real drivers.

For example, when looking at the top-rated hybrid car in this year’s VSAs, the winner wasn’t the one with the absolute highest mpg ratings. Yes, the main reason people buy hybrids is to save on fuel costs, but, at this stage in the game, people expect that plus all the benefits found in a traditionally powered vehicle, too. And that’s exactly what they get in this year’s highest-rated hybrid car, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

Part of the equation is Hyundai’s satisfying price tag of $25,850 that is the lowest MSRP of any hybrid mid-size sedan on the market.

The Sonata Hybrid also delivers the highest net horsepower in its class, and, thanks to Hyundai’s “Blue Drive” hybrid powertrain, EPA marks of up to 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway/37 mpg combined.

Another Blue Drive benefit comes from the system’s advanced battery technology that relies on polymer gel electrolytes instead of the typical nickel-metal hydride setup. In plain English, the result is a battery that is 25 percent lighter, takes up 40 percent less space, delivers 10 percent better efficiency and can maintain available power for 1.7 times longer than traditional hybrid batteries.

An impressive list of standard content also contributed to the vehicle’s recognition as the highest-rated hybrid car in the 2012 VSAs.

Competitors included the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which was completely redesigned for the 2012 model year, as well as two luxury choices: The Buick LaCrosse eAssist and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The highest-rated dedicated hybrid was the Lexus CT 200h, which tied the Camry Hybrid for second place in the segment.

The most satisfying EV was the Chevrolet Volt, coming in just a few points behind the Buick and Lincoln.

In the Hybrid SUV category, the 2012 Lexus RX 450h was named the top-rated hybrid truck. Showing the diversity of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, all of the entrants in the hybrid truck category used this advanced technology, but while the 2012 Lexus RX 450h.

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