New York 2010: Hyundai Unveils 274-HP Sonata Turbo (2.0T), Gets 34 MPG Hwy. Rating

Hyundai today debuted the all-new 2011 Sonata 2.0T, powered by the brand's new 2.0L turbocharged version of its GDI 4-cylinder engine, at the 2010 New York Auto Show.

The long-awaited Sonata 2.0T is fitted with a 2.0L Theta II turbocharged GDI (gasoline direct injection) engine that churns out 274 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque across a broad rpm range – 1,800 rpm – 4,500 rpm. The twin-scroll turbo system design minimizes turbocharger lag and gives the Sonata 2.0T 4-cylinder more power than many V6 engines, while running on regular fuel.

The new 2.0L turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engine is part of Hyundai’s Blue Drive strategy. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, Hyundai says that the Sonata 2.0T will deliver an estimated fuel-economy of 22/34 mpg (city/highway).

“The Sonata 2.0T is a great example of what our Blue Drive product strategy is doing for consumers,” said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. “Think about it – more horsepower than any of our V6 competitors, with better gas mileage than any competitive 4-cylinder model. We’re not fans of compromising at Hyundai, and the Sonata really demonstrates this aspect of our business approach.”

The 2.0T engine will be available on the SE and Limited trim level, with the 2.0T Limited getting additional upgrades such as panoramic roof and leather seating. Pricing details will be announced closer to its scheduled sales launch in late 2010.

[Source: Hyundai]

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New York 2010: All-New Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Gets Unique Look and Achieves 37/39 MPG

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is the Korean company's first shot at the hybrid segment and it's not messing around. The Sonata Hybrid boasts the highest combined horsepower output of any hybrid sedan in its class and an expected best-in-class EPA highway rating of 39 mpg, not to mention the first use of lithium-polymer batteries in the automotive industry. That's pretty strong out of the gate.

Here are the basics: The Sonata Hybrid combines Hyundai's 169-horsepower, 2.4-liter Theta II inline-4 with a 30-kilowatt electric motor. This particular Theta engine runs on the Atkinson cycle and uses continuously variable valve timing along with several friction-reducing technologies to boost efficiency by 10 percent compared to the standard Theta power plant. This hybrid powertrain's combined output of 209 hp tops all sedans in the class, while the Sonata Hybrid also happens to be one of the lightest midsize hybrid sedans at 3,457 pounds.

Like the Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion hybrids, the Sonata Hybrid can run on electric power alone, but Hyundai also claims its car can achieve 100 km/h (62 mph) in the electric mode. This is one of the reasons why the Sonata delivers such an impressive highway mileage number. The six-speed automatic transmission comes from Hyundai, but this application puts an electric motor in place of the torque converter, creating a hybrid powertrain that is more efficient and less costly than the CVTs used by its competitors, Hyundai says. More conventional elements of the Sonata Hybrid include a regenerative brake system, start/stop technology and an electric air-conditioning compressor.

Continue reading for the full article and more hi-res images.

You might not recognize the phrase "lithium polymer" in reference to the Sonata's batteries, as this is the first automotive application of the technology. Hyundai says the batteries are smaller, lighter and more durable than both nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries. For instance, the Sonata's battery pack weighs 28 pounds less than the one used in the Toyota Camry. It's also easier to package, which results in less intrusion into the trunk area.

In order to visually differentiate the Sonata Hybrid from the conventional Sonata, Hyundai has added a unique front fascia with a hexagonal grille, revised rocker panels, unique wheel designs and, of course, plenty of hybrid badging. Inside the cabin, the Sonata Hybrid also includes a technology display that gives drivers information on the available charge, power flow through the drive system and overall efficiency. It uses pretty colors to display it all, too.

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New York Preview: 2011 Kia Sportage (USDM)

With a premiere at the Geneva Motor Show behind it, the 2011 Kia Sportage is headed for U.S. dealers later this year. The Sportage bows today at the 2010 New York Auto Show, and Kia's released this photo in advance of the North American debut.

Bearing some cues from the Kia Kue concept car, the Sportage takes an entirely different styling tack than the 2010 Hyundai Tucson, which shares its compact-crossover running gear. Bigger and more substantial by far than the previous Kia entry-level ute, the new Sportage wears some crisp, angular new sheetmetal over its larger interior spaces and upgraded cabin. The face looks familiar, if you've kept pace with the barrage of new Kias issued this year--Forte, Soul and Koup. The Sportage is maybe the most flamboyant, with dramatic side fender flares and a backswept rear end. Up front it's the latest evolution of the new Kia corporate face, but with lots of detail and some strong resemblance to the 2011 Kia Optima sedan--also on display in New York.

The powertrain will be a 176-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder that Kia says gets better gas mileage and makes more power than its former 2.7-liter V-6. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine is in the works, but power output is undisclosed. A six-speed manual is the standard on all Sportages; the front-driver gets options for a six-speed automatic with sport-shift controls (shared with the bigger Sorento crossover) and for all-wheel drive.The Sportage grows considerably in this edition--the length is up to nearly 175 inches, and the wheelbase checks in at 104 inches. The suspension is independent at all four corners, and Kia says ride quality is comfortable, while handling responsiveness is better in the new vehicle--as is noise and vibration control.

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Dual front, side and curtain airbags will be standard, along with tire-pressure monitors, active headrests and a suite of electronic traction controls, from stability control to hill start assist to downhill brake control.

In standard specification, the Sportage LX will come with 16-inch wheels. The EX Sportage gets 18-inch wheels and more chrome trim on the door handles, grille, and on the body. It also adds roof rails and a rear spoiler.

The Sportage LX comes with power locks and mirrors; air conditioning; tilt steering; and cloth seats with a 60/40-split rear seat. The Sportage EX adds leather trim to the steering wheel and shift knob; dual-zone climate control; a colled glove box; a power driver seat; and an EcoMinder fuel-economy light.

Options on the LX will include 17-inch wheels; HD radio; navigation systems with real-time traffic; heated mirrors; power windows; heated side mirrors; a telescopic steering wheel; and the rear spoiler and roof rails of the more expensive editions. The EX's options include leather seats with heating and ventilation; push-button start; rear parking sensors; and a panoramic sunroof.

Both Sportage crossovers come with standard Sirius satellite radio and three months' service; USB audio inputs and Bluetooth connectivity; and UVO, a Microsoft-powered voice communication system like Ford's SYNC setup.

[Source: Kia]

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Kia Begins Sales of Cadenza in United Arab Emirates

KIA Motors Corp., through its sole distributor in the UAE - Al Majid Motors Co., yesterday held its grand launch event for the 2011 KIA Cadenza at the Grand Hyatt Dubai. KIA welcomed over 250 guests to the black-tie gala dinner to honour the first time the brand-new Cadenza which will be sold in a market outside of Korea. The 2011 Cadenza is a completely new design from KIA and is expected to shake-up the luxury sedan market worldwide, especially in the UAE where luxury sedans are in good demand.

"Our sales projections indicate that D- and E-segment cars in the Middle East region will become in even higher demand over the next five years, so we're confident the Cadenza will substantially increase KIA's market share in our market", Khader added.

Due to its refined yet modern appearance, strong performance capabilities and roomy, hi-tech cabin, the Cadenza promises broad consumer appeal. It replaces the former KIA Opirus model with an extended wheelbase, an additional exterior width and a more compact rear suspension, ensuring a more spacious interior than was found in the old Opirus, plus heightened comfort and "fun-to-drive" features and state-of-the-art technology.

The real and perceived quality of the Cadenza's cabin has been reported to be "outstanding", with available, high-tech features including keyless entry, an engine start button, a reversing safety camera, a built-in satellite-navigation system and a panoramic glass sunroof.

"We've already gotten a lot of inquiries since the soft launch in December - Customers are eager to come in for test drives, which we can now happily accommodate", concluded Khader.

[Source: DriveArabia]

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Hyundai to Mimic MINI Clubman's 3-Door System for Veloster?

It definitely seems so. Autocar recently reported that the upcoming three-door Hyundai Veloster hatchback (official name yet to be announced) would carry three physical hinged doors, similar to the MINI Clubman's mechanism.

If you examine the latest spy shots of the radical three-door hatchback closely, you will notice that the front doors are different lengths - the driver's side being longer, for easier entry and exit, and the passenger side having a shorter door and a rearward-opening 'suicide' door.

But unlike the Clubman, the Veloster is expected to have the third door on the kerbside for both left-hand- and right-hand-drive markets. Mini was heavily criticised for leaving the Clubman's rear passenger door on the wrong side when it re-engineered the car for right-hand-drive. Hyundai is expected to incur heavy retooling costs for its laudable attempt to appease both significant markets.

[Source: AutoExpress (Images)]

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Hyundai Bringing Santa Fe to India

Somehow big cars from Hyundai do not attract Indian buyers. The first big car they tried selling in India was the Sonata (called Sonata Embera in India). It failed miserably. Hyundai then rolled out the Tucson and Terracan (Hyundai's answer to the Mitsubishi Pajero and the likes), both of which also failed to appease Indians. And very soon, the ambitious Korean automaker is making its third foray into India's large car market with the Santa Fe crossover. Will they succeed this time?

Despite the descending trend of the sport-utility vehicle market being observed in many markets including the U.S., India's is displaying the otherwise with a growing appreciation for rugged vehicles. The Toyota Fortuner has amassed over 7000 bookings within a few months of the vehicle’s launch. With the longer waiting periods for prospective buyers, Hyundai will try to lure them into buying the new Santa Fe.

To reduce costs, Hyundai will utilize the CKD method (complete knock-down assembly) for the Santa Fe. The Indian-market Santa Fe will be powered by Hyundai's new 2.2L turbodiesel that produces 197 horsepower and 311 lb. ft of torque. Pricing is scheduled to be released closer to its sales launch date.

[Source: Rush Lane]

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Spied: All-New Hyundai Accent (Verna) Caught Undisguised

This time, rocking in an alluring tone of red AND sans disguise. While there is currently much debate as to whether the above car is the all-new Accent or perhaps the upcoming Elantra, rest assured - this is the new Accent. The person who sent this to us stated that the naked Accent, named Verna in South Korea, was caught during a commercial shoot in Korea's Incheon International Airport.

From the spy shots, it is very apparent that the redesigned Accent is essentially a miniaturized counterpart of the YF Sonata. Another embodiment of Hyundai's new "Fluidic Sculpture" design scheme, the RB Accent incorporates a steeper windshield rake, stretched headlamps, sleek side profile, short front & rear overhangs, and a short boot deck. The side window profile is a familiar sight from the current Elantra, YF Sonata, and the upcoming redesigned Elantra (MD), and side mirrors with turn signals add a touch of elegance.

With regards to the upcoming Accent's powertrain line-up, we have no information. The RB Accent is tentatively scheduled for release in early 2011 as a 2012 model. Stay tuned for more information and images as they become available to us.

[Source: Ppomppu.co.kr]

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Report: Hyundai to Release 800 cc Car in India by 2011-12

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HTML) is planning to launch its 800 cc small car by 2011-12. The wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motors Company is taking this step foreseeing the demand for small cars which is likely to touch 2 million units in India by the time this car gets to launch here. The Hyundai 800 cc cars will be both for Indian market and exports markets. But the company made a clear remark that it had no intentions to give a competition to the Tata Nano as it does not have the capacity to manufacture a Rs. 1 lakh car.

Hyundai is planning to undertake the production of this new 800 cc variant on the tunes of the Maruti 800 (pictured) and is supposed to hit the market with an affordable range. Hyundai is the largest seller of the small car segment. Its current best seller is i10 but Hyundai plans to offer a car at a price tag lower than i10 this time.

“We hope to bring our smaller car than Santro, which will be an 800 cc vehicle, by 2011,” said H S Lheem, Managing Director Hyundai Motors India. He, however, did not divulge details like price range of the car. The car is aimed to hit not only the Indian domestic market but the company also plans to cater to the export market as well. The design of the car will be prepared in Korea.

The research and development work has already started at R&D centers at Hyderabad and Namyam (Korea). The company however has not revealed much about the product specification but there are anticipations that this car would be a petrol variant with 800 cc engine. These units have the capacity to manufacture 20,000 units per month and 600,000 units per year.

[Source: IndianAutosBlog]

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NY: Hyundai Releases Teaser of All-New Sonata Hybrid

After announcing it would launch a hybrid version of its shapely Sonata sedan way back at the 2009 LA auto show, Hyundai sent out this teaser photo of the 2011 Sonata Hybrid before its official debut at the 2010 New York auto show.

We’ve yet to see the car in its entirety, but it appears the Sonata Hybrid receives a significant makeover to accompany its hybrid driveline. The entire front fascia is revised, incorporating a very thin upper grille accompanied by a larger aperture positioned lower in the bumper. Headlamps and foglamps are also restyled, and it appears the former incorporate Audi-like LED running lamps.

For the most part, expect the 2011 Sonata Hybrid to closely resemble the prototype Blue Drive hybrid system Hyundai first showcased at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show. A 30 kW (41 hp) electric motor will likely be sandwiched between a 2.4-liter “Theta II” inline four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission. As a parallel hybrid, the Sonata Hybrid can be propelled either by the electric motor alone or a combination of the two power sources.

Perhaps most interesting is the battery pack -- instead of following the crowd and developing lithium ion batteries, Hyundai -- along with partner LG Chem -- has pursued lithium polymer battery packs. For the most part, the battery chemistries are very similar, but instead of using a liquid electrolyte, lithium polymer cells use a polymer-based gel. As a result, each battery cell can be built in a smaller package. Hyundai says an entire lithium polymer pack can be 20 percent smaller than a lithium-ion battery -- which is already roughly 50 percent smaller than a traditional nickel metal hydride design.

Expect more details, specifications, and photos to emerge closer to the car’s New York debut on March 31.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Spied: Hyundai's new Veloster Coupe

AutoExpress has obtained the first close-up spy shots of the upcoming Hyundai Veloster, a radical three-door coupe that will replace the Hyundai Tiburon (Coupe). While the "Veloster" name is not official, the upcoming coupe has already been previewed in concept guise at the 2007 Seoul Motor Show, and little is expected to change for the production model.

Taking on a small but growing (e.g. Honda CR-Z) segment, the Veloster is Hyundai’s answer to the VW Scirocco. It is a similar size to the Scirocco, measuring 4285mm long and 1790mm wide, and will share much of its platform with the front-wheel drive Hyundai i30. The Veloster can also be regarded as a modern incarnation of the famed Honda CR-X/Ballade that took the compact front-wheel drive 3-door hatchback segment by storm when it was on sale in the 80's.

"The production car will have quite dramatic styling - even more so than the concept car," said a source. "Hyundai wants it to be a car that's bought for its looks, and it has been built with the Scirocco firmly in its sights."

The 2+2 Hyundai Veloster will come standard with a 1.6-liter four cylinder with direct injection making 140 hp. It has been confirmed to achieve over 40 mpg. Reports also indicate that the Veloster will be available with a turbocharged version of the normally-aspirated 1.6L engine, producing 175 horsepower, that first appeared in the Hyundai ix-onic concept in Geneva last year.

The Veloster has been tentatively scheduled for release by the end of 2011.

Click the source link below to view more spy shots of the Veloster.

[Source: AutoExpress]

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Kia releases first "K5" images ahead of New York debut - UPDATE

UPDATE: Kia has released an official rendering of the K5's interior.

The 2011 Kia Optima, to be called K5 in its domestic market and Magentis in other parts of the world, will make its world debut at the New York auto show next month. Beyond releasing a couple of teaser images, Kia is staying tight-lipped regarding what powertrains will be offered in the United States until the New York press conference.

From the pictures we see the latest take on Kia's “tiger” front end complete with LED accent strip above the fog lights. Livening up things more is a coupe-like profile, higher and more pronounced shoulder lines, flared wheel arches and front fender vents.

In addition to a more-stylish wrapper, the new Optima will grow some from the current model with an extended wheelbase. Sales begin this fall.

[Source: Kia]

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