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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.

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.

Unless Hyundai’s sneak peek has something to do with the interior décor of the 2012 Accent shown at the annual Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival, there’s really not much to say about the South Korean firm’s cropped photo-posting on Twitter.

True, Hyundai will premiere its new sub-compact for the first time in the USA at the upcoming New York International Auto Show, but it won’t be a first per se as we’ve seen the new car in Beijing, in Moscow with a different name and face and more recently, at the 2011 Montreal Auto Show in January (see the video after the break).

In a very interesting melding of the virtual and real world, Hyundai has crafted a new viral ad to showcase its 2012 Accent sub-compact and highlight the brand’s new slogan “New Thinking. New Possibilities.". What makes this futuristic video intriguing is that the viral includes an actual 2012 Hyundai Accent suspended on a wall with a driver walking down the side to get into the car. At the same time, we see a film being projected on the wall creating an eye-catching combo.

See both the shorter and full version of Hyundai’s new viral of the 2012 Accent right after the jump.

The Hyundai Accent Sedan is the larger of the two Accent models currently on the market.

It will have a 140 HP Engine giving it a bump of 30 HP, and get this; without sacrificing fuel economy. Hyundai is also testing a 50 MPG Hybrid Variant of the car as well in preparation for sale. It is replacing Both the Tib and the Traditional Accent 3 Door, as an Accent 3 door hatch.

The 2011 Hyundai Accent offers decent performance, adequate cargo space, good fuel economy and not much else for about $10,000. The 2011 Hyundai Accent is the perfect car for hard-working Americans who want to save money. By the time you add these features, the Accent costs nearly $14,000. If $10,000 is your budget, get this car. If you’re likely to buy the Accent, you should know that Hyundai is redesigning it in 2012.
The Hyundai Accent is $15 shy of $10,000, and there are few affordable small cars that match this low base price. The three-door Accent doesn’t come with air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel or an audio system. By the time you add these features, the Accent will cost nearly $14,000 for the GS trim. If you’re looking for a car that’s safer than the Accent but costs less than the Forte, look at the Toyota Yaris. Its insurance industry scores are much better than the Accent’s.

The 2011 Hyundai Accent comes in three and four-door models. Last year Hyundai offered the Accent Blue; it’s unavailable this year.

Aside from some minor equipment juggling, the 2011 Hyundai Accent is basically carryover from the 2010 Accent as Hyundai prepares for big changes to its smallest car for model-year 2012. The 2011 Hyundai Accent returns as a subcompact hatchback and sedan that sell on value for the money. And sell well they do: Accent vies with the Honda Fit for title of America’s top-selling subcompact car. Should you buy a 2011 Hyundai Accent or wait for the 2012 Hyundai Accent? Wait for the 2012 Accent if you want your Hyundai value packaged as a boldly styled next-generation subcompact that should be roomier than today’s Accent and have better road manners, to boot.

Styling: The 2011 Hyundai Accent is a visual repeat of the 2010 Accent. The Accent sedan accounts for just under half of Accent sales. The Accent’s basic structure is also used by Hyundai-owned Kia for its subcompact Rio sedan and hatchback. The Kia Rio shares Accent’s mechanical design, too, though its hatchback has four doors versus two for the Accent.

Mechanical: The 2011 Hyundai Accent engineering emphasizes low cost and high mileage at the expense of driving excitement. Like most subcompacts, Accents have a torsion-beam rear axle, a prosaic design not known for high standards of ride and handling. Indeed, Accent cringes at fast cornering, its body leaning early, its small, 14-inch tires squealing often. Features: The 2011 Hyundai Accent continues with an array of features that qualifies it an attractive value. Meanwhile, the SE hatchback loses its standard power sunroof, a move that cuts $850 from its base price.

Hyundai could have made the 2011 Accent a better proposition if it addressed the availability of a key safety item. ABS remains optional on the 2011 Accent GS hatchback and GLS sedan, and unavailable altogether on the Accent GL hatchback. All Accents have a rear defroster, but on the 2011 model, the rear wiper/washer is limited to GS and SE versions.

The entry-level Accent GL sedan isn’t available with a factory-installed radio as a standard feature or an option. Cruise control and steering-wheel audio controls are standard on the SE hatchback and available on the GLS sedan. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and metallic-look interior accents are exclusive SE-model standard features.

The cherry on top of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid sundae, according to most reviewers, is the price. Starting at about $26,000, the Sonata Hybrid costs less than the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Nissan Altima Hybrid.

Reviewers have a hard time finding anything to complain about on the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. If you like everything about the Sonata Hybrid except its price, consider one of the gas-only Sonata models. The Sonata starts at just over $19,000 and comes with the same standard interior features as the Sonata Hybrid. The Sonata Hybrid is most often compared to the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid. Also, most reviewers say that the Sonata is the best affordable hybrid sedan option out there.

Hyundai joins that second group with its first hybrid, which is based on the Sonata sedan.

What exactly does the "Sonata Hybrid" have that will distance it from the Camry and Fusion hybrids? Hybrid-ness
Before I get into the performance and technology aspects of what makes the Sonata Hybrid tick, I've got to point out the fact that the Sonata Hybrid looks dramatically different from its gasoline-only sibling. The Sonata has a lower coefficient of drag than its competition, at 0.25 Cd versus the Camry Hybrid's 0.27 Cd and the Fusion Hybrid's 0.33 Cd.

Inside, all Sonata Hybrids get a digital readout between twin analog gauges that shows hybrid performance and trip computer information. Mileage is rated at 36/40 mpg city/highway, which outdoes the 2011 Camry Hybrid's 31/35 mpg rating and bests the Fusion Hybrid in highway mileage; the Ford is rated 41/36 mpg.

The Sonata Hybrid has 10.7 cubic feet of trunk space, while the base four-cylinder model has 16.4 cubic feet. The Sonata Hybrid's six-speed automatic transmission is also a hybrid first. Hybrids typically use continuously variable automatic transmissions to maximize fuel efficiency. When the Sonata Hybrid isn't in that fuel-sipping mode, shifts are crisp and acceleration is strong. My test drive took me through Southern California mountains, and the hybrid drivetrain performed well. The hybrid's handling and ride quality are both on the soft side, like the base Sonata.

Before hybrid buyers scoff at these seemingly low figures, I'll say that these numbers should be considered the bottom of the Sonata Hybrid's mileage spectrum. Sonata Hybrid in the Market
Hyundai's first hybrid is impressive in almost every way.
Now, Hyundai has introduced a hybrid version of the Sonata that delivers excellent mileage and can be driven in zero-emissions, full-electric mode at speeds up to 62 mph.

The Sonata Hybrid incorporates Hyundai's latest Hybrid Blue Drive system.

The new hybrid system combines the lithium-polymer battery with an electronically controlled clutch arrangement to create a full hybrid that can use an existing six-speed automatic transmission. In the Sonata Hybrid, Hyundai claims to have built its system around a battery that leapfrogs existing battery packs. We wouldn't call it a breakthrough—after all, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt will arrive with lithium-ion batteries that use a different chemistry than the Hyundai, but the Sonata's hybrid's batteries are a significant step compared to what's used on existing hybrids.

Compared to nickel-metal-hydride batteries of the same output, such as those used in the hybrid versions of the Toyota Camry and the Ford Fusion, the lithium-polymer batteries are 35 percent lighter and 40 percent smaller.

Compared to lithium-ion batteries, such as those used in electronic appliances, lithium-polymer batteries offer a similar energy density but with lower heat generation, which improves cycle life.

Mercedes-Benz was first to introduce similar lithium-ion batteries a year ago in its S-400 Hybrid luxury sedan using a small battery pack to assist a 20-hp motor in a "mild" hybrid that was not designed to operate on electric power alone.

The lithium-polymer batteries in the Sonata use a manganese spinel chemistry that balances energy density with thermal stability. This greater thermal stability extends battery life.

Hyundai engineers say that the lithium-polymer batteries can tolerate tens of thousands of charge cycles, without having to use a liquid-cooling system. The batteries cost about the same to produce as lithium-ion batteries, but are perhaps 10 to 15 percent more costly than nickel-metal-hydride batteries.

The Sonata Hybrid is unusual in that Hyundai engineers expect the car to get better highway mileage than city mileage.

The Sonata Hybrid shares the same fluid body panels with all other 2011 Sonatas but has lighter, more aerodynamic pieces at the front and rear.

Also enhancing highway mileage is an Atkinson-cycle version of the 2.4 Theta II engine, based on the standard 2.4-liter engine in the Sonata, but recalibrated to run on the Atkinson cycle, a common way of improving the efficiency of engines used in hybrids. Combined, the engine and electric motor generate 209 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, compared to 198 hp/184 lb-ft from the 2.4-liter version standard in the Sonata.

The multi-disc clutch pack sits within the motor and is used to decouple the 2.4-liter engine for idle/stop and electric-drive modes. By allowing higher EV-only speeds, the clutch plays a big part in the Sonata's highway fuel efficiency. With a 17.2-gallon fuel tank, the Sonata Hybrid has a theoretical



With a light throttle foot and a full battery charge, it's possible to get the car up to highway speed before the engine kicks in. We did notice a transition between engine and motor assist as we powered onto the proving grounds' high-speed oval at full throttle, but it's an acceptably seamless power delivery, all things considered, and better than some two-motor hybrids we've driven.

Braking, always a little strange in hybrid vehicles, is also close to ideal in the Sonata. It feels just like any other car with four-wheel disc brakes and four-channel ABS. Light braking regenerates the battery pack.

On the handling course, where shifting, downshifting and hard acceleration were required, the Hybrid Sonata spent most of its time with the engine running, driving like a normal family sedan. Overall, it's the most spirited midsize hybrid we've driven.

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.

Hyundai Veloster is the first vehicle from Hyundai with an odd number of side doors, one on the driver's side and two on the passenger side.

"We developed the Hyundai Veloster to satisfy young customers in their 20s and 30s who want the lifestyle of the top individuals in the driving experience," said Yang Seung Suk, the president told reporters that the company's marketing.

Hyundai plans to sell only 18,000 Hyundai Veloster in the local market every year, which is part of a marketing strategy to keep the model relatively rare on the road.

The company will penetrate the European market in the first half of this year and the North American market and other overseas in the second half.

Hyundai Veloster have Gamma 1.6-liter engine Hyundai, with fuel consumption average of 15.3 kilometers per liter.

One feature is a smart key system with push-start, rearview camera and vehicle dynamic control system that automatically stabilizes the car in driving conditions in the hard street.

In Korea, the car is valued 19.4 million-20, 95 million won, or 17,400 to 18,800 dollars for the automatic transmission model.

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.

After Japan’s local automakers, foreign car companies are also rallying to support people affected by the earthquake and the tsunami that hit the Asian nation on Friday. BMW has offered an emergency aid worth €1 million ($1.4 million) destined for the treatment of traumatized children, emergency aid and reconstruction work. The money will be split evenly between the international non-profit organization “Save the Children” and the Japanese Red Cross. Read more »

Hyundai is one of the world’s biggest automakers, and the most visible of South Korea’s business and industrial acumen. So you would think a company that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Toyota and pre-bailout GM would be pretty consistent with its model naming conventions, right?

Well, not exactly. When Hyundai first launched the i30 hatchback in Europe, Australia and other markets, it seemed that familiar nameplates such as Elantra and Sonata would soon be dead and buried. Not so. In fact, the i30 CW (basically, the station wagon version of the i30), is still sold in the U.S. as the Elantra Touring.

Hyundai is becoming a harbinger of doom for other car brands. The Sonata’s near the top of the family-sedan ranks, and with the Genesis, Hyundai aped Lexus’ first steps by introducing a luxury sedan at an eye-popping price, and fitting it with the luxury stuff you’d find in any upmarket near-luxury vehicle.

Now the Hyundai Equus is trying to tackle an even more exclusive group of sedans. The Equus also comes with one more killer app: ultimate customer service.

The Equus is arguably Hyundai's fourth luxury car, following the 2001 XG300/350; its replacement, the 2006 Azera; and the 2009 Genesis sedan — and each has been larger and more luxurious than the preceding one. If the Genesis straddled the line between midsize and full-size luxury sedans, the Equus is squarely in the full-size class, among the BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. For its price, the Equus is amazing. The Equus (pronounced ECK-wiss) is absolutely competitive with flagship luxury sedans from around the world, yet I suspect it will fail to truly compete — for the most superficial, intangible reasons.

The Equus comes in two trim levels: the Signature and the Ultimate. (See the two trims compared.) In terms of features and luxury appointments, little is missing from the Equus. It has a standard adjustable-height air suspension and adaptive shock absorbers, features that are optional on some competing models.

The leather is high quality, and the trim includes textured genuine aluminum. The 2011 Equus' six-speed was well-behaved, and the car accelerated authoritatively and quietly. The Equus comes with nine airbags, including side curtains and seat-mounted side-impact airbags for all window seats. If you're like me, you'll find no overall problem with the Equus. Unfortunately, American consumers aren't Vulcans (though apparently some are Kardashians), and they won't be flocking to buy a luxury car from Hyundai.

Technically, Hyundai isn't the problem. Modest brands fail to make a dent with luxury vehicles. History has proved that luxury cars must come from luxury brands. As I point out at every opportunity, Hyundai did itself no favors by naming its affordable sports car the Genesis Coupe — different buyer, different price range, different ... everything, except the name.

Selling luxury cars requires a luxury brand, and that calls for a separate distribution channel — no cheap endeavor. As I said of the Genesis sedan, the Hyundai Equus is a great car for buyers who thought they could never afford a car of its ilk.

The success of the Hyundai Genesis sedan, however, has the Korean automaker thinking big. The Genesis offers some equipment found only on $50,000 luxury cars in a $32,000 to $40,000 price range. The Genesis appears to be convincing skeptical auto writers and skeptical car shoppers that Hyundai can build a bargain luxury car.

In Asian markets, this car is sold as an alternative to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS - a super-luxury car with a sticker price approaching six figures. Would Americans accept a six-figure Hyundai?

Might the Equus pull of the same trick a step down, bringing 7-Series size and luxury into the 5-Series price range?
The 2011 Hyundai Equus is a large luxury sedan available in Signature and Ultimate trim levels. Within the plush cabin you'll find dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled power front seats (10-way driver, eight-way passenger) with driver massage and memory functions, a heated, power-adjustable tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather upholstery, a microfiber suede headliner, heated and reclining rear seats, rear audio and climate controls, power rear window shades, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a navigation system with real-time traffic and multimedia controller, Bluetooth, and a 17-speaker Lexicon surround sound system with an iPod interface, satellite radio and six-CD changer. The Equus Ultimate seats four, as the rear bench seat is replaced with a pair of reclining bucket seats with heating/cooling/massaging functions and a passenger-side power footrest. A center console includes storage bins, a mini refrigerator and separate controls for the climate and rear seat DVD entertainment systems. This rear-wheel-drive car is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. In Edmunds performance testing, the Equus went from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is slower than other V8-powered luxury sedans.
According to Hyundai estimates, the Equus will achieve 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined.

The 2011 Hyundai Equus comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock brakes, electronic seatbelt pre-tensioners, active front head restraints, a lane-departure warning system, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a driver-side knee airbag, front and rear side airbags, and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the Equus came to a stop from 60 mph in 131 feet, which is rather long for a flagship luxury sedan.

The climate controls consist of remarkably simple knobs and buttons.

Making its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, is the estate version of Hyundai’s all-new, Europe-specific D-segment model, the i40. Designed and engineered at Hyundai’s R&D headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany, with European buyers in mind, the i40 will fill the gap left by the outgoing Sonata model in the South Korean automaker's range and will compete against the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. A four-door sedan version will be introduced this year, with most bets going towards the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is a winner by all means. You can take it on-road or off-road, buy a 1.6 Liter Gamma Turbo Inline-4 engine or a 2.4 Liter Theta II Inline-4 engine; but however you cut it, the 2011 Hyundai Tucson is a stylish and smart choice.

Hyundai redesigned the Tucson in 2010, and for 2011, little has changed. The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is very similar to the 2010 model. The Tucson’s price is also hard to turn down. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 can’t beat this price. Although it offers a lot of features at an affordable price, there are areas where the 2011 Hyundai Tucson falls short. Few affordable compact SUVs beat the Tucson when it comes to fuel economy, but if you want a few more miles per gallon, the Chevrolet Equinox tops the Tucson and averages 22/32 mpg city/highway.
The Tucson has three trims: GL, GLS and Limited. The GLS and Limited models have a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and optional all-wheel drive. The upper trims receive a six-speed automatic transmission.

This new base model makes use of a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine instead of the previous 2.4-liter engine.

The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV that is offered in three trim levels: GL, GLS and Limited.

The GLS adds 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, roof rails, heated side mirrors, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leatherette vinyl door trim and seat inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and Bluetooth. All-wheel-drive GLS models also get heated front seats. The Limited trim goes the extra mile by adding 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels, outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, automatic headlights, foglights, upgraded suspension, front wiper de-icer, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver seat with lumbar adjustments, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview
The 2011 Hyundai Tucson GL comes standard with a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 165 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. Only front-wheel drive is available for the GL.
The automatic improves these figures to 23/31/26 mpg. The front-wheel-drive GLS and Limited models are expected to get 22 city/31 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined, while AWD models make slightly less at 21/28/23 mpg.

we found its acceleration to be just about average among other compact crossovers, with our test vehicle requiring 9.6 seconds to reach 60 mph.

Standard safety equipment for the "2011 Hyundai Tucso"n includes antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), stability and traction control, active front headrests, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, hill holder and hill descent control.

Unlike many of the humdrum interiors found in other crossover SUVs, the 2011 Hyundai Tucson offers a contoured twin-cowl dash that's available in two-tone color schemes. The Tucson provides a comfortable driving position for drivers of almost any size. The compact Tucson also offers only 55.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, while both the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are rated at more than 70 cubic feet and even the Subaru Forester is rated at 63 cubic feet.

Many compact crossovers offer uninspired driving dynamics, but the 2011 Hyundai Tucson breaks from convention with a more lively spirit.

European-inspired suspension tuning and a well-weighted electric power steering system give the Tucson a sportier feel, but unfortunately, it comes at the expense of ride quality.

The Hyundai i40, essentially a Sonata wagon, will make its world debut on March 1 at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show.
"We have no plans for a Sonata wagon in the U.S.," a Hyundai spokesman told Inside Line on Friday.

The Hyundai i40 wagon will be introduced in Europe this year, with a sedan version to follow, the company said.

GENEVA — The European-designed Hyundai i40 — essentially a Sonata wagon — will make its world debut on March 1 at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. Hyundai described all of those features as "new technologies for Hyundai."

This is the all-new Hyundai i40, the Korean brand's Ford Mondeo-rivalling estate car.

As a premium offering it boasts heated and reclining front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and an active de-mist system that automatically detects and clears mist on the windscreen--The 2011 Geneva Motor Show begins on March 1st.

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd (Hyundai) recently revealed the first pictures of the new i40, ahead of its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show which will be set for launch in Europe during the second quarter of this year.

From stunning design and specification, to industry-leading technology and after-sales care, the i40 sets itself apart from its competitors,” said senior vice president and chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor Europe, Allan Rushforth.

The i40 would be Hyundai’s first D-segment vehicle to be developed specifically for the European market, with a package of powertrains, equipment and technology tailored for European tastes.

Designed and engineered at Hyundai’s research and development headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany, the i40 model maintained its signature features such as the hexagonal grille.

The ‘modern premium’ concept was also evident in the efficient powertrain choices available to i40 buyers.
Hyundai’s customer care package ‘Five Year Triple Care’ would come as a standard on the model.

What it is: A small front-drive, four-seat coupe to replace the Tiburon. Hyundai will position the car below the rear-drive Genesis coupe.

Platform: The Hyundai Veloster will share some of its parts with the compact front-drive Accent.
Competition: Ford Focus coupe, Honda Civic coupe, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Scion tC.

The Hyundai Veloster is a front-drive coupe with a pretty sleek profile on the driver's side. Until it dawns on you that the door is shorter than on the driver's side and that there's another door behind it. Hyundai says that - unlike the Mini Clubman - the door arrangement will be properly reversed for us right-hand drivers.
Engine is a 1.6 turbo, and there's a twin-clutch transmission option.

Inside it's got the usual show car touches including multi-part display screens, pod seats and suicide doors. But it also has something Hyundai is introducing on its production cars: BlueLink. This is a fully voice-activated connection pack for phones, music, nav and reading and composing emails.
Composing smart or funny or well-argued ones is definitely going to take your mind off the driving.

Hyundai today finally unveiled its eagerly awaited "Hyundai Veloster coupe "at the 2011 North American International Auto Show, aka the Detroit show. We first saw the Veloster as a concept car at the 2007 Seoul motor show.

The Hyundai Coupe slid quietly off sale in 2009, and the Veloster - promised in concept form a couple of years ago - fires the Koreans back into the semi-sporting market. We'll get the new Veloster in Europe, too.

The architecture underpinning the new Veloster is all Hyundai i30. A twin-clutch transmission - Hyundai's first - is also available.
Interestingly, unlike Mini's oddball Clubman, Hyundai has engineered the solitary rear door for left- and right-hand drive. The door handle on the single rear door is cleverly hidden, maintaining the coupe silhouette.

'This exciting car offers progressive buyers a sleek and distinctive design in an innovative three-door coupe form that provides practicality as well as driving pleasure.

Hyundai had shared the first photos of its all-new i40 ahead of the car's world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show on March 1. Revealed here in station wagon form, the estate is the first i40 body style to be introduced to Europe, with a four-door sedan model to follow later this year. The i40 essentially replaces the older generation Sonata in Europe eyeing the highly competitive D-segment with rivals such as the Ford Mondeo, Peugeot 508, Mazda6 and Volkswagen Passat.

Designed and engineered at Hyundai’s R&D headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany, Hyundai says the i40 is the company's "first D-segment vehicle to be developed specifically for the European market, with a package of powertrains, equipment and technology tailored for European tastes."

Hyundai's Genesis sedan is much improved for 2012, yet its position in the market won't change one bit. The Genesis will continue to give engineers and product planners at Mercedes-Benz and Lexus fits, thanks to the sedan's upgraded V-6 engine, revised suspension tuning, and a new eight-speed automatic transmission -- not to mention the 429-horsepower R-Spec model.

Hyundai expects highway fuel efficiency to increase to 29 mpg, though city fuel economy probably won't stray far from the 2011 model's 18 mpg. Don't be surprised if the 2012 Genesis 3.8 accelerates as fast as a 2011 Genesis V-8.

The real news for the 2012 Genesis is the R-Spec model. Its 5.0-liter V-8 makes 429 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at 5000 rpm.

At 2011 Chicago Auto Show Hyundai unveiled a new edition of the the Genesis sedan dubbed the R-Spec, powered by a new 5.0 liter engine developing 430 hp. The highlights of the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec also include unique 19-inch machined-finish alloy wheels, optional Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 summer performance tires and sport-tuned transmission, suspension and steering calibrations for sportiness. Genesis R-Spec only will be offered in three sport-oriented exterior colors: Black Noir, Titanium Gray, and Platinum Metallic, each with Black leather interior and an all-black leather steering wheel for a differentiated sport appearance from the 4.6 model.
The refreshed 2012 Hyundai Genesis, including a new 429-horsepower 5.0-liter R-Spec model, debuted at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show.

All three variants in the 2012 Genesis lineup now get an eight-speed automatic transmission, an upgrade over the old six-speed transmissions offered in the 2011 Genesis.
The 2012 Genesis goes on sale in April.

The refreshed "2012 Hyundai Genesis", including a new 429-horsepower 5.0-liter R-Spec model, debuted on Wednesday at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. Although pricing was not announced on the R-Spec model, expect it to be the most expensive Genesis ever, priced between $45,000 and $50,000, Hyundai told Inside Line.

The R-Spec churns out 44 more hp than the 4.6-liter V8 in the 2011 Genesis--The 2012 Genesis goes on sale in April--Although the EPA has yet to rate the 2012 Genesis, Hyundai said the fuel economy in the R-Spec model will "nearly match" that of the 2011 Genesis 4.6.

If this ad is to be taken seriously, the only difference between a late 1980s E30 BMW 325i and a Hyundai Excel is price and the engine / transmission layout. After all both have, “[A] plush interior, European styling [and] room for five.”

After all, niggling little details like equipment levels, brand image and build quality have never bothered car buyers before, right? Apparently not, as the Excel went on to become one of U.S.’s best selling imports, with 168,000 of the little blighters sold in its first year stateside. That’s a lot of, “Hun-days,” [sic].

Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) go back a long way and their partnership has been further cemented at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show with the unveiling of the Veloster rally car which is powered by a specially tuned four-cylinder turbocharged engine capable of 500-horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque.