Category: Hyundai

It was rumoured and Hyundai’s U.S. product development chief, John Krafcik, confirmed it an interview with Automotive News. The future Genesis coupé will feature a turbocharged engine.

Contrary to popular belief, the engine will not be a V6 petrol unit but a smaller 4 cylinder unit that will also feature direct-injection technology. A smaller engine has been preferred in order to meet the emission regulation and reduce the consumption, essential selling factor at a time when petrol prices are sky-rocketing. He also ruled out the rumoured V8 engine by the same token.

He also revealed that Hyundai doesn’t consider the Genesis coupé as a replacement for the current Coupé SIII model. Indeed, the Korean carmaker expects to launch a new FWD Coupé in the future, but Krafcik didn’t give any timeline. He also said that Hyundai has no plan to release hybrid models due to high costs.

The Swedish company Haldex has announced it had received an order from Hyundai to build a prototype equipped with the latest company’s technology known as XWD. Already offered by Saab on the re-designed 9-3, Hyundai might become the second carmaker to adopt the new system and the first Asian carmaker to get a Haldex system.

Originally, the Haldex system is an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. It is not a permanent solution but a fully automated system that directs torque to the rear axle when slip occurs. The latest generation, dubbed XWD, includes an electronic limited slip differential and a pre-emptive engagement of rear wheels under hard acceleration. Up to 85% of torque can be sent to an individual wheel and during low load conditions, 96% of drive will go through the front wheels to improve fuel economy.

Haldex already supplies the Volkswagen group and Ford’s Land Rover and Volvo brands with its all-wheel drive systems.

Source: automotiveworld

Hyundai won two major awards in Australia for its latest hatchback, the new i30 model. Indeed, it won the 2007 CARSguide Car of the Year title and also the CARSguide Green Car of the Year trophy. The is the first time a Korean carmaker got a national award in this country.

Behind the i30, the VW Golf GT TSi took the second place while the new Mazda 2 arrived at the third rank. The Australian Car of the Year title differs slightly from the European Car of the Year trophy. While in Europe, cars are driven by several journalists from different magazines and countries, in Australia, the cars are being tested by the CARSGuide magazine, which compares the selected cars against 10 criteria. The criteria include styling, safety, innovation, value, functionality, build quality and performance. The maximum score is 99 points.

The Hyundai i30 got 94 pints, the Golf GT TSi got 86 points and the Mazda 2 got 75 points. You will find below the final rankings:

• Hyundai i30 CRDi (94pts)
• VW Golf GT TSi (86pts)
• Mazda2 Maxx (75pts)
• Mitsubishi Lancer VR (71pts)
• Mercedes-Benz C280 (66pts)
• Holden Ute SV6 (56pts)
• Ford Mondeo Zetec (37pts)
• Subaru Impreza RS (32pts)
• BMW X5 3.0d (31pts)
• BMW 335i sedan (25pts)
• Volvo C30 T5 (21pts).

At the last New York Motor Show, the Korean manufacturer had unveiled Hyundai Genesis concept car to gauge public reaction to the idea of a Hyundai premium model. Almost everybody acclaimed the styling exercise that previewed the future Genesis saloon. Unfortunately, imagine a threesome between the Lexus LS460, the BMW 5-Series and a Toyota Crown, and you will get the car you see here. The production version is a disappointment.

Forget the slender lines of the concept car, the Genesis saloon uses styling clues from the LS 460 for the fascia. The rear end is similar to the Crown’s and the general shape takes inspiration from the BMW 5-Series.

Due to be unveiled at the next Detroit Motor Show, the Genesis will be based on the BH platform shared with the new Hyundai coupé. Secrecy continues to surround the exact spec of the future saloon, although it is known it will feature the new Theta V8 engine. According to various sources, it will produce more than 300 bhp.

The Genesis represents Hyundai’s serious attempt on the competitive American executive saloons. At around $30,000, it will be less expensive than the ubiquitous Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes.

Hyundai has supplied more details about the upcoming new European factory based in the Czech Republic. The new plant will start to roll out the i30 hatchbacks in early 2009. At the same time a second model will join the i30. Both models will be built at 200,000 units per year. In 2011, Hyundai plans to add a third model to the production line. Capacity will be raised to 300,000 vehicles.

Hyundai inaugurated the factory construction site a few months ago on the 25th of April. It invested £777 million in the new plant and will directly employ around 7,000 people, with 2,845 employed indirectly.

Oddly, the i30’s sister, the Kia Cee’d will not be built in the same factory, but in the Kia’s Eastern European facility based in Slovakia. Nevertheless, the two cars will share components and suppliers.

This is the first picture of the interior for the next-generation Hyundai coupe. Like the facelifted Sonata that will be unveiled this week, Hyundai designers have put all their expertise into designing an upmarket interior.

Like the overall shape, the interior takes inspiration from Japanese trends, or rather Nissan trends, with a central console that looks like the Nissan Skyline Coupe’s console. The wheel is very similar to Honda design. We won’t complain about that, since both carmakers design ergonomic and stylish interiors.

Inside Line has also confirmed that the next Hyndai coupe will not feature the Tau V8 engine. The powerful V8 will be used only for the Genesis sedan. The future Hyundai coupe will feature two engines. The entry level will get a 2.0 litre turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that will have an output of 215bhp and a torque of 217ft/lbs. The other engine will be the 3.8 litre V6 engine issued from the Hyundai Grandeur/Azera but boosted at 300 bhp.

Hyundai will unveil the Genesis Coupe concept car at the Los Angeles Motor Show next week. The concept car will be a preview of the eagerly anticipated new Hyundai Coupe due to go on sale next year, but thanks to a member of the New Tiburon forum, we already know the final design of the future coupe. The anonymous forum member posted some pictures taken during an internal market research event.

Unquestionably Hyundai designers have taken their inspiration from the Japanese competition. The future coupe looks like an Infinity G37 or a Honda Accord. Compared to the current model, the design is more upmarket and shows just how much expertise Hyundai has acquired over the past few years. Sometimes, however, there are visual details that look rather suspicious. On the new coupe, the rear side window shape breaks the general line, although it does provide a greater field of vision.

As reported in a previous post, the future coupe will also go upmarket with its engines. According to the most recent information, the future Hyundai coupe will feature two engines. The entry level will get a 2.0 litre turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that will have an output of 215bhp and a torque of 217ft/lbs. The other engine will be the 3.8 litre V6 engine issued from the Hyundai Grandeur/Azera but boosted at 300 bhp. The V8 engine seems to have disappeared but Hyundai wants its coupe to compete with the Mustang however (?!). Thus, a V8 is a requirement. There is still a chance that the future coupe will feature the Tau V8 unveiled with the Genesis concept car at the last New York Motor Show. In this situation, it might develop 380bhp. Technically, the new coupe is also a big move for Hyundai as the car will switch from front wheel drive to rear wheel drive.

On the US market, the price will be very competitive. The 4 cylinder version will be sold at $19,900 (£9,500) and the V6 engine for $25,900 (£12,300). Unfortunately do not expect the future coupe to be so cheap when it arrives in the UK. Here, the least expensive version starts at £15,772 with a small 1.6 litre petrol engine that produces 103bhp. With only 165bhp, the V6 version still costs £19,597.

Here are the first images of the redesigned Hyundai Sonata. It is thought that the revamped saloon might be unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show in a couple of weeks.

The only picture available of the outside shows the front side of the car. The main changes focus on moving the car upmarket. The grille has been enlarged and features a new frame which takes its inspiration from the Azera model. The headlights are also larger and there are new fog-lights. The bottom front fender is wider than the current model.

At first glance, the biggest changes are inside, with a revamped – and more appealing – dashboard. This time Hyundai has put all its expertise into the best dashboard it has ever designed, at least on initial examination. The central console abandons the current cheap curves and buttons in order to adopt a clean shape with aluminum trimmings. Until now the wooden panels used by the Korean carmaker felt cheap. With this new interior, Hyundai seems to have made a real effort.

Here are some spyshots of the rear side of the upcoming Hyundai coupé. It looks like that this time Hyundai took inspiration from the Infiniti G35 rear as the proportions and design are very similar.

As I reported in a previous post, the Hyundai coupé will use V6 engines issued from the Grandeur saloon. It is also said that the coupé may receive the new V8 engine which will be available in the Genesis.

The new Hyundai coupe will be revealed in March 2008 in South Korea.

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