I was talking to someone awhile back about Walmart. The person I was talking to said that she hates Walmart. I asked why. She didn’t say “because Walmart mistreats their employees and are rude and dishonest.” [I’m not saying Walmart does or doesn’t do these things, I am just giving hypothetical reasons someone might give for thinking that Walmart is unethical.] She said the reason that she hates Walmart is because Walmart sells everything; because Walmart sells things cheaply and contains all different types of merchandise they end up putting small local “Mom and Pop” stores out of business. The person I was talking to feels that Walmart is unethical because other stores go out of business because they can’t compete with Walmart’s vast stock and cheap prices and that it’s wrong for Walmart to succeed while many smaller stores go out of business.
While I didn’t respond this way to her at the time, I thought of responding: “I see. So because Walmart is better than their competitors, this makes them bad. You want a Harrison Bergeron type of society where those who are richer, or smarter, or better looking than others should be punished for being so. Walmart is a business that is trying to attract customers by selling things people want at a cheaper price than anywhere else. How is this unethical? It’s better that the more business—savvy store be forced to shut down to make room for those small stores that are more expensive and less convenient than Walmart according to you. Why should someone be punished for running a business well? If someone studies and works hard and is the only student to get an A on a test so there is no grade inflation for the rest of the class, according to you this A student is unethical because now that he got an A no one else’s grades can be inflated and it’s his fault. I’m sorry, but I disagree.”
What this little story of mine shows seems to be a popular notion today. A lot of people feel that it’s not fair that there are people who are attractive, smart, and rich when there are those that aren’t and that it’s justice to level the playing field by taking away from those with advantages and giving it to those with disadvantages. While you’re entitled to your opinion, I’m also entitled to mine. If the only way you can give charity is by robbing from millionaires then don’t give charity. Leave charity to those who can give to the poor without stealing from others (yes, even if those others are millionaires). Why is our country turning into the characters from Raising Arizona who feel that it’s okay to take from others who they deem to “have enough already”?
On April 5, The Retailers Association of Massachusetts plans to unveil its "Main Street Fairness Coalition" at a legislative hearing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts is made up of local merchants who want people to pay a sales tax when ordering online. The reason that local businesses have to pay sales tax and online businesses don’t is “because of the Quill Corp. vs. North Dakota decision [which rules that] states can only require a company to collect sales taxes if it has some sort of physical presence in the state.” (http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinion/x719609407/
Chesto-Retailers-fight-back-against-Amazon). The Quill Corp vs. North Dakota decision gives online stores an advantage local stores don’t have.
Local stores feel that the way to stop losing business is for the government to impose sales tax on online stores. This proposal hopes to level the playing field. Of course there are numerous reasons why people shop online and not in stores that has nothing to do with sales tax. Sales tax is only part of the issue. First of all, online stores have shipping and handling fees which local stores don’t have. But of course, you don’t hear the local stores mentioning this advantage.
If local stores really wanted to get people coming to their stores this would entail lowering their prices and having a wider selection of merchandise. But why lower your prices and make less money when you can have online stores raise theirs? (Or in the above analogy, why study hard to get an A when you can have grade inflation?).
The meeting will take place on Beacon Hill where Massachusetts will decide if this new legislation will get passed. According to Representative Martin J. Walsh, a Dorchester Democrat who supports the bill charging online businesses with having to pay sales tax, “This is less about collecting taxes and more about a question of fairness. This levels the playing field for retailers in Massachusetts who are losing sales to the Internet.’’ (http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/04/06/
retailers_push_for_e_commerce_sales_tax/).
States such as Illinois, New York and Rhode Island have already agreed to charge a 6.25% sales tax, effective July 1st 2012 for online stores that have buildings located in any of those 3 (so far) states (and dozens of more states are proposing to adopt this bill as well).
“According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, states missed out on an estimated $8.6 billion in 2010 from failing to collect sales tax for online and catalog purchases.” (http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/04/
06/retailers_push_for_e_commerce_sales_tax/).
The problem I have with this bill isn’t so much that customers have to pay sales tax when ordering online, but the reason that this bill is introduced in the first place. It’s one thing if some states decided to propose this bill, but instead this is coming out of local businesses. It seems obvious to me that these businesses only have self interest in mind, which is okay but at least admit that’s the reason for this bill. Don’t pretend it’s about leveling the playing field when it’s really about money. Local businesses are losing money and they feel this bill will increase sales at local stores. The fact that this bill may increase sales to local businesses but will certainly cause people to spend more money online isn’t the concern of local businesses. Do local stores really believe the way to attract customers is to isolate them by adding online expenses to people? Why don’t local stores ease the burden on customers by lowering their own prices instead of lobbying the government to raise the prices (through the use of sales tax) of their online competitors? Is the only way to get people to shop at your stores is by taking away the advantages of others? There are advantages to buying in stores already, such as having your item right away and knowing what condition the product is in instead of having to wait a week for online stores to deliver. Customers who shop online have to pay shipping and handling fees that they don’t have to pay when shopping at a local store, but I don’t see the online stores complaining to the government about this.
There are always advantages and disadvantages that both groups have. Isn't better to try to get rid of the disadvantages instead of spreading them to others? Well I guess it’s true what they say: “The best defense is a good offense.” The staff at Gary Rome Auto Group (who have both local and online stores, so we aren't part of the problem) would love to hear your thoughts on this—which only costs 6.25% of your purchase.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Hyundai Equus Ultimate
The 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate has a nice sporty look to it. The car design has a strong, sleek look to it without drawing attention to itself.
What makes the Hyundai Equus Ultimate such an ultimately enjoyable experience are all the cool new features that the Hyundai Equus Ultimatecontains. The 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate has a heated steering wheel, seats which can be heated and cooled, a refrigerator in the rear console, an entertainment system in the rear of the car, and power sunshades are a just a few of the features that the Hyundai Equus Ultimate contains.
The Equus has two seats in the back of the car. In between the two seats is a console which stores the entertainment system. The back seats (unlike many cars, which only give this feature to the front seats) can recline as well as massage the passengers. All this makes no only driving but sitting in the Equus a pleasurable experience.
The 2011 Hyundai Equus has Hyundai’s exclusive dealership experience. All you have to do to get a routine checkup and maintenance is click on the service application on the I-Pad (which comes with the car) and make for a technician to come and take your car to get a checkup.Hyundai’s exclusive dealership experience gives you an Equus or Hyundai Genesis until your car comes back from the dealership (after the routine maintenance).
With all these unique features, comfortable seats, and nice sleek look, make the 2011 Hyundai Equus the car to buy.
What makes the Hyundai Equus Ultimate such an ultimately enjoyable experience are all the cool new features that the Hyundai Equus Ultimatecontains. The 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate has a heated steering wheel, seats which can be heated and cooled, a refrigerator in the rear console, an entertainment system in the rear of the car, and power sunshades are a just a few of the features that the Hyundai Equus Ultimate contains.
The Equus has two seats in the back of the car. In between the two seats is a console which stores the entertainment system. The back seats (unlike many cars, which only give this feature to the front seats) can recline as well as massage the passengers. All this makes no only driving but sitting in the Equus a pleasurable experience.
The 2011 Hyundai Equus has Hyundai’s exclusive dealership experience. All you have to do to get a routine checkup and maintenance is click on the service application on the I-Pad (which comes with the car) and make for a technician to come and take your car to get a checkup.Hyundai’s exclusive dealership experience gives you an Equus or Hyundai Genesis until your car comes back from the dealership (after the routine maintenance).
With all these unique features, comfortable seats, and nice sleek look, make the 2011 Hyundai Equus the car to buy.
“Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?”
Some teachers in Amherst, MA want the community to grow more food. Brian Donahue, an environmental history professor at Brandeis is speaking on March 30 at 7 P.M. in Town Hall about growing more food. Donahue’s speech is called, “Growing More Food in Amherst: Public Responsibilities and Opportunities” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/
amherst_officials_want_residen.html).
John Gerber, a professor at the University of Massachusetts is also leading a campaign to help residents from Amherst take part in growing more food. Gerber is trying to make it easier for people to get a raise chickens. Gerber’s goal is to get ordinary people in Amherst to raise chickens as a way to help contribute to the producing as food as well as having people become more self-sufficient.
Gerber also mentions that there is around 100 acres that could be used for farming, instead of growing hay to feed animals (which is how the land is currently being used).
Gerber says that people can do more in terms of growing more food. Such ways to do this are by raising chickens and other farm animals, supporting local farmers and markets and having people have their own gardens and growing vegetables from there.
Gerber says that, “we need a lot more people involved if we’re going to make the kind of changes [to grow more food]” (http://www.masslive.com/news/ index.ssf/2011/03/ amherst_officials_want_residen.html).
Gary Rome Auto Group hopes that Donahue’s speech and Gerber’s advocacy will be successful. Thanks to modern technology and know- how, there are ways to combat food shortages. The staff at Gary Rome Auto Group hopes that increasing the amount of food and decreasing starvation will be successful and lead to even more ways to combat food shortages in the near future.
John Gerber, a professor at the University of Massachusetts is also leading a campaign to help residents from Amherst take part in growing more food. Gerber is trying to make it easier for people to get a raise chickens. Gerber’s goal is to get ordinary people in Amherst to raise chickens as a way to help contribute to the producing as food as well as having people become more self-sufficient.
Gerber also mentions that there is around 100 acres that could be used for farming, instead of growing hay to feed animals (which is how the land is currently being used).
Gerber says that people can do more in terms of growing more food. Such ways to do this are by raising chickens and other farm animals, supporting local farmers and markets and having people have their own gardens and growing vegetables from there.
Gerber says that, “we need a lot more people involved if we’re going to make the kind of changes [to grow more food]” (http://www.masslive.com/news/ index.ssf/2011/03/ amherst_officials_want_residen.html).
Gary Rome Auto Group hopes that Donahue’s speech and Gerber’s advocacy will be successful. Thanks to modern technology and know- how, there are ways to combat food shortages. The staff at Gary Rome Auto Group hopes that increasing the amount of food and decreasing starvation will be successful and lead to even more ways to combat food shortages in the near future.
Not Everyone Gets a Defense Lawyer? What Kind of Country Do You Think We Are Running Here?
Why is it that some of the best quotes I’ve heard have been on Youtube and on public internet forums? I remember reading a comment that a person wrote on YouTube. The topic was on the dealth penalty and about the argument that the death penalty saves money so that’s why it should be implemented. In response to this a person (who goes by the username, “kjmehal”) wrote, “’It's cheaper’ So? Our justice system should be about JUSTICE not about money.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSwZ2_4yFrI –page 4). I agree with kjmehal.
Now, I’m not voicing my opinion on the death penalty, simply the idea that justice is bought. It is a sad truth, but this is the case. I don’t call the justice system the justice system, but the legal system. I call it the legal system for a few reasons. One, what is justice is arguable. Lawyers, jurors, and judges don’t have a monopoly on justice. Plenty of things are laws which are unjust and plenty of things are unjust which are allowed. Justice is something to discuss, it’s not an absolute that any system can determine. What is justice isn’t so clear (if it even exists at all). What the judges and lawmakers decide isn’t what is just but what is legal. It’s very arrogant for someone to think that they are the arbitrator of justice.
The so called justice system determines what is allowed, not what is right, since what is right is a matter of debate and while society’s rules might be legal that doesn’t make them just. For instance, slavery and segregation were allowed, but were they just? During the 1950s, while segregation was certainly legal, it wasn’t certainly just.
While I am a pretty hardcore libertarian, I believe that there are a few things people have a right to. John Locke said that people have a right to “life, liberty, and property.” I agree. I feel that what our tax money should go to is to try to punish people who take away those three things from others as well as making sure people who are threatened with people having their “life, liberty, and property” taken away from there are entitled to a defense.
The law should protect everybody. I don’t believe in the shifting of power roles or taking something from one person and giving it to another, but everyone is entitled to a defense. If the legal system really cares about justice as it claims, then people shouldn’t have to buy justice; that’s called bribery. Once someone puts a price on justice, you lose all respect for the law.
There is a famous joke about a guy who sees a woman on the street and offers her money if she will go to bed with him. “I will pay you a million dollars to go to bed with me,” the man tells the woman. “Okay,” is her response. “How about one dollar? I’ll give you a dollar if you sleep with me,” the man says. “What kind of a person do you think I am?” the woman responds. “What kind of person you are we’ve already established; now we’re just talking price,” the man states. This joke, like the best jokes, has truth to it. If it’s wrong to pay a person a dollar for sex, paying them a million dollars doesn’t make it right, it shows that their morals can be bought. Justice should have no price tag.
Justice can be bought unfortunately (isn’t that what lobbyists are for?) and occurs daily, but that doesn’t mean it should continue. There are a few things in our LEGAL system that makes sure everyone gets a defense, but it seems that there are people who want to take this away.
Gov. of Mass., Deval L. Patrick wants to change the current system of providing legal representation to poor criminal defendants. Patrick proposes to hire 1,000 additional full-time state attorneys instead of having the state pay private lawyers to represent the poor criminal defendants.
“Gov. Deval Patrick recommended that oversight of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPSC) be moved to the executive branch of the state government, and has proposed budget cuts to CPCS and the private bar-advocate program. “(http://www.masscounsel.org/2011/03/09/more-criticism -about-proposed-changes-to-the-massachusetts-public-defense-system/) Patrick says that he wants to save the taxpayers’ money, since private lawyers are expensive. Patrick feels that hiring private, independent lawyers cost more than having lawyers employed by the state.
The private lawyers that Patrick wants to get rid of come from nonprofit organizations that are made to help represent poor defendants.
There have been many critiques about what Patrick is proposing. According to attorney and bar advocate, Susan Edgett:
“Bar advocates have been accused of being expensive to the state. But in 98 percent of cases handled by bar advocates, the state pays $50 a billable hour. Out of that amount they are required to pay the costs to maintain their own malpractice insurance, pay their own self-employment tax, and maintain an office with the overhead expenses of computers, paper, and telephone. While not required, if a bar advocate chooses, he or she may obtain at his or her own cost medical/dental/life insurance, continuing education, pension benefits, and office support staff.
Conversely, many of these items are provided to the district attorneys’ offices and none of them are included in the $92 million budget often cited by the district attorneys. Should Patrick implement his new public-defender model, these cost benefits will have to be paid by the taxpayer.” (http://www.masscounsel.org/2011/03/09/more-criticism -about-proposed-changes-to-the-massachusetts-public-defense-system/)
David P. Hoose, president of Hampden County Lawyers for Justice, which administers the private bar advocate program in Massachusetts has been a lawyer for 31 years.
Hoose said, “The best system for providing indigent defense is the one that we have here in Massachusetts. Not only the best for providing quality indigent defense which we should all be concerned about but it is the best bang for your buck.” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/ 03/lawyers_ask_legislators_to_der.html).
Hoose also mentions that defense lawyers who represent poor defendants hardly get rich out of defending them. Hoose mentions that defense attorneys represent poor defendants because they believe that everyone deserves a defense and that the lawyers believe that their clients are innocent.
Anthony C. Bonavita, a lawyer who does a large amount of bar advocate work, said “that lawyers who take cases as bar advocates are businessmen who in turn spend money in the city on office rent, meals, business supplies and other things.” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/ 03/lawyers_ask_legislators_to_der.html).
“Bonavita said after doing his tax return he wondered ‘why I continue doing this, I’m probably crazy....But, you do continue doing this because you have a passion for it, and you love the work and the bottom line is you’re trying to help people.’” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/ 03/lawyers_ask_legislators_to_der.html). Former Northampton District Court Judge W. Michael Ryan criticized Patrick’s proposal, saying, “ “If Governor Patrick truly believes that our system of justice is expensive wait until he sees the price tag of the injustice system he has proposed” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/ 03/lawyers_ask_legislators_to_der.html).
It seems that Patrick has many people criticizing his proposal. They are saying that what Patrick plan on doing won’t save the tax payers money. What will end up happening if Patrick succeeds in his goal is not just costing the taxpayers more money, but will have the poor be represented by lawyers less skilled and qualified than the lawyers they have now. One wonders how what Patrick is proposing is just. What do you think of what Patrick is proposing? What do you think the goal of the legal system should be? What do you think about the points I brought up? Gary Rome Auto Group would love to hear your thoughts on what you feel justice is and what Patrick is doing. So please share your thoughts, there is no need to plead the Fifth here.
Now, I’m not voicing my opinion on the death penalty, simply the idea that justice is bought. It is a sad truth, but this is the case. I don’t call the justice system the justice system, but the legal system. I call it the legal system for a few reasons. One, what is justice is arguable. Lawyers, jurors, and judges don’t have a monopoly on justice. Plenty of things are laws which are unjust and plenty of things are unjust which are allowed. Justice is something to discuss, it’s not an absolute that any system can determine. What is justice isn’t so clear (if it even exists at all). What the judges and lawmakers decide isn’t what is just but what is legal. It’s very arrogant for someone to think that they are the arbitrator of justice.
The so called justice system determines what is allowed, not what is right, since what is right is a matter of debate and while society’s rules might be legal that doesn’t make them just. For instance, slavery and segregation were allowed, but were they just? During the 1950s, while segregation was certainly legal, it wasn’t certainly just.
While I am a pretty hardcore libertarian, I believe that there are a few things people have a right to. John Locke said that people have a right to “life, liberty, and property.” I agree. I feel that what our tax money should go to is to try to punish people who take away those three things from others as well as making sure people who are threatened with people having their “life, liberty, and property” taken away from there are entitled to a defense.
The law should protect everybody. I don’t believe in the shifting of power roles or taking something from one person and giving it to another, but everyone is entitled to a defense. If the legal system really cares about justice as it claims, then people shouldn’t have to buy justice; that’s called bribery. Once someone puts a price on justice, you lose all respect for the law.
There is a famous joke about a guy who sees a woman on the street and offers her money if she will go to bed with him. “I will pay you a million dollars to go to bed with me,” the man tells the woman. “Okay,” is her response. “How about one dollar? I’ll give you a dollar if you sleep with me,” the man says. “What kind of a person do you think I am?” the woman responds. “What kind of person you are we’ve already established; now we’re just talking price,” the man states. This joke, like the best jokes, has truth to it. If it’s wrong to pay a person a dollar for sex, paying them a million dollars doesn’t make it right, it shows that their morals can be bought. Justice should have no price tag.
Justice can be bought unfortunately (isn’t that what lobbyists are for?) and occurs daily, but that doesn’t mean it should continue. There are a few things in our LEGAL system that makes sure everyone gets a defense, but it seems that there are people who want to take this away.
Gov. of Mass., Deval L. Patrick wants to change the current system of providing legal representation to poor criminal defendants. Patrick proposes to hire 1,000 additional full-time state attorneys instead of having the state pay private lawyers to represent the poor criminal defendants.
“Gov. Deval Patrick recommended that oversight of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPSC) be moved to the executive branch of the state government, and has proposed budget cuts to CPCS and the private bar-advocate program. “(http://www.masscounsel.org/2011/03/09/more-criticism -about-proposed-changes-to-the-massachusetts-public-defense-system/) Patrick says that he wants to save the taxpayers’ money, since private lawyers are expensive. Patrick feels that hiring private, independent lawyers cost more than having lawyers employed by the state.
The private lawyers that Patrick wants to get rid of come from nonprofit organizations that are made to help represent poor defendants.
There have been many critiques about what Patrick is proposing. According to attorney and bar advocate, Susan Edgett:
“Bar advocates have been accused of being expensive to the state. But in 98 percent of cases handled by bar advocates, the state pays $50 a billable hour. Out of that amount they are required to pay the costs to maintain their own malpractice insurance, pay their own self-employment tax, and maintain an office with the overhead expenses of computers, paper, and telephone. While not required, if a bar advocate chooses, he or she may obtain at his or her own cost medical/dental/life insurance, continuing education, pension benefits, and office support staff.
Conversely, many of these items are provided to the district attorneys’ offices and none of them are included in the $92 million budget often cited by the district attorneys. Should Patrick implement his new public-defender model, these cost benefits will have to be paid by the taxpayer.” (http://www.masscounsel.org/2011/03/09/more-criticism -about-proposed-changes-to-the-massachusetts-public-defense-system/)
David P. Hoose, president of Hampden County Lawyers for Justice, which administers the private bar advocate program in Massachusetts has been a lawyer for 31 years.
Hoose said, “The best system for providing indigent defense is the one that we have here in Massachusetts. Not only the best for providing quality indigent defense which we should all be concerned about but it is the best bang for your buck.” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/ 03/lawyers_ask_legislators_to_der.html).
Hoose also mentions that defense lawyers who represent poor defendants hardly get rich out of defending them. Hoose mentions that defense attorneys represent poor defendants because they believe that everyone deserves a defense and that the lawyers believe that their clients are innocent.
Anthony C. Bonavita, a lawyer who does a large amount of bar advocate work, said “that lawyers who take cases as bar advocates are businessmen who in turn spend money in the city on office rent, meals, business supplies and other things.” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/ 03/lawyers_ask_legislators_to_der.html).
“Bonavita said after doing his tax return he wondered ‘why I continue doing this, I’m probably crazy....But, you do continue doing this because you have a passion for it, and you love the work and the bottom line is you’re trying to help people.’” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/ 03/lawyers_ask_legislators_to_der.html). Former Northampton District Court Judge W. Michael Ryan criticized Patrick’s proposal, saying, “ “If Governor Patrick truly believes that our system of justice is expensive wait until he sees the price tag of the injustice system he has proposed” (http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/ 03/lawyers_ask_legislators_to_der.html).
It seems that Patrick has many people criticizing his proposal. They are saying that what Patrick plan on doing won’t save the tax payers money. What will end up happening if Patrick succeeds in his goal is not just costing the taxpayers more money, but will have the poor be represented by lawyers less skilled and qualified than the lawyers they have now. One wonders how what Patrick is proposing is just. What do you think of what Patrick is proposing? What do you think the goal of the legal system should be? What do you think about the points I brought up? Gary Rome Auto Group would love to hear your thoughts on what you feel justice is and what Patrick is doing. So please share your thoughts, there is no need to plead the Fifth here.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Hyundai Elantra Named One of the "Top Ten Cars to Look Forward to in 2011" by CarsDirect.com
CarsDirect.com's editors named the 2011 Hyundai Elantra one of the "Top Ten Cars to Look Forward to in 2011" on their new Pricing Insider Blog. The all-new Elantra encompasses all of Hyundai's latest ambitions including modern design, advanced safety technologies and best-in-class 40 mpg highway fuel economy. In the very competitive compact car segment, the Elantra stands out with "class-above" mid-size car interior volume, a new 1.8-liter "Nu" engine and a low starting price point of $14,830.
"Compact-car buying used to be a compromise with consumers settling for affordable, fuel-efficient cars without style, space, or luxury amenities," said Scott Margason, director of product planning, Hyundai Motor America. "The 2011 Elantra challenges the current compact sedan segment, offering a sleek, sophisticated look and affordable price tag, while still returning 40 mpg of fuel economy."
CarsDirect.com is the leading multi-brand online car buying service, providing new and pre-owned automobiles and related products and services. Their "Top Ten Cars to Look Forward to in 2011" list highlights the very best cars that they believe 2011 has to offer.
"Hyundai [has] pulled it off and delivered a car that not only challenges the compact status quo, but seemingly has the competition totally outgunned," said CarsDirect.com editors. "With a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing a respectable 148 horsepower, the Elantra has plenty of power for a compact—especially when you take into account that it has more power than the industry benchmarks, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
"But what really sets the Elantra apart is its incredible fuel economy. Rated at 29 City/40 Highway mpg, the Elantra is nearly untouchable in its class. Moreover, with its thoroughly modern body style, the Elantra looks and feels more advanced than its Japanese rivals. Even with a new Civic due next year and a new Corolla planned for 2013, we believe this generation of Elantra will enjoy its spot at the top of the compact car hierarchy."
Joining the Elantra on the CarsDirect.com list are the Nissan Leaf, Kia Optima, Chevrolet Volt, Audi A8, BMW 1-Series M Coupe, Ford Explorer, Buick Regal GS, Fiat 500, and Ford Focus. For more information about the "Top Ten Cars to Look Forward to in 2011" from CarsDirect.com visit: http://pricinginsider.carsdirect.com/tag/top-10-cars-to-look-forward-to-in-2011/.
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.
"Compact-car buying used to be a compromise with consumers settling for affordable, fuel-efficient cars without style, space, or luxury amenities," said Scott Margason, director of product planning, Hyundai Motor America. "The 2011 Elantra challenges the current compact sedan segment, offering a sleek, sophisticated look and affordable price tag, while still returning 40 mpg of fuel economy."
CarsDirect.com is the leading multi-brand online car buying service, providing new and pre-owned automobiles and related products and services. Their "Top Ten Cars to Look Forward to in 2011" list highlights the very best cars that they believe 2011 has to offer.
"Hyundai [has] pulled it off and delivered a car that not only challenges the compact status quo, but seemingly has the competition totally outgunned," said CarsDirect.com editors. "With a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing a respectable 148 horsepower, the Elantra has plenty of power for a compact—especially when you take into account that it has more power than the industry benchmarks, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
"But what really sets the Elantra apart is its incredible fuel economy. Rated at 29 City/40 Highway mpg, the Elantra is nearly untouchable in its class. Moreover, with its thoroughly modern body style, the Elantra looks and feels more advanced than its Japanese rivals. Even with a new Civic due next year and a new Corolla planned for 2013, we believe this generation of Elantra will enjoy its spot at the top of the compact car hierarchy."
Joining the Elantra on the CarsDirect.com list are the Nissan Leaf, Kia Optima, Chevrolet Volt, Audi A8, BMW 1-Series M Coupe, Ford Explorer, Buick Regal GS, Fiat 500, and Ford Focus. For more information about the "Top Ten Cars to Look Forward to in 2011" from CarsDirect.com visit: http://pricinginsider.carsdirect.com/tag/top-10-cars-to-look-forward-to-in-2011/.
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.
Friday, February 25, 2011
HYUNDAI CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN THE UNITED STATES
With gas prices at $1.20 per gallon, financing topping 10 percent APR and airbags emerging as the latest safety technology, the auto industry looked much different 25 years ago when Hyundai brought its car to the United States. Today, with a full line-up of award-winning products, Hyundai Motor America celebrated its 25th anniversary in the U.S. on February 20th, focused on the new challenges and exciting opportunities that the next 25 years will bring.
Since its start in 1986 with the humble Excel, Hyundai has grown into a full-line producer of cars and crossovers, from Accent to Equus, from Tucson to Veracruz. Since the company’s arrival, Americans have put 6,608,208 Hyundai vehicles in their driveways, with more than 4,350,000 still on the road today. In 2010, sales topped 538,000, making Hyundai the sixth best-selling brand in the country, behind only Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet. U.S. production capacity has grown to over 400,000 units of Sonata, Elantra and Santa Fe models produced in modern assembly plants in Alabama and Georgia. Hyundai engines and transmissions are produced here, too. Direct U.S. employment totals more than 4,000, with total employment including suppliers and dealers of over 45,000. Hyundai’s commitment to the U.S. market includes engineering, design, testing, production, sales, and marketing. In all, Hyundai’s investments in the U.S. total $1.7 billion.
Hyundai’s heritage is built on earning the trust of its owners. Every Hyundai sold since the 1999 model year comes with what remains the industry’s best warranty – a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a 5-year, 60,000-mile vehicle warranty. Over the years, Hyundai has partnered with its owners in deeper ways, through good and bad times, and now offers a comprehensive suite of programs under the Hyundai Assurance banner that includes America’s Best Warranty, five years of unlimited mileage roadside assistance, and the innovative job-loss protection program.
As Hyundai grows, so do its aspirations. Last year, Hyundai established the most aggressive fuel economy goal in the industry, committing to a 50 miles-per-gallon-plus fleet average by 2025. This strategy, which falls under the banner “BlueDrive,” includes the aggressive implementation of a range of new, affordable technologies such as direct injection, turbocharging, internally-developed transmissions, and lightweighting. In parallel, Hyundai’s engineering teams are developing new fuel cell and battery solutions to help provide alternative solutions beyond the internal combustion engine.
Hyundai’s pursuits are not limited to the automobile. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is the united effort of Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 dealers across the U.S. to help children fight cancer. We are dedicated to raising awareness about childhood cancer, celebrating the hope of the brave children battling the disease and finding a cure through our support of the best pediatric cancer researchers in the country. A portion of every Hyundai sold goes directly to this fight and more than $23 million have been donated since 1998.
“As far as we’ve come since 1986, we still feel we’re in the early stages of connecting the Hyundai brand to the U.S. consumer,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “We’ve always challenged convention – from our powertrain strategies, to our consumer partnership programs, to our unique Genesis and Equus retail approach. It’s authentically Hyundai to question the status quo and pursue our own vision of how things should be in order to best serve our customers. This willingness to challenge convention will continue to guide us these next 25 years.”
Hyundai’s model lineup now offers 12 distinct cars and crossovers – with more on the way. Hyundai’s immediate future includes three exciting new models arriving at showrooms through summer. The Veloster, a unique 3-door 40-mpg sporty coupe featuring Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics solution, will join all-new 4-door and 5-door versions of the Accent, which will also deliver 40 mpg. Hyundai’s award-winning Genesis gets a thorough face-lift and new engines and transmissions, with the performance-focused Genesis R-Spec and its all-new 429-horsepower Tau 5.0L V8 engine making its first appearance.
Hyundai’s anniversary present still awaits; a state-of-the-art headquarters based in Fountain Valley, Calif. is slated for completion in late 2012. The new campus doubles the size and capacity of the current building, giving Hyundai and its employees an environment conducive to growth as it prepares to help write the next chapter of a great American success story.
Since its start in 1986 with the humble Excel, Hyundai has grown into a full-line producer of cars and crossovers, from Accent to Equus, from Tucson to Veracruz. Since the company’s arrival, Americans have put 6,608,208 Hyundai vehicles in their driveways, with more than 4,350,000 still on the road today. In 2010, sales topped 538,000, making Hyundai the sixth best-selling brand in the country, behind only Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet. U.S. production capacity has grown to over 400,000 units of Sonata, Elantra and Santa Fe models produced in modern assembly plants in Alabama and Georgia. Hyundai engines and transmissions are produced here, too. Direct U.S. employment totals more than 4,000, with total employment including suppliers and dealers of over 45,000. Hyundai’s commitment to the U.S. market includes engineering, design, testing, production, sales, and marketing. In all, Hyundai’s investments in the U.S. total $1.7 billion.
Hyundai’s heritage is built on earning the trust of its owners. Every Hyundai sold since the 1999 model year comes with what remains the industry’s best warranty – a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a 5-year, 60,000-mile vehicle warranty. Over the years, Hyundai has partnered with its owners in deeper ways, through good and bad times, and now offers a comprehensive suite of programs under the Hyundai Assurance banner that includes America’s Best Warranty, five years of unlimited mileage roadside assistance, and the innovative job-loss protection program.
As Hyundai grows, so do its aspirations. Last year, Hyundai established the most aggressive fuel economy goal in the industry, committing to a 50 miles-per-gallon-plus fleet average by 2025. This strategy, which falls under the banner “BlueDrive,” includes the aggressive implementation of a range of new, affordable technologies such as direct injection, turbocharging, internally-developed transmissions, and lightweighting. In parallel, Hyundai’s engineering teams are developing new fuel cell and battery solutions to help provide alternative solutions beyond the internal combustion engine.
Hyundai’s pursuits are not limited to the automobile. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is the united effort of Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 dealers across the U.S. to help children fight cancer. We are dedicated to raising awareness about childhood cancer, celebrating the hope of the brave children battling the disease and finding a cure through our support of the best pediatric cancer researchers in the country. A portion of every Hyundai sold goes directly to this fight and more than $23 million have been donated since 1998.
“As far as we’ve come since 1986, we still feel we’re in the early stages of connecting the Hyundai brand to the U.S. consumer,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “We’ve always challenged convention – from our powertrain strategies, to our consumer partnership programs, to our unique Genesis and Equus retail approach. It’s authentically Hyundai to question the status quo and pursue our own vision of how things should be in order to best serve our customers. This willingness to challenge convention will continue to guide us these next 25 years.”
Hyundai’s model lineup now offers 12 distinct cars and crossovers – with more on the way. Hyundai’s immediate future includes three exciting new models arriving at showrooms through summer. The Veloster, a unique 3-door 40-mpg sporty coupe featuring Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics solution, will join all-new 4-door and 5-door versions of the Accent, which will also deliver 40 mpg. Hyundai’s award-winning Genesis gets a thorough face-lift and new engines and transmissions, with the performance-focused Genesis R-Spec and its all-new 429-horsepower Tau 5.0L V8 engine making its first appearance.
Hyundai’s anniversary present still awaits; a state-of-the-art headquarters based in Fountain Valley, Calif. is slated for completion in late 2012. The new campus doubles the size and capacity of the current building, giving Hyundai and its employees an environment conducive to growth as it prepares to help write the next chapter of a great American success story.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Hyundai Elantra heats up competition with Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze
The very first thing I said to myself when I sat down in the 2011 Hyundai Elantra was "Well, this is going to screw things up."
For months, I have been advocating that the best compact cars were imported from Detroit. (Hey, maybe I should copyright that line before some carmaker steals it?) The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2012 Ford Focus were far and away my top picks for mainstream compact car transportation. But now, I'm not as sure. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is simply gangbusters in nearly every category.
It has the looks of Hyundai's all-new Sonata, which is awesome. It gets better gas mileage than most subcompact cars. It comes with out-of-this-world amenities, such as second-row heated seats, a crystal-clear navigation system, and more than 43 inches of legroom in the front row. And it has a starting price under $15,000, giving it a dollar to luxury quotient of incredible.
Realistically, the base-model Elantra GLS feels more like a price statement than a civilized modern machine. It only comes with a six-speed manual, and things like air conditioning, cruise control and 16-inch wheels are optional. Lots of carmakers pull off this stunt.
But it's when Hyundai starts adding options that the Elantra begins to feel like a bargain. A top-of-the-line Elantra Limited starts at $21,980 — both the Cruze and Focus can still cost thousands of dollars more.
My fully loaded Limited was a cocoon of luxury and leather, at a cost of $22,000. The 7-inch, high-resolution monitor at the top of the center stack provided a crisp navigation system that's easy to use. There is also a slew of technology features that are quickly becoming the norm on many compact cars: Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation, voice recognition and push-button start.
Hyundai also adds a proximity feature, which unlocks the door when you touch the handle — meaning you don't have to pull your keys out of your pocket to unlock the door. It's a feature that you never knew you needed until you start using it. Stunning interior delivers
The interior is simply stunning.
There's an elegant center stack that roughly resembles an hourglass. Throughout the cabin, waves of luxury roll through every surface, reflecting an emotive design. At the top of the center stack is a sliver of blue light that cuts out of the dash and relays information. At night, the cabin fills with a soft blue light that is easy on your eyes — and your night vision.
The instrument panel includes two chrome-trimmed gauges and the same blue lighting. Every individual piece looks and feels well crafted, and together, they combine into a masterpiece.
Even the comfortable seats offer just the right touch of environmental sensibilities with lightweight, eco-friendly foam. It's only a seat, but, somehow, you feel better about it. Then again, you also feel better because it's heated — in the front and back row.
Hyundai also has managed to help the environment another way: The Elantra hits 40 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city. Unlike the Cruze and Focus, which reach 42 mpg and 40 mpg, respectively, those cars need special fuel-efficient models to do that. Hyundai does it with all of its cars — not a small difference. Responsive, peppy engine
The little 1.8-liter dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine with dual-continuously variable valve timing provides 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. Its performance on Detroit's streets was good. The engine is peppy and the six-speed automatic transmission in my test vehicle was extremely smooth — almost too smooth. It changed gears quickly and rarely rewarded me with that gear-shifting lurch. Lots of carmakers do this to improve fuel economy, but in the Elantra it was more noticeable. There is a manual override on the automatic that allows more aggressive drivers to get more out of the engine and the car.
On the road, the electric motor driven power steering was very linear and precise. I would have preferred more resistance the farther I moved the steering wheel, especially at highway speeds, when the Elantra felt a little twitchy.
However, it was comfortable on the highway and driving at low parking lot speeds, something to remember for people who drive in heavy traffic. It was also extremely quiet, making it all that much better to sit back and enjoy the 360-watt optional stereo system.
And a stereo is important — as this car is so good looking it should come with its own soundtrack. Exterior is modern classic
Hyundai says the exterior is the next step in its fluidic sculpture design language.
No matter what you call it, the fifth-generation Elantra looks sharp. The wheels are pushed out to the edges, but not so far to disrupt the car's proportions. The small grille above and below the bumper help define the Elantra's face, while the angular fog lamps provide dimples to the car's smile. It looks modern and classic in the same breath.
There is also nice definition along the car's side, with the A-line moving through both door handles and then through the rear tail lamp. While it has all the trappings of the Sonata — the first fluidic design car to enter Hyundai's lineup — I like the Elantra more. The Sonata is almost overdone with all of the sharp edges. But with the Elantra, the designer seemed to know when to put the pencil down. Sometimes the best design happens when you stop.
Inside and out, the Elantra seems to offer more and more.
The Cruze and Focus may have set a new standard for compact cars, but the Elantra raises the bar even higher.
That's not good news for carmakers, which now have to re-evaluate their next compact offering.
But it's fantastic news for consumers.
For months, I have been advocating that the best compact cars were imported from Detroit. (Hey, maybe I should copyright that line before some carmaker steals it?) The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2012 Ford Focus were far and away my top picks for mainstream compact car transportation. But now, I'm not as sure. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is simply gangbusters in nearly every category.
It has the looks of Hyundai's all-new Sonata, which is awesome. It gets better gas mileage than most subcompact cars. It comes with out-of-this-world amenities, such as second-row heated seats, a crystal-clear navigation system, and more than 43 inches of legroom in the front row. And it has a starting price under $15,000, giving it a dollar to luxury quotient of incredible.
Realistically, the base-model Elantra GLS feels more like a price statement than a civilized modern machine. It only comes with a six-speed manual, and things like air conditioning, cruise control and 16-inch wheels are optional. Lots of carmakers pull off this stunt.
But it's when Hyundai starts adding options that the Elantra begins to feel like a bargain. A top-of-the-line Elantra Limited starts at $21,980 — both the Cruze and Focus can still cost thousands of dollars more.
My fully loaded Limited was a cocoon of luxury and leather, at a cost of $22,000. The 7-inch, high-resolution monitor at the top of the center stack provided a crisp navigation system that's easy to use. There is also a slew of technology features that are quickly becoming the norm on many compact cars: Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation, voice recognition and push-button start.
Hyundai also adds a proximity feature, which unlocks the door when you touch the handle — meaning you don't have to pull your keys out of your pocket to unlock the door. It's a feature that you never knew you needed until you start using it. Stunning interior delivers
The interior is simply stunning.
There's an elegant center stack that roughly resembles an hourglass. Throughout the cabin, waves of luxury roll through every surface, reflecting an emotive design. At the top of the center stack is a sliver of blue light that cuts out of the dash and relays information. At night, the cabin fills with a soft blue light that is easy on your eyes — and your night vision.
The instrument panel includes two chrome-trimmed gauges and the same blue lighting. Every individual piece looks and feels well crafted, and together, they combine into a masterpiece.
Even the comfortable seats offer just the right touch of environmental sensibilities with lightweight, eco-friendly foam. It's only a seat, but, somehow, you feel better about it. Then again, you also feel better because it's heated — in the front and back row.
Hyundai also has managed to help the environment another way: The Elantra hits 40 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city. Unlike the Cruze and Focus, which reach 42 mpg and 40 mpg, respectively, those cars need special fuel-efficient models to do that. Hyundai does it with all of its cars — not a small difference. Responsive, peppy engine
The little 1.8-liter dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine with dual-continuously variable valve timing provides 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. Its performance on Detroit's streets was good. The engine is peppy and the six-speed automatic transmission in my test vehicle was extremely smooth — almost too smooth. It changed gears quickly and rarely rewarded me with that gear-shifting lurch. Lots of carmakers do this to improve fuel economy, but in the Elantra it was more noticeable. There is a manual override on the automatic that allows more aggressive drivers to get more out of the engine and the car.
On the road, the electric motor driven power steering was very linear and precise. I would have preferred more resistance the farther I moved the steering wheel, especially at highway speeds, when the Elantra felt a little twitchy.
However, it was comfortable on the highway and driving at low parking lot speeds, something to remember for people who drive in heavy traffic. It was also extremely quiet, making it all that much better to sit back and enjoy the 360-watt optional stereo system.
And a stereo is important — as this car is so good looking it should come with its own soundtrack. Exterior is modern classic
Hyundai says the exterior is the next step in its fluidic sculpture design language.
No matter what you call it, the fifth-generation Elantra looks sharp. The wheels are pushed out to the edges, but not so far to disrupt the car's proportions. The small grille above and below the bumper help define the Elantra's face, while the angular fog lamps provide dimples to the car's smile. It looks modern and classic in the same breath.
There is also nice definition along the car's side, with the A-line moving through both door handles and then through the rear tail lamp. While it has all the trappings of the Sonata — the first fluidic design car to enter Hyundai's lineup — I like the Elantra more. The Sonata is almost overdone with all of the sharp edges. But with the Elantra, the designer seemed to know when to put the pencil down. Sometimes the best design happens when you stop.
Inside and out, the Elantra seems to offer more and more.
The Cruze and Focus may have set a new standard for compact cars, but the Elantra raises the bar even higher.
That's not good news for carmakers, which now have to re-evaluate their next compact offering.
But it's fantastic news for consumers.
Friday, February 11, 2011
2012 Hyundai Genesis Offers its Most Powerful V8 Powertrain With Further Design and Chassis Refinement
New 5.0-liter V8 R-Spec Model, Enhanced Direct Injection V6 Engine and New Eight-speed Transmissions Significantly Improve Driving Dynamics and Refinement
Hyundai's award-winning Genesis sedan continues its segment leadership with exterior design improvements, new direct injection technology for its Lambda V6 engine, new eight-speed automatic transmissions, and enhanced chassis tuning. In addition, a new 5.0-liter direct injection V8 engine is now available exclusively with the 5.0 R-Spec model, which includes unique 19-inch machined-finish alloy wheels, optional Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 summer performance tires and sport-tuned transmission, suspension and steering calibrations for exhilarating vehicle dynamics.
2012 Genesis Highlights
* New 5.0-liter R-Spec Direct Injection V8 performance flagship model added
- Most powerful Hyundai engine ever with 429 horsepower
- Unique 19-inch alloy wheel design with premium machined finish
- Dark chrome headlamp inserts
- Unique R-Spec sport transmission, suspension and steering calibrations
* Direct injection technology added to Lambda 3.8-liter V6 engine for 15 percent improved output (333 HP), improved fuel economy and emissions
* In-house-developed eight-speed automatic transmissions for all engines
* More aggressive grille and front fascia design
* New headlight design with LED accents and daytime running lights
* Sportier rocker panel design
* Folding mirrors with integrated puddle lamps
* New, brushed aluminum finish window surround
* Redesigned rear taillights
* Redesigned rear fascia with integrated dual asymmetrical exhaust tips
* New 17-inch alloy wheel design (3.8 model)
* New interior woodgrain colors for Black, Beige and Saddle leather interiors
* New Twilight Blue Pearl exterior color (replaces Sapphire Blue Pearl)
NEW 5.0 R-SPEC: MOST POWERFUL HYUNDAI V8 ENGINE EVER
The heart of the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec model is a new Tau V8 engine producing 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 lb. ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm. This new Tau V8 represents the most powerful Hyundai engine ever, with a higher specific output (85.8 hp/liter) than its normally-aspirated premium luxury competitors. For 2011, the Tau V8 engine family has again been named to the prestigious Ward’s Ten Best Engines for the third consecutive time.
The 5.0-liter cylinder bore was increased from 92 mm to 96 mm over the 4.6-liter bore for a total displacement of 5.0 liters (5,038cc). In addition to the enlarged displacement, direct injection technology has been added. This high-pressure direct injection system (over 2200 psi), dramatically increases power and torque while reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Compression ratio has been increased from 10.4 to 11.5:1 for greater thermal efficiency and output. The Tau also receives a revised bed plate for improved block rigidity and lower NVH as well as camshaft carriers and a roller timing chain to improve valvetrain stability.
Even more, this new V8 still offers all of the premium engine technology from the 4.6-liter V8, including Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT), a tuned variable induction system, and low-friction diamond-like coatings (DLC) on piston skirts, rings and tappets. Even with these impressive power increases, fuel economy is estimated at 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, nearly matching the 4.6-liter V8 (17 mpg city/26 mpg highway). As an additional point of interest, this same 5.0-liter Tau V8 with eight-speed transmission will replace the current 4.6-liter V8 as the standard powertrain in the 2012 Hyundai Equus premium luxury sedan, on sale this summer.
The Tau 5.0-liter V8 is coupled with a new in-house eight-speed transmission. This new Hyundai-developed transmission adds two additional ratios to enhance acceleration, shifting smoothness, and transmission efficiency by six percent over the former six-speed. All eight-speed transmissions will include SHIFTRONIC® manual shift capability. This new eight-speed transmission is the first offered by a non-luxury branded manufacturer.
In keeping with Hyundai engineering philosophy, the R-Spec also will include more aggressive chassis tuning, matching its corresponding powertrain enhancements for optimal dynamic balance. For enhanced body roll control, front stabilizer bar diameter has been increased from 25 mm to 26 mm, and rear diameter from 18 mm to 19 mm over the 4.6 model. R-Spec will offer a unique sport design 19-inch alloy wheel with premium machined finish and optional Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 summer performance tires. The R-Spec steering calibration has been matched to this unique wheel and tire combination for optimized performance and driving refinement expectations in this segment. To complete the performance package, front brake rotors have increased from 13.0 inches to 13.6 inches over the 2011 4.6 model.
In addition to the more aggressive styling cues for all 2012 Genesis models, R-Spec will offer unique headlights with dark chrome inserts for a more distinctive front appearance. An R-Spec trim designation badge has been added to the rear deck, and black R-Spec embroidered floor mats daily remind the driver of the performance that awaits behind the wheel. 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.
DIRECT INJECTION LAMBDA 3.8-LITER ENGINE
In keeping with its 5.0-liter V8 sibling, the Genesis 3.8-liter Lambda engine will receive direct injection (GDI) technology, boosting its output 15 percent from 290 to 333 horsepower, an impressive gain of 43 horsepower with no increase in displacement. In addition, peak torque rises from 264 lb.-ft. to 291 lb.-ft., a generous increase of 27 lb.-ft. from the same 3.8 liters. Compression ratio increases from 10.4:1 to 11.5:1 for greater thermal efficiency. This new direct-injected Lambda V6 produces a higher specific output (87.6 hp/liter) than its normally-aspirated premium luxury competitors.
The 3.8-liter engine retains all of the premium technologies that have made it outstanding since the launch of Genesis: Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT), variable induction, all aluminum block and heads, steel timing chain, and iridium-tipped spark plugs. Besides the generous horsepower and torque gains, direct injection technology produces a significant reduction in emissions through a 40 percent reduction in catalyst light-off time. Further, a variable vane oil pump has been fitted to precisely match oil pressure with engine lubrication requirements for increased efficiency at all engine speeds. As a result, 3.8-liter GDI fuel economy increases over seven percent from 27 mpg to 29 mpg on the highway.
2011 Genesis 3.8-liter Engine vs. 2012 Genesis 3.8-liter Direct Injection with eight-speed automatic
All 3.8-liter engines will be coupled to an in-house-developed eight-speed transmission with SHIFTRONIC and precisely calibrated gear ratios for an overall transmission efficiency gain of six percent. These two additional ratios serve to achieve competing objectives of acceleration and economy without compromise.
AWARD-WINNING TAU 4.6-LITER V8 ENGINE WITH EIGHT-SPEED AUTOMATIC
For 2012, Genesis' award-winning Tau 4.6-liter V8 powerplant will now be coupled exclusively with an in-house-developed eight-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC, adding benefits in acceleration and efficiency. Internal engineering tests estimate this new eight-speed transmission to be six percent more efficient at transferring power than the former 6-speed automatic, increasing highway fuel economy from 25 mpg to 26 mpg.
This same 4.6-liter Tau V8 engine was already significantly improved for 2010 with induction and tuning enhancements increasing peak output from 375 to 385 horsepower. A variable intake system, iridium-tipped spark plugs, anti-knock control, and multi-port injection further add to the sophistication of this engine.
2011 4.6-liter Tau V8 vs. 2012 4.6-liter Tau V8 with eight-speed automatic transmission
CHASSIS REFINEMENT FOR 3.8 AND 4.6 MODELS
Always seeking to enhance the Genesis driving experience, Hyundai engineers have made further refinements to the 3.8 and 4.6 model suspension damping calibrations. These precise adjustments serve to minimize the traditional compromises between handling precision and ride comfort. In addition, body roll control for the 3.8 model is enhanced, with the rear stabilizer bar diameter increasing from 17 mm to 18 mm. Braking is also improved on both the 3.8 and 4.6 models; the 3.8 model front rotor size increases from 12.6 inches to 13.0 inches, while adding by higher performance 4-piston brake calipers, and the 4.6 model front brake rotors increase from 13.0 inches to 13.6 inches for greater fade resistance.
EXTERIOR DESIGN
Not content to rest on their laurels, Hyundai's design team has sought to make a great Genesis exterior design even better for 2012. For the front view, the front grille has been enhanced, a more aggressive front fascia with larger intake openings was developed, and the headlights have been redesigned, adding LED accents and daytime running lights (DRLs). From the side view, the standard 17-inch alloy wheel design has been freshened and the rocker panels have been refined. In addition, the mirrors now incorporate power-folding and puddle lamp functions, while the side window surround now receives a decidedly sporty brushed aluminum finish. From the rear view, the taillights have been redesigned and new dual asymmetrical exhaust tips are more cleanly integrated with a new bumper fascia.
NEW SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES
Maintaining Hyundai's emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Genesis boasts world-class active and passive safety features to help both prevent accidents and maximize the well being of its occupants in the event of a collision. Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving safety technology with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints. Active front head restraints have been proven by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to help prevent whiplash.
Adding to this safety leadership for 2012, Genesis adds new daytime running lamps to all models. Further, Genesis offers a newly-developed Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), available on the 3.8 Technology package, 4.6 and 5.0 R-Spec models.
Genesis' total of eight airbags includes advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants.
Genesis has a total of eight ultrasonic sensors located on the front and rear bumpers. The sensors, along with the rear backup camera, help detect how close objects are when parking. Distance is indicated on the in-dash screen and accompanied by an audible warning tone.
Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). Genesis 3.8 models now have large 13.0-inch front rotors with four-piston fixed calipers, while 4.6 and 5.0 models have oversized 13.6-inch front rotors.
NEW TECHNOLOGY AND FEATURES
Genesis 3.8 Standard Equipment
2012 Genesis also will increase its impressive list of standard equipment, adding headlight LED accents and daytime running lights (DRLs) and outside mirror puddle lamps.
Genesis 3.8 Premium Package
The 3.8 Premium Package will now offer newly-developed power-folding outside mirrors and heated rear seats with console controls. For 2012, the 3.8 Premium package will also include rearview camera, DVD navigation system with seven-inch touchscreen, XM NavTraffic, and 18-inch Hyper Silver split-spoke alloy wheels.
Genesis 3.8 Technology Package:
The 3.8 Technology package will continue to satisfy tech-savvy buyers, adding a newly-developed Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), and thin-film-transistor LCD gauge cluster readout.
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 more than 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.
Hyundai's award-winning Genesis sedan continues its segment leadership with exterior design improvements, new direct injection technology for its Lambda V6 engine, new eight-speed automatic transmissions, and enhanced chassis tuning. In addition, a new 5.0-liter direct injection V8 engine is now available exclusively with the 5.0 R-Spec model, which includes unique 19-inch machined-finish alloy wheels, optional Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 summer performance tires and sport-tuned transmission, suspension and steering calibrations for exhilarating vehicle dynamics.
2012 Genesis Highlights
* New 5.0-liter R-Spec Direct Injection V8 performance flagship model added
- Most powerful Hyundai engine ever with 429 horsepower
- Unique 19-inch alloy wheel design with premium machined finish
- Dark chrome headlamp inserts
- Unique R-Spec sport transmission, suspension and steering calibrations
* Direct injection technology added to Lambda 3.8-liter V6 engine for 15 percent improved output (333 HP), improved fuel economy and emissions
* In-house-developed eight-speed automatic transmissions for all engines
* More aggressive grille and front fascia design
* New headlight design with LED accents and daytime running lights
* Sportier rocker panel design
* Folding mirrors with integrated puddle lamps
* New, brushed aluminum finish window surround
* Redesigned rear taillights
* Redesigned rear fascia with integrated dual asymmetrical exhaust tips
* New 17-inch alloy wheel design (3.8 model)
* New interior woodgrain colors for Black, Beige and Saddle leather interiors
* New Twilight Blue Pearl exterior color (replaces Sapphire Blue Pearl)
NEW 5.0 R-SPEC: MOST POWERFUL HYUNDAI V8 ENGINE EVER
The heart of the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec model is a new Tau V8 engine producing 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 lb. ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm. This new Tau V8 represents the most powerful Hyundai engine ever, with a higher specific output (85.8 hp/liter) than its normally-aspirated premium luxury competitors. For 2011, the Tau V8 engine family has again been named to the prestigious Ward’s Ten Best Engines for the third consecutive time.
| Genesis 5.0 Competitive Set | 5.0 R-Spec 5.0-liter V8 |
Lexus GS460 4.6-liter V8 |
Infiniti M56 5.6-liter V8 |
M-B E550 5.5-liter V8 |
| Normally-aspirated V8 Specific Output (HP/liter) |
85.8 | 74.3 | 75.0 | 69.5 |
Even more, this new V8 still offers all of the premium engine technology from the 4.6-liter V8, including Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT), a tuned variable induction system, and low-friction diamond-like coatings (DLC) on piston skirts, rings and tappets. Even with these impressive power increases, fuel economy is estimated at 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, nearly matching the 4.6-liter V8 (17 mpg city/26 mpg highway). As an additional point of interest, this same 5.0-liter Tau V8 with eight-speed transmission will replace the current 4.6-liter V8 as the standard powertrain in the 2012 Hyundai Equus premium luxury sedan, on sale this summer.
The Tau 5.0-liter V8 is coupled with a new in-house eight-speed transmission. This new Hyundai-developed transmission adds two additional ratios to enhance acceleration, shifting smoothness, and transmission efficiency by six percent over the former six-speed. All eight-speed transmissions will include SHIFTRONIC® manual shift capability. This new eight-speed transmission is the first offered by a non-luxury branded manufacturer.
In keeping with Hyundai engineering philosophy, the R-Spec also will include more aggressive chassis tuning, matching its corresponding powertrain enhancements for optimal dynamic balance. For enhanced body roll control, front stabilizer bar diameter has been increased from 25 mm to 26 mm, and rear diameter from 18 mm to 19 mm over the 4.6 model. R-Spec will offer a unique sport design 19-inch alloy wheel with premium machined finish and optional Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 summer performance tires. The R-Spec steering calibration has been matched to this unique wheel and tire combination for optimized performance and driving refinement expectations in this segment. To complete the performance package, front brake rotors have increased from 13.0 inches to 13.6 inches over the 2011 4.6 model.
In addition to the more aggressive styling cues for all 2012 Genesis models, R-Spec will offer unique headlights with dark chrome inserts for a more distinctive front appearance. An R-Spec trim designation badge has been added to the rear deck, and black R-Spec embroidered floor mats daily remind the driver of the performance that awaits behind the wheel. 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.
DIRECT INJECTION LAMBDA 3.8-LITER ENGINE
In keeping with its 5.0-liter V8 sibling, the Genesis 3.8-liter Lambda engine will receive direct injection (GDI) technology, boosting its output 15 percent from 290 to 333 horsepower, an impressive gain of 43 horsepower with no increase in displacement. In addition, peak torque rises from 264 lb.-ft. to 291 lb.-ft., a generous increase of 27 lb.-ft. from the same 3.8 liters. Compression ratio increases from 10.4:1 to 11.5:1 for greater thermal efficiency. This new direct-injected Lambda V6 produces a higher specific output (87.6 hp/liter) than its normally-aspirated premium luxury competitors.
| Genesis 3.8-liter GDI Competitive Set | GENESIS 3.8-liter GDI V6 |
Lexus GS350 3.5-liter V6 |
BMW 528i 3.0-liter V6 |
M-B E350 3.5-liter V6 |
| Normally-aspirated V6 Specific Output (hp/liter) |
87.6 | 86.6 | 80.0 | 76.6 |
2011 Genesis 3.8-liter Engine vs. 2012 Genesis 3.8-liter Direct Injection with eight-speed automatic
| Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) |
Fuel Economy (mpg) | |
| City | Highway | |||
| Lambda 3.8-liter V6 Direct Injection with eight-speed automatic transmission |
290 → 333 | 264 → 291 | 18 → TBD | 27 → 29 |
All 3.8-liter engines will be coupled to an in-house-developed eight-speed transmission with SHIFTRONIC and precisely calibrated gear ratios for an overall transmission efficiency gain of six percent. These two additional ratios serve to achieve competing objectives of acceleration and economy without compromise.
AWARD-WINNING TAU 4.6-LITER V8 ENGINE WITH EIGHT-SPEED AUTOMATIC
For 2012, Genesis' award-winning Tau 4.6-liter V8 powerplant will now be coupled exclusively with an in-house-developed eight-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC, adding benefits in acceleration and efficiency. Internal engineering tests estimate this new eight-speed transmission to be six percent more efficient at transferring power than the former 6-speed automatic, increasing highway fuel economy from 25 mpg to 26 mpg.
This same 4.6-liter Tau V8 engine was already significantly improved for 2010 with induction and tuning enhancements increasing peak output from 375 to 385 horsepower. A variable intake system, iridium-tipped spark plugs, anti-knock control, and multi-port injection further add to the sophistication of this engine.
2011 4.6-liter Tau V8 vs. 2012 4.6-liter Tau V8 with eight-speed automatic transmission
| Engine | Fuel Economy (mpg) | |
| City | Highway | |
| Tau 4.6-liter V8 with eight-speed automatic transmission |
17 → 17 | 25 → 26 |
CHASSIS REFINEMENT FOR 3.8 AND 4.6 MODELS
Always seeking to enhance the Genesis driving experience, Hyundai engineers have made further refinements to the 3.8 and 4.6 model suspension damping calibrations. These precise adjustments serve to minimize the traditional compromises between handling precision and ride comfort. In addition, body roll control for the 3.8 model is enhanced, with the rear stabilizer bar diameter increasing from 17 mm to 18 mm. Braking is also improved on both the 3.8 and 4.6 models; the 3.8 model front rotor size increases from 12.6 inches to 13.0 inches, while adding by higher performance 4-piston brake calipers, and the 4.6 model front brake rotors increase from 13.0 inches to 13.6 inches for greater fade resistance.
EXTERIOR DESIGN
Not content to rest on their laurels, Hyundai's design team has sought to make a great Genesis exterior design even better for 2012. For the front view, the front grille has been enhanced, a more aggressive front fascia with larger intake openings was developed, and the headlights have been redesigned, adding LED accents and daytime running lights (DRLs). From the side view, the standard 17-inch alloy wheel design has been freshened and the rocker panels have been refined. In addition, the mirrors now incorporate power-folding and puddle lamp functions, while the side window surround now receives a decidedly sporty brushed aluminum finish. From the rear view, the taillights have been redesigned and new dual asymmetrical exhaust tips are more cleanly integrated with a new bumper fascia.
NEW SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES
Maintaining Hyundai's emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Genesis boasts world-class active and passive safety features to help both prevent accidents and maximize the well being of its occupants in the event of a collision. Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving safety technology with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints. Active front head restraints have been proven by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to help prevent whiplash.
Adding to this safety leadership for 2012, Genesis adds new daytime running lamps to all models. Further, Genesis offers a newly-developed Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), available on the 3.8 Technology package, 4.6 and 5.0 R-Spec models.
Genesis' total of eight airbags includes advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants.
Genesis has a total of eight ultrasonic sensors located on the front and rear bumpers. The sensors, along with the rear backup camera, help detect how close objects are when parking. Distance is indicated on the in-dash screen and accompanied by an audible warning tone.
Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). Genesis 3.8 models now have large 13.0-inch front rotors with four-piston fixed calipers, while 4.6 and 5.0 models have oversized 13.6-inch front rotors.
NEW TECHNOLOGY AND FEATURES
Genesis 3.8 Standard Equipment
2012 Genesis also will increase its impressive list of standard equipment, adding headlight LED accents and daytime running lights (DRLs) and outside mirror puddle lamps.
Genesis 3.8 Premium Package
The 3.8 Premium Package will now offer newly-developed power-folding outside mirrors and heated rear seats with console controls. For 2012, the 3.8 Premium package will also include rearview camera, DVD navigation system with seven-inch touchscreen, XM NavTraffic, and 18-inch Hyper Silver split-spoke alloy wheels.
Genesis 3.8 Technology Package:
The 3.8 Technology package will continue to satisfy tech-savvy buyers, adding a newly-developed Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), and thin-film-transistor LCD gauge cluster readout.
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 more than 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.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Crowd-Pleasing Composition in 3 Movements
WHEN it comes to describing precisely what makes the 2011 Hyundai Sonata so undeniably excellent, the structural metaphor that applies best is, obviously, the crunchy taco.
What makes a great taco is its shell. If the shell is fresh, crisp and robust, it doesn’t get soggy quickly or crack and crumble, and the flavor of what’s inside will shine. Chicken, steak or pork carnitas, it’s all tastier when served in a perfectly fried corn tortilla taco shell.
Before Hyundai stuffed the all-new version of its midsize front-drive sedan, it built a great shell. By forgoing the option of a V-6 engine (unlike most of its rivals, as well as the previous-generation Sonata), the car’s basic structure could be optimized around 4-cylinder engines, which take up less space.
So the nose doesn’t have to cover a wider V-6, the engine bay doesn’t require the strength to carry a heavier V-6 and room need not be made for an exhaust system evacuating two banks of cylinders. Dozens of other less obvious challenges were also avoided. By sticking with 4-cylinder engines — in mild naturally aspirated, spicy turbocharged and righteous hybrid flavors — Hyundai made it easier to engineer a relatively lightweight, rigid and efficient shell.
There’s nothing exotic or even clever about the Sonata’s structure. It’s a standard steel unibody with a pair of MacPherson struts constituting the front suspension and a multilink independent rear suspension. Hyundai has just sweated the details better this time than it ever has before.
Size-wise, the new Sonata’s dimensions are almost right atop the Honda Accord sedan; the Hyundai’s 110-inch wheelbase is just 0.2 inch shorter than the Honda’s and the Sonata is within a half-inch of the Accord in overall width, height and wheel track. The “almost” lies in overall length, where the Sonata’s 189.8 inches is 4.3 inches shorter than the Accord. But despite that, the Sonata offers virtually the same interior room (the back seat is a little tighter) and 16.4 cubic feet of trunk space compared with the Accord’s 14.
Based on the interior volume, the Environmental Protection Agency rates the Sonata, like the Accord, a “large” car. But the Sonata, styled in Hyundai’s California studio, is a swoopy, sleek, streamlined looker compared with the aging Accord, which is blandly boxy from the blunt face of its fuddy to the trailing edge of its duddy.
The Sonata has the “four-door coupe” profile of a Mercedes-Benz CLS or a Volkswagen CC, without those cars’ compromised interior space. That’s a slick trick.
Fortunately, Hyundai didn’t stop thinking when it stuffed the Sonata’s shell. Even the base GLS, which starts at $19,915, includes nice touches like a pull-down handle built into the trunk lid and, below the ventilation controls, two easily accessible 12-volt power points, a USB port and an audio jack. The ventilation controls themselves are neat, featuring a human pictograph for choosing where the flow of air should be directed.
There’s a thoughtfulness that runs throughout every 2011 Sonata that pays off in nearly perfect ergonomics, nicely shaped seats, easily scanned instrumentation, standard Bluetooth cellphone integration with the sound system and an overall feeling of quality that Hyundai has frankly never even approached before.
This isn’t a small step forward for the South Korean company; the made-in-Alabama Sonata is a thumping bound to the front of its class.
The standard Sonata engine is a direct-gasoline injection 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with variable valve timing, a sky-high 11.3:1 compression ratio and a relatively long crank stroke for better torque production. Rated at 198 horsepower in the GLS and the more luxurious Limited, and at 200 in the sporty-trim SE, the engine is sweet natured until about 5,000 r.p.m. — after which it gets a bit ragged.
But the slick part of the Sonata’s drivetrain is the transmission. A 6-speed manual is standard on the base car, the GLS, but virtually all buyers will take the 6-speed automatic. Built by Hyundai itself, that transmission is a paragon of electronically controlled self-shifting virtue; the gears are perfectly spaced with fifth a 1:1 direct drive and sixth an overdrive. The transmission can be shifted manually using the floor-mounted shifter, but why bother?
Combine the GLS automatic’s modest 3,199-pound unloaded weight (about 80 pounds less than a comparable Accord) with the drivetrain’s talents and the result is a federal rating of 22 miles per gallon in the city, 35 on the highway and 28 combined — again slightly better than the Accord.
Car and Driver magazine tested a Sonata SE with the automatic and it waltzed to 60 m.p.h. in 7.8 seconds — nearly a second quicker than the 2010 Accord EX to which it was compared.
The real treat, however, lies in the new turbocharged Sonata 2.0T. Using a shorter stroke, smaller bore, 2-liter version of the same direct-injection engine, the intercooled turbocharger installation whips the output up to a robust 274 horsepower with outstanding torque from off-idle to the 6,500 r.p.m. red line — and does so on regular-grade gas.
No, the turbo 4 is not as silken as the V-6s from Honda or Toyota, but operating through the 6-speed automatic produces effortless thrust, excellent acceleration (0-60 in 6.2 seconds, again according to Car and Driver) and impressive fuel economy. The E.P.A. rates the Sonata 2.0T at 22 m.p.g. in town and a noteworthy 33 on the highway.
All that additional power does, however, point up some of the weaker elements. The suspension is a touch too soft and the speed-proportional electric power steering seems to vary its assist a half-beat behind the driver’s moves.
And since the turbo engine is available only in SE and Limited models, prices start at a dizzier $24,865. Yet considering the amount of equipment aboard, that still seems like a bargain.
The final variation on the Sonata theme is the Hybrid. The hybrid system itself is technically interesting and the redecoration of the car’s nose is pure funk, but the most significant element in how it drives is the same 6-speed automatic used in other Sonatas.
While most hybrids use a continuously variable transmission without fixed gears, the Sonata’s conventional gearbox makes for a more conventional driving experience. The Sonata Hybrid’s recalibrated version of the same 2.4-liter decelerates with the gear changes. For those of us who despise the engine drone associated with CVTs, that sound is a relief. Otherwise, the drivetrain machinations of the Hyundai hybrid system are almost invisible as long as the car is driven moderately.
In fact, if it weren’t for the electro-luminescent instrument panel and the liquid-crystal display between the tachometer and speedometer that graphically encourages economical driving, many drivers wouldn’t notice much difference between the Hybrid, with 206 horsepower (166 horses for the gas engine and 40 more for the electric motor) and the regular Sonata GLS. But they will notice the Hybrid’s stunning E.P.A. rating: 40 m.p.g. on the highway and 36 in the city.
The Sonata Hybrid just went on sale at a starting price of $26,545 — almost $1,000 less than the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which isn’t as well equipped and has a lower mileage rating.
Of course the Sonata isn’t perfect. Some will find its high beltline — the line below the side windows — disconcerting. The turbo model’s lack of a manual transmission keeps it from being a performance leader. And there are still some interior switches that operate raggedly. But this is the first car Hyundai has sold in America that’s so good and so keenly priced that any buyer shopping in its market segment must seriously consider it. It’s the first unavoidable Hyundai.
That’s why it is doing so well. Some 200,000 of the new Sonatas have been sold so far, Hyundai says. After all, everyone loves a tasty taco.
What makes a great taco is its shell. If the shell is fresh, crisp and robust, it doesn’t get soggy quickly or crack and crumble, and the flavor of what’s inside will shine. Chicken, steak or pork carnitas, it’s all tastier when served in a perfectly fried corn tortilla taco shell.
Before Hyundai stuffed the all-new version of its midsize front-drive sedan, it built a great shell. By forgoing the option of a V-6 engine (unlike most of its rivals, as well as the previous-generation Sonata), the car’s basic structure could be optimized around 4-cylinder engines, which take up less space.
So the nose doesn’t have to cover a wider V-6, the engine bay doesn’t require the strength to carry a heavier V-6 and room need not be made for an exhaust system evacuating two banks of cylinders. Dozens of other less obvious challenges were also avoided. By sticking with 4-cylinder engines — in mild naturally aspirated, spicy turbocharged and righteous hybrid flavors — Hyundai made it easier to engineer a relatively lightweight, rigid and efficient shell.
There’s nothing exotic or even clever about the Sonata’s structure. It’s a standard steel unibody with a pair of MacPherson struts constituting the front suspension and a multilink independent rear suspension. Hyundai has just sweated the details better this time than it ever has before.
Size-wise, the new Sonata’s dimensions are almost right atop the Honda Accord sedan; the Hyundai’s 110-inch wheelbase is just 0.2 inch shorter than the Honda’s and the Sonata is within a half-inch of the Accord in overall width, height and wheel track. The “almost” lies in overall length, where the Sonata’s 189.8 inches is 4.3 inches shorter than the Accord. But despite that, the Sonata offers virtually the same interior room (the back seat is a little tighter) and 16.4 cubic feet of trunk space compared with the Accord’s 14.
Based on the interior volume, the Environmental Protection Agency rates the Sonata, like the Accord, a “large” car. But the Sonata, styled in Hyundai’s California studio, is a swoopy, sleek, streamlined looker compared with the aging Accord, which is blandly boxy from the blunt face of its fuddy to the trailing edge of its duddy.
The Sonata has the “four-door coupe” profile of a Mercedes-Benz CLS or a Volkswagen CC, without those cars’ compromised interior space. That’s a slick trick.
Fortunately, Hyundai didn’t stop thinking when it stuffed the Sonata’s shell. Even the base GLS, which starts at $19,915, includes nice touches like a pull-down handle built into the trunk lid and, below the ventilation controls, two easily accessible 12-volt power points, a USB port and an audio jack. The ventilation controls themselves are neat, featuring a human pictograph for choosing where the flow of air should be directed.
There’s a thoughtfulness that runs throughout every 2011 Sonata that pays off in nearly perfect ergonomics, nicely shaped seats, easily scanned instrumentation, standard Bluetooth cellphone integration with the sound system and an overall feeling of quality that Hyundai has frankly never even approached before.
This isn’t a small step forward for the South Korean company; the made-in-Alabama Sonata is a thumping bound to the front of its class.
The standard Sonata engine is a direct-gasoline injection 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with variable valve timing, a sky-high 11.3:1 compression ratio and a relatively long crank stroke for better torque production. Rated at 198 horsepower in the GLS and the more luxurious Limited, and at 200 in the sporty-trim SE, the engine is sweet natured until about 5,000 r.p.m. — after which it gets a bit ragged.
But the slick part of the Sonata’s drivetrain is the transmission. A 6-speed manual is standard on the base car, the GLS, but virtually all buyers will take the 6-speed automatic. Built by Hyundai itself, that transmission is a paragon of electronically controlled self-shifting virtue; the gears are perfectly spaced with fifth a 1:1 direct drive and sixth an overdrive. The transmission can be shifted manually using the floor-mounted shifter, but why bother?
Combine the GLS automatic’s modest 3,199-pound unloaded weight (about 80 pounds less than a comparable Accord) with the drivetrain’s talents and the result is a federal rating of 22 miles per gallon in the city, 35 on the highway and 28 combined — again slightly better than the Accord.
Car and Driver magazine tested a Sonata SE with the automatic and it waltzed to 60 m.p.h. in 7.8 seconds — nearly a second quicker than the 2010 Accord EX to which it was compared.
The real treat, however, lies in the new turbocharged Sonata 2.0T. Using a shorter stroke, smaller bore, 2-liter version of the same direct-injection engine, the intercooled turbocharger installation whips the output up to a robust 274 horsepower with outstanding torque from off-idle to the 6,500 r.p.m. red line — and does so on regular-grade gas.
No, the turbo 4 is not as silken as the V-6s from Honda or Toyota, but operating through the 6-speed automatic produces effortless thrust, excellent acceleration (0-60 in 6.2 seconds, again according to Car and Driver) and impressive fuel economy. The E.P.A. rates the Sonata 2.0T at 22 m.p.g. in town and a noteworthy 33 on the highway.
All that additional power does, however, point up some of the weaker elements. The suspension is a touch too soft and the speed-proportional electric power steering seems to vary its assist a half-beat behind the driver’s moves.
And since the turbo engine is available only in SE and Limited models, prices start at a dizzier $24,865. Yet considering the amount of equipment aboard, that still seems like a bargain.
The final variation on the Sonata theme is the Hybrid. The hybrid system itself is technically interesting and the redecoration of the car’s nose is pure funk, but the most significant element in how it drives is the same 6-speed automatic used in other Sonatas.
While most hybrids use a continuously variable transmission without fixed gears, the Sonata’s conventional gearbox makes for a more conventional driving experience. The Sonata Hybrid’s recalibrated version of the same 2.4-liter decelerates with the gear changes. For those of us who despise the engine drone associated with CVTs, that sound is a relief. Otherwise, the drivetrain machinations of the Hyundai hybrid system are almost invisible as long as the car is driven moderately.
In fact, if it weren’t for the electro-luminescent instrument panel and the liquid-crystal display between the tachometer and speedometer that graphically encourages economical driving, many drivers wouldn’t notice much difference between the Hybrid, with 206 horsepower (166 horses for the gas engine and 40 more for the electric motor) and the regular Sonata GLS. But they will notice the Hybrid’s stunning E.P.A. rating: 40 m.p.g. on the highway and 36 in the city.
The Sonata Hybrid just went on sale at a starting price of $26,545 — almost $1,000 less than the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which isn’t as well equipped and has a lower mileage rating.
Of course the Sonata isn’t perfect. Some will find its high beltline — the line below the side windows — disconcerting. The turbo model’s lack of a manual transmission keeps it from being a performance leader. And there are still some interior switches that operate raggedly. But this is the first car Hyundai has sold in America that’s so good and so keenly priced that any buyer shopping in its market segment must seriously consider it. It’s the first unavoidable Hyundai.
That’s why it is doing so well. Some 200,000 of the new Sonatas have been sold so far, Hyundai says. After all, everyone loves a tasty taco.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
HOLYOKE BLUE SOX TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON WEDNESDAY, January 26th 2011
On Wednesday, January 26th, 2011, the Holyoke Blue Sox will be holding a press conference at 10:30 a.m. at the Blue Sox Headquarters in the Open Sq. complex Suite 203 in Holyoke Ma. 413-652-9014
Blue Sox Chief Operating Officer Barry Wadsworth will start off the press conference by introducing Kirk Fredriksson as the new General Manager of the Holyoke Blue Sox for the upcoming 2011 season. This will be the 15th season that Fredriksson has been at the helm of a team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Kirk served as the general manager of the Torrington Twisters for 12 seasons before moving to the New Bedford Bay Sox in 2008 where Fredriksson spent the past two years, and is now taking over the general managing duties for the Blue Sox.
“I’ve known Barry for years and Holyoke head coach Darryl Morhadt has been a friend of mine for 30 years” Fredriksson said, I’m very close to the organization, and I have helped them a lot in other capacities for the last four years . Barry’s tried to get me to come onboard for a while, so I decided this year would be a good time to do that”, “I love the NECBL, and I love the league.”
Fredriksson has done quick work as the general manager already inking Team USA to a game with the Holyoke Blue Sox in late June. America’s best crop of young talent will be on showcase in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on June 25. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m. at MacKenzie Stadium, Holyoke, MA. This will be Team USA’s third stop in a seven game road trip.
This marks the 11th season that Team USA has done this tour around the NECBL, the tour began in 2000. General Manager of Team USA Eric Campbell will be present at the press conference to officially announce the 2011 tour.
“It’s this level of competition, Fredriksson said, the NECBL serves as a great stage for Team USA to get ready for their season”. “It’s considered to be one of the premier summer collegiate leagues in the country,” he said. “The venues are good, the teams are good. It’s one of those things they know what to expect when they come to the NECBL, they’re expecting good teams, good venues, great competition, and there’s no surprises that way.”
Along with Team USA coming to town on the 25th of June, there will also be a fundraising luncheon on the same day to help support the Blue Sox Foundation. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets in April for the luncheon, the location and time will be announced at a later date. If some fans cannot make it to the luncheon they will have another great opportunity to meet the players of Team USA, and the hometown Blue Sox as there will be an autograph session before and after the game on the 25th.
“These players are sleeping at our Hotels, having lunch in our restaurants,” Wadsworth said. “They’re spending some time here; they’re getting to know a little bit about Holyoke, and the people around Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley. That’s exactly what the Blue Sox try to do. It’s not always just about the baseball, It’s about getting the Pioneer Valley community involved and provide the opportunity to meet these young scholar athletes, who have a good chance someday to be playing in the Major leagues. “That’s what excites me.” Wadsworth said.
When the “Blue Sox Educational Tour” kicks off in the middle of May, there will be a different look to it as well, the Blue Sox have been donated a brand new vehicle for the tour. Gary Rome Hyundai has donated a brand new completely wrapped van for the Blue Sox Educational tour this season. The vehicle will be unveiled at the press conference as well.
The Blue Sox Educational tour consists of players traveling to Pioneer Valley schools talking to the kids about the importance of staying in school, being good role models in their communities and the value of education as a whole. At each school event the kids will be given tickets to a Blue Sox baseball game compliment of Gary Rome as well.
Other guests at the press conference on Wednesday will include, Barry’s Sister CEO of the Holyoke Blue Sox Karen Rella, Honorable, Elaine A. Pulta, Mayor of Holyoke, Doris Ransford President of Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and Gary Rome of Gary Rome Hyundai.
Blue Sox Chief Operating Officer Barry Wadsworth will start off the press conference by introducing Kirk Fredriksson as the new General Manager of the Holyoke Blue Sox for the upcoming 2011 season. This will be the 15th season that Fredriksson has been at the helm of a team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Kirk served as the general manager of the Torrington Twisters for 12 seasons before moving to the New Bedford Bay Sox in 2008 where Fredriksson spent the past two years, and is now taking over the general managing duties for the Blue Sox.
“I’ve known Barry for years and Holyoke head coach Darryl Morhadt has been a friend of mine for 30 years” Fredriksson said, I’m very close to the organization, and I have helped them a lot in other capacities for the last four years . Barry’s tried to get me to come onboard for a while, so I decided this year would be a good time to do that”, “I love the NECBL, and I love the league.”
Fredriksson has done quick work as the general manager already inking Team USA to a game with the Holyoke Blue Sox in late June. America’s best crop of young talent will be on showcase in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on June 25. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m. at MacKenzie Stadium, Holyoke, MA. This will be Team USA’s third stop in a seven game road trip.
This marks the 11th season that Team USA has done this tour around the NECBL, the tour began in 2000. General Manager of Team USA Eric Campbell will be present at the press conference to officially announce the 2011 tour.
“It’s this level of competition, Fredriksson said, the NECBL serves as a great stage for Team USA to get ready for their season”. “It’s considered to be one of the premier summer collegiate leagues in the country,” he said. “The venues are good, the teams are good. It’s one of those things they know what to expect when they come to the NECBL, they’re expecting good teams, good venues, great competition, and there’s no surprises that way.”
Along with Team USA coming to town on the 25th of June, there will also be a fundraising luncheon on the same day to help support the Blue Sox Foundation. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets in April for the luncheon, the location and time will be announced at a later date. If some fans cannot make it to the luncheon they will have another great opportunity to meet the players of Team USA, and the hometown Blue Sox as there will be an autograph session before and after the game on the 25th.
“These players are sleeping at our Hotels, having lunch in our restaurants,” Wadsworth said. “They’re spending some time here; they’re getting to know a little bit about Holyoke, and the people around Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley. That’s exactly what the Blue Sox try to do. It’s not always just about the baseball, It’s about getting the Pioneer Valley community involved and provide the opportunity to meet these young scholar athletes, who have a good chance someday to be playing in the Major leagues. “That’s what excites me.” Wadsworth said.
When the “Blue Sox Educational Tour” kicks off in the middle of May, there will be a different look to it as well, the Blue Sox have been donated a brand new vehicle for the tour. Gary Rome Hyundai has donated a brand new completely wrapped van for the Blue Sox Educational tour this season. The vehicle will be unveiled at the press conference as well.
The Blue Sox Educational tour consists of players traveling to Pioneer Valley schools talking to the kids about the importance of staying in school, being good role models in their communities and the value of education as a whole. At each school event the kids will be given tickets to a Blue Sox baseball game compliment of Gary Rome as well.
Other guests at the press conference on Wednesday will include, Barry’s Sister CEO of the Holyoke Blue Sox Karen Rella, Honorable, Elaine A. Pulta, Mayor of Holyoke, Doris Ransford President of Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and Gary Rome of Gary Rome Hyundai.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Hyundai Builds the New CR-X Honda Didn’t
DETROIT — When we first heard details on the Hyundai Veloster three-door hot-hatch we wondered if it was the new CRX that Honda didn’t build. With two six-speed transmissions to choose from, a kicking power-to-weight ratio and up to 40 mpg the answer is yes.
Hell yes.
The near-production 2012 Hyundai Veloster shown at the Detroit auto show is a curious FWD hatchback offering three doors (one on the driver’s side, two on the passenger’s) and a liftgate in a design that incorporates the aggressive lines of the Sonata and Euro-market i40 Wagon with a rear end inspired by … a motorcycle helmet.
The aggressive and sporty look is backed up by a 1.6-liter direct-injection four-banger with dual continuously variable valve timing. It offers a relatively potent 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. Though not as powerful as the 180-horsepower Scion tC (the most powerful car in this class), the Hyundai weighs 2,584 pounds compared to the Scion’s 3,060 pounds — a difference of nearly 500 pounds.
“Somehow I think Colin Chapman would be pleased,” Hyundai USA boss John Krafcik said at the press conference unveiling the car.
You have your choice of two transmissions, both with six speeds: a lightweight manual for purists and a new Hyundai-developed dual-clutch transmission for everyone else. Hyundai estimates the combination of the DCT, small engine and low weight will produce a stellar 40 mpg.
No one’s driven the Veloster yet, at least no one who can talk about it, so all comparisons to the venerable Honda CRX and the new Honda CR-Z hybrid must occur in the purely hypothetical realm. But it doesn’t take a genius to see the Veloster smokes the CR-Z with better fuel economy, more power, lower weight, better transmissions and a more attractive aesthetic.
Hyundai, like Honda with the CR-Z, is marketing this car as “fun to drive.” It made a point of noting the McPherson struts and coil springs up front and what they call a V-torsion beam rear suspension out back. We think that’s marketing speak for a variation on the twist-beam torsion bar. The car rolls on 17-inch alloys with 18-inchers available.
Ultimately, the Veloster may compete against cars from Mini instead of Honda, since it offers more power in a package that weighs slightly more than the three-door Cooper but less than the five-door Clubman. Look for the Veloster this summer with a price starting around $17,000.
Hell yes.
The near-production 2012 Hyundai Veloster shown at the Detroit auto show is a curious FWD hatchback offering three doors (one on the driver’s side, two on the passenger’s) and a liftgate in a design that incorporates the aggressive lines of the Sonata and Euro-market i40 Wagon with a rear end inspired by … a motorcycle helmet.
The aggressive and sporty look is backed up by a 1.6-liter direct-injection four-banger with dual continuously variable valve timing. It offers a relatively potent 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. Though not as powerful as the 180-horsepower Scion tC (the most powerful car in this class), the Hyundai weighs 2,584 pounds compared to the Scion’s 3,060 pounds — a difference of nearly 500 pounds.
“Somehow I think Colin Chapman would be pleased,” Hyundai USA boss John Krafcik said at the press conference unveiling the car.
You have your choice of two transmissions, both with six speeds: a lightweight manual for purists and a new Hyundai-developed dual-clutch transmission for everyone else. Hyundai estimates the combination of the DCT, small engine and low weight will produce a stellar 40 mpg.
No one’s driven the Veloster yet, at least no one who can talk about it, so all comparisons to the venerable Honda CRX and the new Honda CR-Z hybrid must occur in the purely hypothetical realm. But it doesn’t take a genius to see the Veloster smokes the CR-Z with better fuel economy, more power, lower weight, better transmissions and a more attractive aesthetic.
Hyundai, like Honda with the CR-Z, is marketing this car as “fun to drive.” It made a point of noting the McPherson struts and coil springs up front and what they call a V-torsion beam rear suspension out back. We think that’s marketing speak for a variation on the twist-beam torsion bar. The car rolls on 17-inch alloys with 18-inchers available.
Ultimately, the Veloster may compete against cars from Mini instead of Honda, since it offers more power in a package that weighs slightly more than the three-door Cooper but less than the five-door Clubman. Look for the Veloster this summer with a price starting around $17,000.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
2011 HYUNDAI SONATA SOARS IN KBB.COM'S "MOST RESEARCHED NEW VEHICLES" REPORT
The all-new Hyundai Sonata, a North American Car of the Year finalist, was deemed the "most noteworthy success story" of the year in kbb.com's "Most Researched New Vehicles of 2010" report. Sonata leapt 24 places to number five overall. Because Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com is one of the most-trafficked automotive research sites, visitation to specific vehicles has become a leading indicator of sales patterns for manufacturers. Hyundai will sell approximately 200,000 Sonatas in calendar year 2010 and volume is up 65 percent year-to-date (through November).
"Hyundai's popular all-new Sonata helped to re-shuffle the deck among the top 20 most-researched new cars of 2010, knocking a few vehicles further down on the list compared to where they were last year," said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.
"The research from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com validates a trend we've been following throughout the year. Sonata is clearly making more consumers' shopping lists than ever before," said Mike O'Brien, vice president, product and corporate planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Data from Compete shows that Sonata was the most-shopped vehicle on the Internet six of the last seven months, proving that as awareness and availability of the 2011 model increased, shopping patterns quickly followed suit."
The 2011 Sonata represents a modern approach to the traditional mid-size sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, emotional design and luxury features offered with Hyundai's strong value proposition. In addition to the standard 2.4-liter, gasoline direct injection powertrain making 35 miles-per-gallon highway, Hyundai added a 2.0-liter, 274-horsepower turbo and first-ever hybrid to the Sonata lineup. The Sonata Turbo went on sale in September and Sonata Hybrid, achieving 40 miles-per-gallon highway, will reach showrooms in January.
The all-new Sonata was the first mid-size 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.
"The site traffic on Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com clearly demonstrates which models are resonating with today's new-car shoppers, especially when we examine the most-researched new vehicles of 2010," said Bell. "Hyundai's homerun Sonata was not only the darling of the industry this year, but also made a strong impression in the minds of new-car shoppers by leaping ahead to the fifth most-researched new car of 2010."
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.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
2011 HYUNDAI SONATA NAMED AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE "ALL STAR"
The all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata has been named to Automobile Magazine's annual "All Stars" list as one of the most outstanding cars of the year.
"The critical acclaim and recognition from experts like the editors of Automobile Magazine is gratifying," said John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "Sonata is a game-changing car that has surpassed everyone's expectations. The All Star award is recognition that the record number of customers who chose Sonata this year made a great choice."
Each fall, Automobile Magazine tests new model cars and its reigning All Stars before selecting 10 vehicles that stand out among all others in the market.
"The Sonata has emerged as an unquestioned leader in a segment that's bursting with excellent automobiles. Painstakingly conceptualized, designed and engineered by Hyundai, the Sonata meets and exceeds the varied needs and wishes of demanding American buyers," writes Automobile Magazine. The editors conclude, "The Sonata is a car that sells purely on its merits rather than on its warranty, and increasing numbers of savvy Americans are beating a path to Hyundai's door."
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata was introduced earlier this year. Sonata brings to the market a number of breakthroughs previously unheard of in the mid-size family sedan segment including standout design, a standard gasoline direct injected engine that delivers 35 miles per gallon on the highway, an optional 274-horsepower 4-cylinder turbo and a hybrid model that will go on sale in the U.S. in January.
Through the first 11 months of the year, Sonata sales are up 65 percent over last year on the strength of the new model, which, is manufactured at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Sonata's breakthrough 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine, 2.0-liter turbo GDI and 6-speed automatic transmission also are manufactured in the United States. Hyundai Motor America sold 500,000 new vehicles in the U.S. for the first time ever, this year. Sonata has been the most "shopped" midsize car in the market for six of the past seven months as measured by Compete, an automotive market analysis firm.
The complete story on the "Automobile All Stars" is available in the February 2011 issue of Automobile Magazine and at www.automobilemag.com. The February issue will be available on iPad on December 20 and on newsstands on January 4, 2011.
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.
"The critical acclaim and recognition from experts like the editors of Automobile Magazine is gratifying," said John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "Sonata is a game-changing car that has surpassed everyone's expectations. The All Star award is recognition that the record number of customers who chose Sonata this year made a great choice."
Each fall, Automobile Magazine tests new model cars and its reigning All Stars before selecting 10 vehicles that stand out among all others in the market.
"The Sonata has emerged as an unquestioned leader in a segment that's bursting with excellent automobiles. Painstakingly conceptualized, designed and engineered by Hyundai, the Sonata meets and exceeds the varied needs and wishes of demanding American buyers," writes Automobile Magazine. The editors conclude, "The Sonata is a car that sells purely on its merits rather than on its warranty, and increasing numbers of savvy Americans are beating a path to Hyundai's door."
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata was introduced earlier this year. Sonata brings to the market a number of breakthroughs previously unheard of in the mid-size family sedan segment including standout design, a standard gasoline direct injected engine that delivers 35 miles per gallon on the highway, an optional 274-horsepower 4-cylinder turbo and a hybrid model that will go on sale in the U.S. in January.
Through the first 11 months of the year, Sonata sales are up 65 percent over last year on the strength of the new model, which, is manufactured at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Sonata's breakthrough 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine, 2.0-liter turbo GDI and 6-speed automatic transmission also are manufactured in the United States. Hyundai Motor America sold 500,000 new vehicles in the U.S. for the first time ever, this year. Sonata has been the most "shopped" midsize car in the market for six of the past seven months as measured by Compete, an automotive market analysis firm.
The complete story on the "Automobile All Stars" is available in the February 2011 issue of Automobile Magazine and at www.automobilemag.com. The February issue will be available on iPad on December 20 and on newsstands on January 4, 2011.
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.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Leave a Facebook comment, enter to win 4 Tickets to Usher!
We're giving away 4 tickets to go see Usher in concert on December 18, 2010 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. In order to enter, simply "Like" the Gary Rome Hyundai Facebook page, then check our FB page. Leave a comment on the Wall post titled "Leave a Facebook comment, enter to win 4 Tickets to Usher" to enter the giveaway. Done. Feel free to "Like" the post itself so your Facebook friends can see the giveaway, and remember to allow direct messages in your Facebook privacy settings.
To enter the Usher Tickets giveaway:
* "Like" the Gary Rome Hyundai Facebook page. Leave a comment on the Facebook Wall post titled "Leave a Facebook comment, enter to win 4 Tickets to Usher"
* You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S.
* Limit 1 entry per person.
* The entry period ends at 3:00PM ET on Wednesday, December 15.
* At that time, we'll select 1 winner from the eligible commenters to receive 4 Tickets to Usher at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.
* Make sure your Facebook privacy settings allow for direct messages to receive notification in the event you win.
* Winner must be able to pick up tickets in person at the dealership in Holyoke, MA.
* Standard giveaway rules apply for everything else.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Listen to XM Radio Free for 2 Weeks Nov 18 - Dec 1.
All you need is an XM capable device or Radio and just tune in. http://www.xmradio.com/freepreview
Thursday, November 18, 2010
2011 Hyundai Sonata and Genesis Sedan Awarded an Automotive Best Buy Award from Consumers Digest
Consumers Digest Magazine named both the 2011 Hyundai Sonata and 2011 Hyundai Genesis sedan a "Best Buy." The ratings are based on behind-the-wheel assessment, safety ratings, ownership costs, warranty, price, comfort, ergonomics, styling and amenities. The Sonata is a Best Buy in the Family Car category and the Genesis sedan is a Best Buy in the Luxury Car segment.
"Value, as we see it, is based on purchase price and ownership costs relative to quality, performance and subjective factors like comfort and design," said Randy Weber, publisher, Consumers Digest. "Few purchases are more important, or require more research, than buying a new vehicle. Our analyses ensure that consumers are as satisfied with their auto purchase years after making it as they were on the day they drove off the lot."
The Automotive Best Buy Awards reflect Consumers Digest's view of which 2011 vehicles offer exceptional value for the money. A panel of six automotive experts evaluates the vehicles from behind-the-wheel on an ongoing basis, both under real-world conditions in their own test-drives and at manufacturers' new-model introductions. They assess design factors including styling, accessories and amenities, cargo space, and fit and finish, as well as performance characteristics including starting and acceleration, steering and handling, ride quality and fuel economy.
"The Genesis has provided ground-breaking value among its luxury competition with lavish appointments and impressive driving performance," said Mike O'Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "The all-new Sonata also upholds Hyundai's legacy of value with exciting design, best-in-class fuel economy and outstanding residual value. Both cars continue to exceed expectations for consumers in their respective segments."
For more information and a complete list of award winners, visit http://www.consumersdigest.com/award_page.html.
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.
"Value, as we see it, is based on purchase price and ownership costs relative to quality, performance and subjective factors like comfort and design," said Randy Weber, publisher, Consumers Digest. "Few purchases are more important, or require more research, than buying a new vehicle. Our analyses ensure that consumers are as satisfied with their auto purchase years after making it as they were on the day they drove off the lot."
The Automotive Best Buy Awards reflect Consumers Digest's view of which 2011 vehicles offer exceptional value for the money. A panel of six automotive experts evaluates the vehicles from behind-the-wheel on an ongoing basis, both under real-world conditions in their own test-drives and at manufacturers' new-model introductions. They assess design factors including styling, accessories and amenities, cargo space, and fit and finish, as well as performance characteristics including starting and acceleration, steering and handling, ride quality and fuel economy.
"The Genesis has provided ground-breaking value among its luxury competition with lavish appointments and impressive driving performance," said Mike O'Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "The all-new Sonata also upholds Hyundai's legacy of value with exciting design, best-in-class fuel economy and outstanding residual value. Both cars continue to exceed expectations for consumers in their respective segments."
For more information and a complete list of award winners, visit http://www.consumersdigest.com/award_page.html.
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.
Hyundai Elantra Earns Highest Residual Value in its Class in the 2011 ALG Residual Value Awards
ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data, today announced its 12th annual Residual Value Awards, honoring vehicles across 19 different segments and two brands that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their MSRP after a three-year period. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra topped the competitive compact segment, winning ALG's award for the highest residual value in its class.
The 2011 Residual Value Awards are based on the entire model year forecast of 2011 products. Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand and pricing and marketing strategies are among the key factors that affect ALG's residual value forecasts.
"Hyundai's win of the mid-compact segment highlights the growing reputation of the brand, as well as its impressive new product push," said Raj Sundaram, Senior Vice President, Solutions Group and ALG. "The all-new 2011 Elantra shines with standard luxurious features and a modest price tag, and it's expected to be a favorite of young drivers like the VW Jetta and Mazda3 before it."
The all-new 2011 Elantra encompasses Hyundai's latest ambitions including "Fluidic Sculpture" design, advanced safety technologies and best-in-class 40 mpg highway fuel economy. It took 33 months to develop the all-new Elantra and four years to bring it to market. The 2011 Elantra launches with new 1.8-liter "Nu" engine and in-house six-speed automatic transmission.
"Achieving such tremendous value retention speaks to the overall quality and merit of the Elantra," said Mike O'Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Vehicles that retain their value in the long-term offer a lower overall cost of ownership to the customer, allowing Hyundai to offer strong lease options to consumers and better resale value at trade-in time for our customers who purchase their vehicles."
For more information and a complete list of winners, visit: www.alg.com.
ALG
Based in Santa Barbara, California, ALG (www.alg.com) is a leading provider of data and consulting services to the automotive industry. ALG publishes the "Automotive Lease Guide" - the standard for Residual Value projections in North America, and has been forecasting automotive residual values for over 45 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets. ALG is a company of DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. 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.
The 2011 Residual Value Awards are based on the entire model year forecast of 2011 products. Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand and pricing and marketing strategies are among the key factors that affect ALG's residual value forecasts.
"Hyundai's win of the mid-compact segment highlights the growing reputation of the brand, as well as its impressive new product push," said Raj Sundaram, Senior Vice President, Solutions Group and ALG. "The all-new 2011 Elantra shines with standard luxurious features and a modest price tag, and it's expected to be a favorite of young drivers like the VW Jetta and Mazda3 before it."
The all-new 2011 Elantra encompasses Hyundai's latest ambitions including "Fluidic Sculpture" design, advanced safety technologies and best-in-class 40 mpg highway fuel economy. It took 33 months to develop the all-new Elantra and four years to bring it to market. The 2011 Elantra launches with new 1.8-liter "Nu" engine and in-house six-speed automatic transmission.
"Achieving such tremendous value retention speaks to the overall quality and merit of the Elantra," said Mike O'Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Vehicles that retain their value in the long-term offer a lower overall cost of ownership to the customer, allowing Hyundai to offer strong lease options to consumers and better resale value at trade-in time for our customers who purchase their vehicles."
For more information and a complete list of winners, visit: www.alg.com.
ALG
Based in Santa Barbara, California, ALG (www.alg.com) is a leading provider of data and consulting services to the automotive industry. ALG publishes the "Automotive Lease Guide" - the standard for Residual Value projections in North America, and has been forecasting automotive residual values for over 45 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets. ALG is a company of DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. 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.
Monday, November 15, 2010
2011 Hyundai Elantra: First Look
* Competes with: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus
* Looks like: An aggressive compact sedan
* Drivetrain: 148-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine; six-speed manual or automatic transmission
* Hits dealerships: 2011
Hyundai busted sales records with its revamped Sonata midsize sedan earlier this year, and it looks like it will do the same when the new Elantra goes on sale next year.
The just-announced Elantra will use the same formula as the Sonata, offering a high level of refinement, value and performance for a good price. However, this model has a not-so-secret weapon: 40 mpg standard.
While the Chevy Cruze and smaller Ford Fiesta promise 40 mpg highway or better, they do so only in special trims or with certain transmissions. The new Elantra gets an EPA-estimated 29/40 mpg city/highway and 33 mpg combined. That's the exact same mileage as the smaller Fiesta SFE.
Pricing hasn't been announced, but it looks like the base GLS model will come without air conditioning and a few other conveniences to deliver a low price. It still comes with power windows, a six-speaker stereo system and USB port.
The GLS Popular Equipment Package can be added. It includes air conditioning, cruise control, telescopic steering wheel and 16-inch steel wheels.
The Limited trim will come loaded with leather seating, automatic transmission, black chrome grille, fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, heated front and rear seats, and Bluetooth connectivity.
A navigation system with 7-inch screen is available as an option on either trim level.
By David Thomas Cars.com
* Looks like: An aggressive compact sedan
* Drivetrain: 148-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine; six-speed manual or automatic transmission
* Hits dealerships: 2011
Hyundai busted sales records with its revamped Sonata midsize sedan earlier this year, and it looks like it will do the same when the new Elantra goes on sale next year.
The just-announced Elantra will use the same formula as the Sonata, offering a high level of refinement, value and performance for a good price. However, this model has a not-so-secret weapon: 40 mpg standard.
While the Chevy Cruze and smaller Ford Fiesta promise 40 mpg highway or better, they do so only in special trims or with certain transmissions. The new Elantra gets an EPA-estimated 29/40 mpg city/highway and 33 mpg combined. That's the exact same mileage as the smaller Fiesta SFE.
Pricing hasn't been announced, but it looks like the base GLS model will come without air conditioning and a few other conveniences to deliver a low price. It still comes with power windows, a six-speaker stereo system and USB port.
The GLS Popular Equipment Package can be added. It includes air conditioning, cruise control, telescopic steering wheel and 16-inch steel wheels.
The Limited trim will come loaded with leather seating, automatic transmission, black chrome grille, fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, heated front and rear seats, and Bluetooth connectivity.
A navigation system with 7-inch screen is available as an option on either trim level.
By David Thomas Cars.com
Monday, November 08, 2010
2011 Hyundai Equus test drive - Hyundai isn't horsing around
We can all learn a lesson from Hyundai. They don't sit around and wait for others to define their vehicles: They tell us who the competition is, and thus define their vehicles. Witness the latest new Hyundai: the 2011 Hyundai Equus. Hyundai tells us to compare it to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 7-Series and the Lexus LS. Hmm... we'll see. The 2011 Hyundai Equus will arrive in two different configurations, Equus Signature ($58,900) and Equus Ultimate ($65,400), each with a 5-year/60,000 mile basic warranty, a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, and EPA fuel economy estimates of 16 MPG city/24 highway.
First Glance: Haven't we seen you somewhere before?
I have to get this out of the way first. I think that the name "Equus" is a terrible mistake. "Equus" is Latin for "horse," which is how we come to the English words "equestrian," "equine" and others. Fine so far. But "Equus" is also the title of Peter Shaffer's iconic 1973 play about a young man who blinded six horses with a spike after they witnessed his sexual failure in a barn. The play's Broadway production won a Tony Award in 1974. A 1977 film adaptation directed by Sidney Lumet featured Richard Burton. The play has been revived many times over the years, usually as a star turn. In 2007, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) played the troubled young man to much acclaim on London's West End. My point is that this is not some obscure little play. This is a major work, and it has a perverse, violent, psychosexual context that no car manufacturer would want to attach to their new vehicle. I know that the Equus name is revered in South Korea, as the previous version of this executive sedan was been a big success over there. But bringing a new vehicle to the US and ignoring the literary and cultural context of the name strikes me as insensitive. One big demerit before I even drive your vehicle, Hyundai.
Walking around the outside of the Equus, it's easy to see the designers' inspiration. There's some Mercedes-Benz in the front end (link goes to photo), some Maybach in the haunches, a little 7-series in the trunk lid. 19" wheels fill each fender well. The whole look is elegant, if a little generic. The Hyundai flying "H" logo only appears on the trunk, not on the hood, where a new Equus ornament faces the world.
In the Driver's Seat: Home, James
In South Korea, the Equus has been Hyundai's flagship executive car since its first generation in 1999. True Type A businessmen use drivers, so that their commute time can be work time. As such, the back seat of the Equus Ultimate is set up like an executive jet, with two cushy seats separated by a large center console. The right side seat is the power seat -- it even has a fold-out footrest. The front right side seat powers far forward to allow for maximum comfort and space in the rear. Every luxury option is standard on the Ultimate trim level, including heated and cooled seats, a refrigerator, rear-seat entertainment system and gold bullion storage compartment (or is that a glove box?).
The driver's and front passenger seats are not bad, either. Everywhere you look and touch, you are rewarded with quality materials, assembled with care and skill. I'm not generally a fan of wood trim in cars, but the wood in Equus is nice, even if its buried under a thick layer of clear coat.
The interior is so polished and elegant that complaints are few and minor, and I have only one: I'm not crazy about the font that they use on the controls and dash buttons -- it's not as sophisticated as the rest of the design.
Lexicon provided the audio and video technology aboard the Equus, and it's really great. You get home theater quality sound inside the cabin, with the new Lexicon Discrete LOGIC7 Surround Sound audio system that delivers 600 watts through 13 channels. Particular attention was paid to the sound quality in the rear seat, where the executive might be riding.
On the Road: Floating through life
Hyundai is great at benchmarking other successful brands, and engineering toward duplicating or bettering their results. Lexus has been the industry leader in cabin quietness -- until now. Equus's interior sound levels are the quietest that I've ever perceived. Road noise doesn't sneak in, no matter how pebbled the path. Very impressive.
Under the hood you'll find a great big 4.6 liter V8 engine with up-to-date technology like continuously variable valve timing and variable induction. Recognizing that its buyers might be thriftier than most luxury buyers, Hyundai has tuned the V8 to perform with either premium or regular gas, with only a slight performance penalty for the cheaper stuff. A ZF-sourced six speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. The Equus weighs in at just under two and a half tons, about what I expect for a big luxury sedan, and acceleration and performance are grunty, but not overwhelming.
The Equus' air suspension provides a smooth ride, especially when paired with the continuous damping control that adjusts shock-absorber performance. A newly developed electro-hydraulic power steering system provides excellent feel when turning. Some electric power steering systems feel numb, but the interaction of electric and hydraulic systems keeps the steering feel live in most driving situations.
Call it a gimmick, but it will probably sell a few Equii: the vehicle's manual will be loaded on an Apple iPad, instead of printed on paper. I love the idea, I've never had to worry about the batteries running low on my Toyota's paper manual when I was trying to figure out how to use the jack. Is this a smart use of technology, or too smart for its own good?
Journey's End: Who's zooming who?
Equus is significantly less expensive than comparably-equipped competitors, which Hyundai names as the Lexus LS 460 L ($70,925), Mercedes-Benz S550 ($91,600) and BMW 750Li ($86,400). I don't expect Equus to compete with the S-Class and the 7-series, no matter how much Hyundai believes that it will. A buyer who is considering a $90,000 S-Class is buying something more than an executive sedan -- they're buying into the Mercedes-Benz brand experience.
Hyundai has some great ideas about how to improve the brand experience for Equus, like delivering the vehicle to potential buyers' homes for test drives, specially-trained Hyundai dealers providing sales and service, and valet service for maintenance and repair. Hyundai has been preparing its buyers for a luxury experience for years, with the vast improvement in the Sonata and the introduction and success of the Genesis. But Hyundai is not Mercedes-Benz or BMW. Hyundai isn't even Lexus... yet.
I think the real competition for Equus is price point where you can get more for your money with a Hyundai: The BMW 550 Gran Turismo ($63,900) and the Mercedes-Benz E550 ($57,100) had better look out, because buyers looking for luxury and space might find the sweet spot in Equus long before they approach the $85,000 - 90,000 mark.
Bottom line: Equus represents another major step forward for Hyundai. I can't wait to see what's next. -- Jason Fogelson About.com
First Glance: Haven't we seen you somewhere before?
I have to get this out of the way first. I think that the name "Equus" is a terrible mistake. "Equus" is Latin for "horse," which is how we come to the English words "equestrian," "equine" and others. Fine so far. But "Equus" is also the title of Peter Shaffer's iconic 1973 play about a young man who blinded six horses with a spike after they witnessed his sexual failure in a barn. The play's Broadway production won a Tony Award in 1974. A 1977 film adaptation directed by Sidney Lumet featured Richard Burton. The play has been revived many times over the years, usually as a star turn. In 2007, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) played the troubled young man to much acclaim on London's West End. My point is that this is not some obscure little play. This is a major work, and it has a perverse, violent, psychosexual context that no car manufacturer would want to attach to their new vehicle. I know that the Equus name is revered in South Korea, as the previous version of this executive sedan was been a big success over there. But bringing a new vehicle to the US and ignoring the literary and cultural context of the name strikes me as insensitive. One big demerit before I even drive your vehicle, Hyundai.
Walking around the outside of the Equus, it's easy to see the designers' inspiration. There's some Mercedes-Benz in the front end (link goes to photo), some Maybach in the haunches, a little 7-series in the trunk lid. 19" wheels fill each fender well. The whole look is elegant, if a little generic. The Hyundai flying "H" logo only appears on the trunk, not on the hood, where a new Equus ornament faces the world.
In the Driver's Seat: Home, James
In South Korea, the Equus has been Hyundai's flagship executive car since its first generation in 1999. True Type A businessmen use drivers, so that their commute time can be work time. As such, the back seat of the Equus Ultimate is set up like an executive jet, with two cushy seats separated by a large center console. The right side seat is the power seat -- it even has a fold-out footrest. The front right side seat powers far forward to allow for maximum comfort and space in the rear. Every luxury option is standard on the Ultimate trim level, including heated and cooled seats, a refrigerator, rear-seat entertainment system and gold bullion storage compartment (or is that a glove box?).
The driver's and front passenger seats are not bad, either. Everywhere you look and touch, you are rewarded with quality materials, assembled with care and skill. I'm not generally a fan of wood trim in cars, but the wood in Equus is nice, even if its buried under a thick layer of clear coat.
The interior is so polished and elegant that complaints are few and minor, and I have only one: I'm not crazy about the font that they use on the controls and dash buttons -- it's not as sophisticated as the rest of the design.
Lexicon provided the audio and video technology aboard the Equus, and it's really great. You get home theater quality sound inside the cabin, with the new Lexicon Discrete LOGIC7 Surround Sound audio system that delivers 600 watts through 13 channels. Particular attention was paid to the sound quality in the rear seat, where the executive might be riding.
On the Road: Floating through life
Hyundai is great at benchmarking other successful brands, and engineering toward duplicating or bettering their results. Lexus has been the industry leader in cabin quietness -- until now. Equus's interior sound levels are the quietest that I've ever perceived. Road noise doesn't sneak in, no matter how pebbled the path. Very impressive.
Under the hood you'll find a great big 4.6 liter V8 engine with up-to-date technology like continuously variable valve timing and variable induction. Recognizing that its buyers might be thriftier than most luxury buyers, Hyundai has tuned the V8 to perform with either premium or regular gas, with only a slight performance penalty for the cheaper stuff. A ZF-sourced six speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. The Equus weighs in at just under two and a half tons, about what I expect for a big luxury sedan, and acceleration and performance are grunty, but not overwhelming.
The Equus' air suspension provides a smooth ride, especially when paired with the continuous damping control that adjusts shock-absorber performance. A newly developed electro-hydraulic power steering system provides excellent feel when turning. Some electric power steering systems feel numb, but the interaction of electric and hydraulic systems keeps the steering feel live in most driving situations.
Call it a gimmick, but it will probably sell a few Equii: the vehicle's manual will be loaded on an Apple iPad, instead of printed on paper. I love the idea, I've never had to worry about the batteries running low on my Toyota's paper manual when I was trying to figure out how to use the jack. Is this a smart use of technology, or too smart for its own good?
Journey's End: Who's zooming who?
Equus is significantly less expensive than comparably-equipped competitors, which Hyundai names as the Lexus LS 460 L ($70,925), Mercedes-Benz S550 ($91,600) and BMW 750Li ($86,400). I don't expect Equus to compete with the S-Class and the 7-series, no matter how much Hyundai believes that it will. A buyer who is considering a $90,000 S-Class is buying something more than an executive sedan -- they're buying into the Mercedes-Benz brand experience.
Hyundai has some great ideas about how to improve the brand experience for Equus, like delivering the vehicle to potential buyers' homes for test drives, specially-trained Hyundai dealers providing sales and service, and valet service for maintenance and repair. Hyundai has been preparing its buyers for a luxury experience for years, with the vast improvement in the Sonata and the introduction and success of the Genesis. But Hyundai is not Mercedes-Benz or BMW. Hyundai isn't even Lexus... yet.
I think the real competition for Equus is price point where you can get more for your money with a Hyundai: The BMW 550 Gran Turismo ($63,900) and the Mercedes-Benz E550 ($57,100) had better look out, because buyers looking for luxury and space might find the sweet spot in Equus long before they approach the $85,000 - 90,000 mark.
Bottom line: Equus represents another major step forward for Hyundai. I can't wait to see what's next. -- Jason Fogelson About.com
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Hyundai took on Toyota. Now for BMW.
Now the Harmons are a Hyundai family.
They already own two -- a 2008 Santa Fe sport utility vehicle and a 2005 Elantra -- and Mr. Harmon, a Chicago-area electrical contractor who owns several construction companies, has his eye on the Equus, a nearly $60,000 sedan that arrives in November.
"This will go head-to-head with the BMWs and Mercedes," Mr. Harmon said. "If you test-drive all of them with your eyes closed, you're going to pick the Hyundai."
The idea that Hyundai could compete with luxury automakers would have seemed absurd two decades ago, when its low-quality cars made the South Korean company a laughingstock in the United States.
These days, rivals know not to underestimate Hyundai and its affiliate, Kia, which have been posting record sales during one of the auto industry's most difficult periods.
"The challenge for the Korean companies is just to keep this winning streak going," said James Bell, executive market analyst with the automotive information firm Kelley Blue Book. "In a lot of ways, they followed the Japanese model of how to succeed in the marketplace."
But while Toyota and Honda built their empires largely on reliability and fuel economy, Hyundai and Kia have taken that formula a step further with a focus on making their vehicles attractive.
"You didn't really buy a Toyota Tercel because it was a beautiful car," Mr. Bell said. "The factor that the Koreans have added to that mix is styling."
As a result, Hyundai and Kia are becoming a serious threat to the Japanese dominance of most passenger car segments. Hyundai's midsize car, the Sonata, was the most researched vehicle in the country in May, according to Compete, a Boston research firm.
Sales of the Sonata, which accounts for one-third of Hyundai's total volume, are up about 50 percent this year, while demand for the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord is down slightly. Even though the Camry and Accord remain tops in their segment, Hyundai has been closing the gap quickly.
Over all, Hyundai's market share in the United States has increased to nearly 5 percent, from 3 percent in 2008. Kia's share has grown to more than 3 percent, from 2.1 percent in 2008.
Together the two companies, which operate independently from each other in the United States but share some operations, now outsell the Japanese carmaker Nissan. In the second quarter, Hyundai was the fifth-most-considered brand in the country, bumping Nissan to sixth place, according to a Kelley Blue Book study.
Hyundai, Kia and Subaru of Japan were the only three automakers whose sales here increased in 2009.
Hyundai expects its United States sales to top 500,000 for the first time ever this year, as its rivals grapple with sales that are far below the level of several years ago, before the recession.
In fact, the recession has been a big reason behind the success that Hyundai and Kia have enjoyed in recent years. Their models are priced lower than most of the competition, but in better times many shoppers still might not have researched Hyundai or Kia enough to see what the vehicles offered.
"It gave us an opportunity to really reach some people who might not have looked at us before -- people who would have defaulted into an Accord or Camry," John Krafcik, the chief executive of Hyundai Motors America, said. "Times like these that force people to go deeper into the purchase analysis definitely favor us."
David Champion, the director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports, said shoppers who had not checked out Korean cars lately would probably be surprised.
"You're not getting a bargain-basement car," Mr. Champion said. "You're getting a very well-equipped car with good reliability. Every new Kia and Hyundai that we've tried has been so much better than the previous model and really, really competitive."
But for all their strides, the Korean companies still have work to do before they are broadly perceived to be among the industry's elite brands.
"It's still going to take time to get people into the cars and to spread the word of mouth," said Mr. Champion, who described Hyundai's foray into the luxury segments as selling "an Armani suit with a Wal-Mart label."
Hyundai and Kia have been marketing themselves heavily to overcome outdated perceptions -- in some cases filling voids left as the Detroit automakers pulled back on sponsorships and ads during big events like the Super Bowl.
"We didn't use to see doctors and lawyers and that type of affluent buyer, because it just wasn't socially acceptable to pull up in a Hyundai," said Brian Malpeli, who has sold Hyundais since the brand's early years and is the general sales manager at World Hyundai in Matteson, Ill. "But the more and more people start noticing us, the more they see the value in it."
Mr. Harmon, who bought his Santa Fe at World Hyundai, says saving thousands of dollars to get what he considers a more enjoyable vehicle trumps any concerns about whether the brand is fashionable.
"I know what kind of quality I'm sitting in," he said. "I don't care if I pull up next to a Porsche in my Santa Fe, because he spent $110,000 for his, and I spent $30,000 for mine, and I like mine more than his."
Article from: NY Times
They already own two -- a 2008 Santa Fe sport utility vehicle and a 2005 Elantra -- and Mr. Harmon, a Chicago-area electrical contractor who owns several construction companies, has his eye on the Equus, a nearly $60,000 sedan that arrives in November.
"This will go head-to-head with the BMWs and Mercedes," Mr. Harmon said. "If you test-drive all of them with your eyes closed, you're going to pick the Hyundai."
The idea that Hyundai could compete with luxury automakers would have seemed absurd two decades ago, when its low-quality cars made the South Korean company a laughingstock in the United States.
These days, rivals know not to underestimate Hyundai and its affiliate, Kia, which have been posting record sales during one of the auto industry's most difficult periods.
"The challenge for the Korean companies is just to keep this winning streak going," said James Bell, executive market analyst with the automotive information firm Kelley Blue Book. "In a lot of ways, they followed the Japanese model of how to succeed in the marketplace."
But while Toyota and Honda built their empires largely on reliability and fuel economy, Hyundai and Kia have taken that formula a step further with a focus on making their vehicles attractive.
"You didn't really buy a Toyota Tercel because it was a beautiful car," Mr. Bell said. "The factor that the Koreans have added to that mix is styling."
As a result, Hyundai and Kia are becoming a serious threat to the Japanese dominance of most passenger car segments. Hyundai's midsize car, the Sonata, was the most researched vehicle in the country in May, according to Compete, a Boston research firm.
Sales of the Sonata, which accounts for one-third of Hyundai's total volume, are up about 50 percent this year, while demand for the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord is down slightly. Even though the Camry and Accord remain tops in their segment, Hyundai has been closing the gap quickly.
Over all, Hyundai's market share in the United States has increased to nearly 5 percent, from 3 percent in 2008. Kia's share has grown to more than 3 percent, from 2.1 percent in 2008.
Together the two companies, which operate independently from each other in the United States but share some operations, now outsell the Japanese carmaker Nissan. In the second quarter, Hyundai was the fifth-most-considered brand in the country, bumping Nissan to sixth place, according to a Kelley Blue Book study.
Hyundai, Kia and Subaru of Japan were the only three automakers whose sales here increased in 2009.
Hyundai expects its United States sales to top 500,000 for the first time ever this year, as its rivals grapple with sales that are far below the level of several years ago, before the recession.
In fact, the recession has been a big reason behind the success that Hyundai and Kia have enjoyed in recent years. Their models are priced lower than most of the competition, but in better times many shoppers still might not have researched Hyundai or Kia enough to see what the vehicles offered.
"It gave us an opportunity to really reach some people who might not have looked at us before -- people who would have defaulted into an Accord or Camry," John Krafcik, the chief executive of Hyundai Motors America, said. "Times like these that force people to go deeper into the purchase analysis definitely favor us."
David Champion, the director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports, said shoppers who had not checked out Korean cars lately would probably be surprised.
"You're not getting a bargain-basement car," Mr. Champion said. "You're getting a very well-equipped car with good reliability. Every new Kia and Hyundai that we've tried has been so much better than the previous model and really, really competitive."
But for all their strides, the Korean companies still have work to do before they are broadly perceived to be among the industry's elite brands.
"It's still going to take time to get people into the cars and to spread the word of mouth," said Mr. Champion, who described Hyundai's foray into the luxury segments as selling "an Armani suit with a Wal-Mart label."
Hyundai and Kia have been marketing themselves heavily to overcome outdated perceptions -- in some cases filling voids left as the Detroit automakers pulled back on sponsorships and ads during big events like the Super Bowl.
"We didn't use to see doctors and lawyers and that type of affluent buyer, because it just wasn't socially acceptable to pull up in a Hyundai," said Brian Malpeli, who has sold Hyundais since the brand's early years and is the general sales manager at World Hyundai in Matteson, Ill. "But the more and more people start noticing us, the more they see the value in it."
Mr. Harmon, who bought his Santa Fe at World Hyundai, says saving thousands of dollars to get what he considers a more enjoyable vehicle trumps any concerns about whether the brand is fashionable.
"I know what kind of quality I'm sitting in," he said. "I don't care if I pull up next to a Porsche in my Santa Fe, because he spent $110,000 for his, and I spent $30,000 for mine, and I like mine more than his."
Article from: NY Times
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)