Hyundai Veloster Wins 2011 GOOD DESIGN Awards’ Transportation Category

South Korean automakers have been on a roll for the past two years and there are no signs of letting off. A radical departure from Hyundais of the past, the new Hyundai Veloster earned GOOD DESIGN award in the transportation category. Held at the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, GOOD DESIGN awards are handed annually to the most innovative designers in a broad array of industries– not just automotive.

According to Hyundai Motor America director of Product Planning, Scott Margason, “With Veloster, we want to show consumers that high style, fuel efficiency and affordable pricing can all be found in one vehicle. Veloster stands out from the crowd with a stylish yet functional design. We’re honored that GOOD DESIGN is recognizing the beautiful design and unique personality of the car.”

Highlights of the Veloster’s design are its three-door layout. While this design has been adopted by the and Saturn SC-2 3-door coupe in the past, the third door is opened conventionally rather than suicide, retains a B-pillar for structural rigidity, and has its own exterior door handle rather than needing to rely on the front door to open first. What’s more, designers compliment the Hyundai for its bold design statement and its distinctive forms including black A-pillars to give the sports coupe an aggressive motorcycle helmet visor appearance. A distinctive glass hatch in the rear and dual centered chrome exhaust tips carry the edgy design to the rear. Inside, the center console is designed to resemble a sport bike fuel tank while HVAC air vents are heavily influenced by motorcycle tailpipes.

Source: autoguide.com

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Christopher Chapman, Designer of BMW X5, to Head Hyundai Studios in California

On Thursday, Hyundai announced that it hired Christopher Chapman from the BMW DesignworksUSA studio in Newbury Park, Calif., to be chief designer at the Hyundai Design Center in nearby Irvine.

Less than a year ago, the former General Motors designer Phil Zak stood at the Hyundai stand at the Detroit auto show and introduced the Veloster three-door hatchback and Curb crossover concept. But Mr. Zak returned to G.M. in March, vacating the position to which Mr. Chapman was appointed this week.

Mr. Chapman is best known for directing the design of the BMW X5. He also guided exterior design of the X-Coupe concept of 2001, which was the first enunciation of the flame, or expressionist, surface philosophy of Christopher Bangle, the design chief of BMW at the time. Mr. Chapman is also credited with the first-generation BMW 1 Series hatchback, known internally as the E87, which wasn’t sold in the United States.

He was appointed the director of automotive design at DesignworksUSA in 2002. He has been in charge of recent models like the Z4 sports car and the redesigned X3 crossover.

 

Mr. Chapman has been head of the transportation department at DesignworksUSA, which also serves clients in areas outside the car industry, since 2008. The department designs aircraft interiors, yachts and metro trains, among other projects. In July, the consultancy was retained by Bay Area Rapid Transit to develop trains to replace the agency’s aging fleet. Mr. Chapman also spent two years of his career at the BMW studios in Munich.

The bearded, affable Mr. Chapman is popular in the Los Angeles auto design community. He graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and joined Isuzu’s technical center in California in 1989. His Isuzu XU-1 was named Best Concept at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show, according to a release from Hyundai. An S.U.V. with gullwing doors, it informed the shape of the eventual VehiCross and suggested Mr. Chapman’s interest in making S.U.V.’s sportier and less trucklike.

Hyundai and Kia, its sister brand, have impressed design observers with their rapid evolution of clear and dynamic styles to represent their brands. Kia, however, might be more front-of-mind than its corporate sibling, aided by Peter Schreyer, the former Audi design chief who took charge at the Korean automaker in 2006. Mr. Schreyer was named Automobile magazine’s 2011 Man of the Year.

Even so, Hyundai’s success in rapidly raising the level of its design is no less striking. The creases and character lines of the company form language suggest extreme interpretations of some of BMW’s expressive forms — a look credited not as much to Mr. Zak as to to Joel Piaskowski. Mercedes-Benz hired Mr. Piaskowski away from Hyundai to become head of advanced design at the German brand’s North American design center in January 2009. He later moved to Ford.

“We are thrilled to have Christopher Chapman as chief designer for Hyundai and look forward to continuing the strong momentum of our vehicle designs,” said SukGeun Oh, the head of design for the Hyundai brand, in a media release.

John Krafcik, the president and chief executive of Hyundai Motor America, called Mr. Chapman “an outstanding addition to the design team.”

Source: nytimes.com

Inver Grove Hyundai's Holiday Hours

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Saturday, December 24th - Sales/Service/Parts will be closed. 

Sunday, December 25th - Sales/Service/Parts will be closed

Monday, December 26th - Sales will be open regular hours. 

Parts and Service will be closed for the holiday.

Thank you and we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend!

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Inver Grove Hyundai's Holiday Hours

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Holiday Hours

Saturday, December 24th - Sales/Service/Parts will be closed. 

Sunday, December 25th - Sales/Service/Parts will be closed

Monday, December 26th - Sales will be open regular hours. 

 Parts and Service will be closed for the holiday.

Thank you and we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend!

A big thank you to Edward for the recommendation!

"Easy transaction, professional staff, quality product, basically met my expectations without any issues. I have no problem whatsoever recommending Inver Grove Hyundai." - Edward H.

Six Hyundai Models Earn 2012 IIHS Top Safety Pick Honors

Hyundai Elantra, Sonata, Genesis, Equus, Tucson and Santa Fe Achieve Highest Safety Ratings

COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 15, 2011– Six Hyundai models, the all-new Hyundai Elantra, Sonata, Genesis, Equus, Tucson and Santa Fe, achieved the 2012 Top Safety Pick honor from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on “good” ratings in Institute tests. Winners must also have available Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a crash avoidance feature that significantly reduces crash risk.

“Safety has always been a top priority at Hyundai, so we are thrilled to see six of our models on this important and prestigious list,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Having led the industry in standardizing Electronic Stability Control for the midsize sedan segment back in 2005, Hyundai is committed to developing and providing the best in both passive and active safety technologies.”

The IIHS Top Safety Pick ratings help consumers pick vehicles that offer a higher level of protection than federal safety standards require. In 2010, the Institute toughened the criteria for Top Safety Pick by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a “good” rating for performance in a roof strength test to assess protection in a rollover crash.

“For the second year running a record number of models qualify,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “It’s tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority.”

Source: hyundainews.com

Our amazing Hyundai Holiday offers won't last forever!

With January right around the corner, time is of the essence. Our amazing Hyundai Holiday offers won't last forever, so stop in today and take advantage of the Best Offers of the Season!

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Hyundai Launches Interactive Racing Game On New York Times Square Billboard

COSTA MESA, Calif., December 20, 2011 – Hyundai Motor Company launched an interactive racing game called “HYUNDAI RACE” on its prominent Times Square video billboard today. Times Square visitors can play the high-quality racing game featuring the all-new Hyundai Veloster on the big screen and simulate the real driving experience.

“HYUNDAI RACE” is controlled by tilting a smart phone, just like turning the steering wheel when driving a car. Players can easily download the controller for “HYUNDAI RACE” from the App Store. Then, by connecting to the free Hyundai WiFi network in Times Square, players can control their vehicle on the big screen just as if they were playing a racing game on their smart phone. When players finish the race, their score will appear on the billboard and show their ranking among other players.

“HYUNDAI RACE” will be on the billboard until the end of this year, and Hyundai will continuously deliver other innovative interactive experiences in Times Square next year.

“HYUNDAI RACE” is a strategy that aligns with Hyundai’s new brand direction –

“New Thinking. New Possibilities.” – which debuted at 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The new brand direction aims to provide customers with experiences beyond expectations through innovative thinking.

The all-new 2012 Veloster, which made its debut at the 2011 North American International Auto Show, is another example of Hyundai’s new brand direction. The vehicle features an innovative three-door compact coupe design with the functionality of a hatch and a passenger-side forward-hinged rear door. The Veloster racing game is the first in the world to launch with high-quality graphic resolution on the Times Square billboard that offers a realistic driving experience.

“Having a large video display in Times Square certainly creates awareness among consumers through creative graphic elements. But Hyundai’s racing game takes engagement to a new level,” said Steve Shannon, vice president of Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “The game invites the audience to interact with Hyundai in the middle of one of the world’s busiest venues for commerce and tourism. It’s a great example of our innovative marketing at work.”

Hyundai has been marketing in New York Times Square along with global leading brands since November 2009. Times Square billboards draw 1.5 million impressions a day in one of the world’s most iconic locations for exposing brands.

Source: hyundainews.com

Stop in for our Hyundai Holidays Sales Event and Let the Snow Fly!

Plus, Military Personnel and Families get an extra $500 Bonus Cash towards the purchase of a new eligable Hyundai!

** Offer ends 12/31 **

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We would like to thank Annette for her kind words!

"My experience with Inver Grove Hyundai was outstanding. Thomas was thrilled for me when my new Elantra came in early. He explained everything in detail and made sure I was well informed about the operation of the vehicle. Every time I come back to the dealership for service or even a car wash he always greets me with a big smile and a friendly handshake. I have recommended this dealership to several people and I am thoroughly pleased with my new Elantra. It handles beautifully in the snow and the mileage is phenomenal. I will definitely return to Inver Grove Hyundai several years from now when it is time for a new car." - Annette R.

Rhys Millen Heists a Genesis Coupe Drift Car from Hyundai Headquarters

About two weeks before the wrecking ball was about to completely demolish the old Hyundai Motor America headquarters building in Fountain Valley, California, Hyundai had a crazy thought: Wouldn't it be cool to do something outrageous inside the building before all the walls finally came down?

The Hyundai Elantra has been chosen as a finalist for the 2012 North American Car of the Year Award!

The winners of the 19th annual competition will be named on Jan. 9, prior to the opening of the Detroit auto show. Last year’s winners were the Chevrolet Volt and Ford Explorer.
The awards for new or substantially redesigned vehicles are judged by 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Criteria include general design, safety, fuel economy, handling and roadworthiness, performance, comfort, quality, functionality, innovation, driver satisfaction, price and value, the journalists say.
Source: consumeraffairs.com

A big thank you to the author of this great review. Good work team!

"I had stopped in to have my 2006 Santa Fe serviced, and I thought I would talk to a salesperson because of all the emails and mailings I have received telling me that this was a great time to buy, and trade ins on low mileage vehicles were very good. Will made the experience of buying a car very pleasant, even fun. Jessica made the paperwork experience very enjoyable. All in all, a very favorable experience." - bfpeek

Introducing the Hyundai 40mpg Holiday Quartet!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Hyundai Holidays has some great gifts for you this holiday season, including four amazing vehicles with 40mpg. Hurry in, because the best offers of the season won't last forever!  Learn more.

Hyundai Veloster Named "Best Economy Car" By Bloomberg

The all-new 2012 Hyundai Veloster earned the title of “Best Economy Car” in Bloomberg’s recent “Best Drives of 2011.” The Veloster is an innovative compact coupe that features ground-breaking design, with a unique third door for easy rear-seat access, Hyundai’s Blue Link® telematics system, Pandora® internet radio with seven-inch touch-screen display and a new 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine that can be mated to either Hyundai’s first EcoShift™ dual-clutch transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. The Veloster is also one of four Hyundai vehicles that achieve 40 mpg on the highway, along with the Accent, Elantra and Sonata Hybrid.
In the third annual roundup of the year’s best vehicles compiled by Bloomberg,
Veloster drew praise from the editors for “amenities like touch-screen navigation, automatic everything, Bluetooth and a rear-view camera.”
“Hyundai has four models which hit the 40 mpg mark, only one a hybrid. That’s progress for the people,” said Jason Harper, Bloomberg’s auto critic. “Most of us want a nice-driving, good-looking automobile that won’t sledgehammer us into debt. Hyundai has gotten in the habit of over-delivering very good cars at underwhelming prices. The Veloster is the most out-and-out fun.”
Joining the Veloster as “Best Drives of 2011” are the Range Rover Evoque, the Lamborghini Aventador, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe and the Overall 2011 Winner, the Audi A7.
As expected for the winner of the “Best Economy Car” segment, the Veloster combines its dynamic design, wealth of technology and outstanding fuel efficiency with great value -- The Veloster starts at $17,300 (plus freight).
“We recognize that Bloomberg’s reporters and readers are among the most financially savvy and astute car buyers in the world,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “With this in mind, it’s a tremendous honor that the publication appreciates all of the Veloster’s outstanding qualities in the compact coupe segment, from the telematics’ benefits of Blue Link™ to a fun, yet fuel-efficient 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that yields outstanding fuel economy, combined with an affordable sticker price.”
Source: hyundaiinthenews.com

We would like the thank the authors of these reviews. We absolutely love hearing from our customers!

"Terry Davis was the BEST. We actually bought a car Saturday and came back to exchange it with a different car on Monday. It was completely hassle free. We got the Sonta ltd and upgraded to the turbo. I've bought many new cars before. It never had a better experience!" - Mgriffith

"I was looking to purchase a used car for my college age daughter. I have had great luck purchasing new vehicles from this dealership so I decided to give buying a used car a try. It was a great experience. We spotted a car on the website and called to inquire about it. Shelley our sales person had the car checked out called me back and said "it is not a car I would feel comfortable selling you." I asked her to keep a look out for a good car in the price range my daughter had. A few days later she called me back with a regarding a car that came in on a trade. I made arrangements to meet with Shelley and we got a fair deal done quickly. Just another really good experience for me at Inver Grove Hyundai." - u0042138

Wouldn't this 2011 Hyundai Sonata look great under your Christmas tree?

See the full gallery on Posterous

Santa Claus has got nothing on us! Stop in today and take this beauty for a test drive. We can't promise you won't fall in love though...

Thank you Robert for these kind words!

"The courtesy and eagerness of all staff I've dealt with to see that your needs are met,and that you got taken care of in a timely manner." - Robert R.

Hyundai Veloster Scores Auto Style Award

If you plan on becoming a citizen of eCityofStyle.com—a top resource for the country’s “cool hunters”—you should be sure to have the Hyundai Veloster in your sights: After all, the website recently honored the striking three-door coupe with a 2012 Auto Style Award, adding it to a list that includes vehicles like the BMW 6 Series, Range Rover Evoque, Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG and Fiat 500.

This was the second consecutive Auto Style Award for the automaker, which earned recognition on the 2011 list for the luxurious Hyundai Equus.

Of this year’s Hyundai winner, eCityofStyle.com’s editors wrote: “Gone are the days of Hyundai’s budget car status. Today, the Korean automaker is a legitimate threat to the establishment, designing cars that look considerably more expensive than they really are. The Veloster is perhaps Hyundai’s most successful execution of its new design language, called Fluidic Sculpture. From the tight front end to the sculpted side creases to the powerful wheel arches, the Veloster’s exterior is both aggressive and sleek.”

The Veloster is as smart as it is stylish, too, thanks to a high-efficiency powertrain that can deliver EPA ratings of up to 28 mpg city/40 mpg highway/32 mpg combined with its slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission or 29 mpg city/38 mpg highway/32 mpg combined with Hyundai’s in-house-designed six-speed automatic. The Hyundai boasts a smart price as well, especially as compared to the other Auto Style Award winners: The Veloster’s MSRP begins at $17,300, which provides a price advantage for the Hyundai ranging from $200 as compared to a Fiat 500 Sport up to a staggering $77,600 as compared to the Mercedes.

“With Veloster, we want to show consumers that high style and reasonable pricing can go hand in hand,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Veloster stands out from the crowd with a stylish yet functional design. We’re honored that eCityofStyle is recognizing the beautiful design and unique personality of the car.”

Source: hyundaiinthenews.com

Stop in today and treat your car to the tune ups it needs!

With our sliding scale coupon, located in our Facebook coupons tab, you will save more the more you spend! So give your car the gift of maintenance. You'll both be glad you did!

Hyundai and the all-new Hyundai Veloster present RE:GENERATION.

Recommended Maintenance Schedule

Take a look at our Recommended Maintenance Schedule put together by a team of Inver Grove Hyundai Service Professionals and based off the manufacture's service recommendations and taking into consideration Minnesota's severe weather conditions.

Hyundai’s 2012 Tucson named as Kelley Blue Book top resale value pick

Hyundai’s 2012 Tucson CUV has been placed on Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Award’s Top 10 list. The automotive-information resource reserves this list for vehicles expected to best retain their value over the next five years.

"Hyundai's year-over-year gain in average residual value of 4.5 percentage points was one of the best in the industry," said Eric Ibara, director of residual value consulting for Kelley Blue Book. … “Among this year's top 10 model winners, the Hyundai Tucson is holding its value exceedingly well, gaining more than 10 percentage points from last year with a 60-month residual value of 45.3 percent. With Hyundai's improvements in styling and performance that results in more consumers shopping for Hyundai vehicles, this brand is clearly one to watch."

Depreciation is generally a car owner’s primary expense. Kelley Blue Book’s annual Best Resale Value Awards are designed to help buyers make informed decisions with this in mind.

"The Tucson does an excellent job of artfully combining state-of-the-art safety features, design and affordability, allowing it to retain a high value throughout the course of ownership," said Mike O'Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning for Hyundai Motor America. "Hyundai is proud to offer its Trade-In Value Guarantee as part of Hyundai Assurance, and this program is made possible due to the strength of Hyundai vehicles' residual values, like the Tucson."

The carmaker’s Trade-In Value Guarantee is intended to eliminate concern about depreciation by guaranteeing value for vehicles between 24 and 48 months of ownership.

Source: ocmetro.com