Monday, April 30, 2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Hyundai Motor Profit Rises 31%, Beating Analyst Estimates

Hyundai
Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest carmaker, reported first-quarter profit that exceeded analysts’ estimates, helped by sales of the Elantra sedan and i20 subcompact in Europe and the U.S.

Net income climbed 31 percent to 2.45 trillion won ($2.2 billion), compared with 1.88 trillion won a year earlier, the Seoul-based company said in a statement today. Profit beat the 2.07 trillion won average of 25 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue increased 11 percent to 20.2 trillion won.

The Sonata and Accent sedans fueled a 15 percent increase in U.S. deliveries in the quarter, while the i20 hatchback helped drive a 13 percent rise in Europe, bucking the region’s economic slump that pushed down demand for vehicles to a 14-year low last month. The company has said since January that it expects sales to climb 5.7 percent to 4.3 million units in 2012 and reach 7 million vehicles when combined with those of affiliate Kia Motors Corp. (000270)

“The global auto industry is expected to improve in the second half of this year, as U.S. demand remains strong and China’s growth turns around,” said Shin Chung Kwan, an analyst at KB Investment and Securities Co. in Seoul. “I expect other major automakers to post improved operating profits.”

Operating profit, or sales minus the costs of goods sold and administrative expenses, rose 25 percent to 2.28 trillion won. That exceeded the 2.11 trillion won average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg.

Hyundai, the first among major global carmakers to report results for the latest quarter, gained 1.8 percent to 262,000 won at the close in Seoul trading, while the benchmark Kospi index rose 0.1 percent.

U.S. Demand

The company raised its forecast for global auto market growth in 2012 to 5.6 percent, helped by demand in the U.S., Lee Won Hee, Hyundai’s chief financial officer, said today. This is bigger than the 3.6 percent increase it forecast at the beginning of this year, he said.

“The increase in U.S. auto industry’s demand is more than we had expected,” Lee said. “Our Elantra and Sonata supply is not able to keep up with the demand in the U.S.”

Hyundai isn’t concerned about stiffer competition from Japanese rivals such as Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) and Honda Motor Co. (7267), which are rebounding from last year’s natural disaster, he said. The South Korean carmaker plans to introduce five new models in the U.S., including the new Santa Fe sport-utility vehicle and a revamped Elantra.

China Plant

In China, the world’s largest automobile market, Hyundai’s sales rose 6.8 percent in the first quarter, bucking a decline in industry deliveries, fueled by demand for the Accent, whose deliveries jumped 80 percent last quarter. To meet demand, Hyundai plans to start production of its China-exclusive Elantra, introduced as Langdong in the country, at the newly completed third plant, the company said in an April 23 e-mail.

Production at Hyundai’s third plant in China will begin in July, which will increase the automaker’s production capacity to 1 million units in the country, according to the company.

Rising gasoline prices have undermined demand in China, where Volkswagen AG (VOW) and BAIC Motor Corp. warned this week of rising inventory levels in the industry.

Average prices of cars produced in China have fallen for three straight months as quarterly sales shrank for the first time since 2005 during the first three months of the year.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Are you looking for an oil change?

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Stop into Inver Grove Hyundai and bring in this coupon. You'll get an oil & filter change for only $22.95!

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Hyundai Offering Free SiriusXM Subscriptions

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SIRIUSXM RADIO and HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA has launched a deal where HYUNDAI dealers will give customers across the U.S a three-month SIRIUSXM subscription when they purchase a pre-owned vehicle, regardless of manufacturer, equipped with satellite radio.

"HYUNDAI is dedicated to its dealers and customers and this is just one more way for us to go one step beyond by offering customers not only an attractive selection of Certified HYUNDAI, pre-owned HYUNDAI and non-HYUNDAI vehicles, but to include a three-month subscription for SIRIUSXM," HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA Manager JOSE FROEHLICH said.

"We are proud that HYUNDAI dealers want to demonstrate SIRIUSXM for their pre-owned vehicle customers," SIRIUSXM Automotive Remarketing and Retail Sales SVP/GM JOE VERBRUGGE said. "By including a three-month SIRIUSXM subscription, customers buying any pre-owned vehicle from HYUNDAI can be assured that when they start up their vehicles they are getting best-in-class technology and can enjoy our unparalleled audio entertainment lineup.

Thanks to 'ejwood' for sharing your most recent experience with all of us!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Hurry into Inver Grove Hyundai and take advantage of this great offer on a 2013 Genesis Coupe!

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You won't find a better deal than the special we currently have on it. This fantastic vehicle is looking for an owner, and that person could be you!

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Thursday, April 19, 2012

Hyundai Azera perfectly parked in large sedan segment

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In a quiet, forgotten corner of the automotive landscape there is a segment of vehicle called the large sedan. These cars tilt toward luxury but have a foot firmly planted in practicality and economics.

They are for cheap hedonists. Or penny-pinching gourmands. They are for people who fly coach but upgrade to the exit row, favor Macaroni Grill over Olive Garden or see movies only when they hit video on demand but then spring for the HD version.

After several years of neglect, Hyundai is now paying this segment some attention with its 2012 Azera. Slotting above the company's everyman Sonata but below the European-hunting Genesis sedan, the relaunch of the $32,875 Azera foretells of a battle in the large sedan segment.

Both Chevrolet and Toyota brands used the recent New York auto show to introduce heavily redesigned and rethought versions of their large sedans, the Impala and Avalon, respectively. Those models arrive in 2013 and look to shake up current competitors such as Buick's stout LaCrosse, Ford's improving Taurus and Nissan's sporty-but-aging Maxima.

Thus, Hyundai's new Azera is tasked with a challenge; beat the cars available now at their own game while anticipating what's ahead.

The Azera, which was last made in 2010, has all the trademarks of the large sedan class. It has a V-6 engine routing power to the front wheels via an automatic transmission. The 3.3-liter engine is direct-injected for efficiency and has 293 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque.

The engine is also one of the highlights of the Azera; power is smoothly modulated and is more than enough for a car this size, with zero to 60 mph coming in 6.6 seconds, according to Motor Trend.

The engine is quiet under nearly every circumstance, but like that shy kid in the back of chorus, it really sings when encouraged. Meanwhile, the six-speed transmission does its job ably, though slipping it into manual mode reveals some hesitancy to shift gears.

Fuel economy on the Azera is rated at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 29 on the highway. Over 300 miles of testing in slightly more city driving than on the highway, it revealed an average of 19 mpg.

The rest of the driving experience is pleasantly subdued. The suspension is comfortable yet firm; the body rolls around corners in an expected yet not alarming manner, and wind and road noise are nicely hushed.

The Azera's biggest drawback for drivers is the car's electric power steering. This isn't the first time Hyundai has brought to market a new model with a steering system that feels unnecessarily synthetic and removed from what the front wheels are really doing. A similar fault plagued the recent Hyundai Veloster; and it haunts this Azera, especially in tight, last-second maneuvers when you want all the control the car can possibly muster.

Given that Hyundai relentlessly tweaks even the minutiae of its cars' engineering, this repeated oversight is surprising.

But what Hyundai has taken the time to engineer is an interior and exterior worth showing off.

The Azera's body challenges the engine for title of this car's best feature. Even the harshest critics of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design theme should admit that this is arguably the best-looking vehicle in the automaker's showroom.

It takes that design language and applies it in a mature, complete manner. The flowing style is confident without resorting to superfluous embellishments to get attention.

This car should have no trouble standing out from the rest of the large sedan crowd, both now and when those 2013 models roll into the ring. The sleek rear of the Azera and its horizontally oriented taillights are oddly similar to that of the 2013 Toyota Avalon, but with a flourish of style conspicuously absent from the Toyota.

The interior doesn't match the panache of the exterior, though not for lack of trying. The cabin wins plaudits for its excellent construction. Quality materials abound, and they're held together with tolerances usually reserved for a higher class of vehicle. That upscale feel is supplemented by the standard touch-screen navigation system that is still one of the easiest to use in the industry.

Buyers who find solace in a warm interior replete with (usually fake) wood trim should note that Azera's take on budget luxury errs on the more modernist side and uses faux carbon fiber and faux brushed metal trim instead.  

While everything is held together nicely, the layout of the buttons is a bit discombobulated, with symmetry and aesthetics favored over logic. This sends the driver in search of a button that isn't where reason says it should be, and this can be a frustrating distraction.

Additional consternation may result as well from the lack of a dedicated display screen for the climate control. You can call it up on the navigation screen, but if you're using that display for something like directions or for the stereo, you have no idea how and where the climate control is functioning.

But interior gripes end there, as the Azera stays true to its large sedan coterie with an abundance of passenger and cargo space. Passengers 6 feet and up can easily sit behind an equally tall driver; heck, cross your legs if you'd like and enjoy the standard heated leather seats throughout.

Other standard features include a backup camera; dual climate control; stereo system with iPod, Bluetooth and XM Satellite radio; and push-button start. Safety comes in the form of nine air bags, ABS, stability and traction control and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

My test car added the $4,000 Technology package, which includes 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, Xenon headlights, an excellent Infinity audio system, ventilated front seats and a power rear sunshade. Total damage at the dealership: $36,875.

Although that price tag is a bit spendy compared with the older Azera, it still keeps the 2012 model fiercely competitive for its segment. Thus, value joins a commendable list of reasons this Hyundai is in an excellent position to challenge both current and future rivals.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Car review: 2013 Genesis Coupe

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What it is: The Genesis Coupe is a premium, rear-wheel drive coupe from the Korean manufacturer Hyundai. The Genesis Coupe landed on American shores in early 2009 as a 2010 model, and the 2013 model is a significant refresh. Hyundai’s popular “fluidic sculpture” design lines are integrated into a new front bumper and hood that give the car a much sportier and modern appearance. The interior has been taken up a few notches as well with a smokin’ hot red leather interior that comes with the R-Spec trim. The interior as a whole feels very upscale, even with the base cloth materials.

The Genesis Coupe is offered in six different trims; there are three trims for each of the two engine choices. The two engine choices should be familiar, as they are a carryover from last year, a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine and a 3.8 liter six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. What has changed is the power rating for each of the engines. The 2.0T went from 210hp to 271hp and the 3.8 V6 went from 306hp to 345hp. Those aren’t the usual nominal increases, but significant improvements. There are two transmissions offered, a 6-speed manual and a new 8-speed automatic and both were fantastic. The auto carries a $1,250 price premium.

The trims offered vary slightly by engine. The 2.0T has a base trim (that is unnamed), the R-Spec trim and Premium trim. The 3.8 offers R-Spec, Grand Touring and Track. The prices range from $24,500 for the 2.0T base in manual to $34,250 for the 3.8 Track in automatic. I really hate calling the base trim ‘base’ because it does offer a significant amount of features like 18” alloy wheels, steering wheel audio controls, daytime running lights, etc. The $2,250 step-up to the R-Spec gets you the red leather interior, 19” alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, and a Torsen limited slip differential. That is an insane amount of value. You can look at Hyundai’s website to compare all of the trims, but I feel like the R-Spec trim is the way to go if you want a manual transmission (with either engine). If you want the automatic, then the premium (2.0T) or Grand Touring (3.8) is the trim for you. If you want a manual and navigation, then your only choice is the 3.8 V6 Track, which is kind of a shame.

All four combinations of engine/transmission choices are brilliant matches. The new 8-speed auto works great while just cruising or for spirited driving. The 6-speed manual is my preference, and it offers silky smooth control. The engines themselves have a significant power difference (271hp vs 345hp) but didn’t feel too different off of the line, mostly due to the torque coming much earlier on the turbocharged four cylinder. If you are doing a full on drag race, then yes, the V6 is significantly faster from 0-60 (6.8 seconds vs 5.7 seconds), but the 2.0T doesn’t feel sluggish at all, and you still get the full sports car experience. The difference in torque tells the tale with the 2.0T producing 275 lb-ft at 2,000 RPM and the 3.8 producing 295 peak at 5,300 RPM. Gotta love turbochargers!

MPG: 21/30 for 2.0T. 18/27 for 3.8

Upsides: Great value, fun to drive, looks great

Downsides: Availability. Cars have recently been released, but it will be tough finding one in the near future.

Wrap-up: I really liked the Genesis Coupe. In the car world, the product itself is what sells cars and Hyundai has delivered a killer product. It is fun to drive, great to look at and at a very reasonable price. The Genesis Coupe, in this iteration, will never be as prevalent as the Mustang or Camaro, as it is designed to have a little more finesse. Hyundai continues to produce some fantastic cars and are on path to become a juggernaut in the car industry. The 2013 Genesis Coupe is just the next domino to fall.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Spring is here and that also means rainy weather.

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Protect your vehicle from the mud and have our great service team install splash guards to it! For only $99.95, you'll have it installed in the front and rear.

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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Hyundai’s US CEO set high goals to transform Hyundai from joke to auto sales juggernaut

Hyundai
Americans were laughing at Hyundai’s cars when John Krafcik joined the company eight years ago.

The cars were ugly and often broke down. The only reason to buy one was because it was cheap. Jay Leno once joked that you could double a Hyundai’s value by filling it up with gas.

( Richard Drew / Associated Press ) - In a Tuesday, April 3, 2012 photo, John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, is interviewed by the Associated Press, in New York. Americans were laughing at Hyundai’s cars when Krafcik joined the company eight years ago. No one’s laughing now. The Korean automaker’s quality has improved, and it’s among the leaders in fuel efficiency and styling. Sales are up more than 60 percent since 2008, the year Krafcik began running the company’s American operations.

No one’s laughing now.

The Korean automaker’s quality has improved, and it’s among the leaders in fuel efficiency and styling. Sales are up more than 60 percent since 2008, the year Krafcik became CEO of American operations. Hyundai’s Elantra compacts and Sonata midsize sedans are in such demand that few discounts are offered. And although the company’s U.S. sales are just a fraction of General Motors’ or Ford’s, they’re growing so quickly that Hyundai is feared by every other carmaker.

Hyundai had already started to change before Krafcik arrived, offering a 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty with its cars. But the transformation from joke to juggernaut accelerated under his watch.

Krafcik, 50, is a Stanford-trained engineer and manufacturing expert. He began his career as a manufacturing engineer at a General Motors-Toyota joint venture factory set up so GM could learn how Toyota made cars. While working for the venture in the early 1980s, he saw the gap in standards between Japanese and American plants. He has focused on quality ever since.

Despite Hyundai’s turnaround, Krafcik still worries about quality.

“It only takes one small mistake with a critical part in a safety-related system to derail all of the good work that we’ve done,” he says.

Krafcik, who often wears open-collar shirts, sport coats and jeans, recently spoke with The Associated Press in New York. He talked about the success of the Fountain Valley, Calif., company, his management style, and cup holders. Here are excerpts, edited for clarity and style:

Q: Your company has made a remarkable turnaround since the early 1990s when it sold inexpensive cars that fell apart. How did you make the transformation?

A: First you had to build that foundation of quality and consumer trust. By the time we got to the late ‘90s, we knew that our quality was good. We knew our reputation was horrible. And the America’s Best Warranty, that 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, ended up being huge. We were able to take ourselves from about 90,000 units (cars and trucks) per year at the absolute pits of our sales — this was in the late 90s — to 300,000 and 400,000 within four or five years.

Q: That was a bet-the-company move?

A: It was an absolute bet-the-company move. If we had gotten that one wrong, then the company would have failed. And rather quickly, too, as the warranty expense and exposure are significant when you’re taking a bath that big.

Q: Hyundai has pushed the envelope in its car designs, and other companies are just now catching up with the Elantra and Sonata. How did you pull that off?

A: It just takes courage and a willingness to take risks. So with Sonata, the conventional orthodoxy in the industry was midsize cars should be styled conservatively. This is typical market research talking. We know this because we talk to our midsize car buyers all the time. Here’s what they say: ‘Safety. Quality. I want a good value and a fair price.’ And about number seven or eight on the pecking order is design. From that mentality has come the point of view that midsize cars should look like (Toyota) Camrys and (Honda) Accords and (Chevrolet) Malibus.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Are you looking for a top-notch SUV?

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Look no further than the 2012 Hyundai Veracruz. Take a look at the great offer we currently have on it! Drop in today & take a look at this great vehicle in person.

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: Up Close

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The Santa Fe Sport looks as if Hyundai took all of its recent introductions and created one collage of a midsize SUV. And wouldn't ya know, it works.  Front styling features the tall, angular grille of the 2013 Genesis coupe while the rest of the SUV's exterior should look familiar to Tucson owners.

The inside shows off a very predictable Hyundai interior. Again, that's not bad because Hyundai's newest interiors are stylish. Materials quality of the show car feels a touch more upscale than the Hyundai Sonata sedan, especially the upper dashboard materials. Also, its climate control dials have a solid feel that some of Hyundai's other interiors lack.

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This Santa Fe Sport is ready for family duty with a large cargo area, second-row seat versatility and an available extended-wheelbase model with room for up to seven, simply called the Santa Fe (sans Sport). Sitting in the backseat of the Sport, my 6-foot-tall slender frame is far from grazing the roof even with the optional panoramic sunroof that cuts 1.7 inches of headroom from non-sunroof Santa Fe Sports. Both sections of the folding rear seat slide and recline individually, which is simple to do thanks to easily reachable handles and smooth operation.

 

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It has 39.4 inches of legroom in the second row, impressive when compared against other midsize SUVs like the Nissan Murano (36.3 inches), Ford Edge (39.6 inches) and Toyota Highlander (38.3 inches). However, specifications are sometimes misleading, and I didn't find the Santa Fe Sport's legroom especially roomy compared with the Edge, even with the rear seat all the way back.

Second-row legroom in the longer Santa Fe is the same as the Santa Fe Sport, but with more room for a third row. The big Santa Fe was unavailable for us to poke around in on the show floor, though it looks more proportional than the little Santa Fe; the extra length complements the tall front and rear proportions of the Sport.

SOURCE: chicagotribune.com

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Looking for a great car to drive around in?

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Hyundai Rated First in Fuel Economy by the EPA

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Automakers make a lot of claims about their vehicles' fuel efficiency and environmental merit, but ultimately it is the EPA that has the final say in legitimizing those claims. In that respect, fuel-conscious buyers may want to head to a Hyundai dealership for their next vehicle, as the brand was rated best in fuel economy and lowest in CO2 emissions in the EPA 2011 Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends Report.

Analyzing 2010-model-year vehicles, the EPA report found that Hyundai models averaged an adjusted fuel economy of 27.0 mpg and CO2 emissions of 329 g/mi, placing the brand first among the 13 highest-selling automakers in the United States. Though it earned the top spot over past winners like Honda and Toyota, Hyundai had been ranked first previously as well for the 2008 model year. The EPA also forecasts that the fuel-efficiency crown will stay with Hyundai for 2011-model-year rankings, estimating an adjusted fuel-economy rating of 27.5 mpg.

"We expect to continue to see high gas prices this summer, but Hyundai makes it easy for drivers to save at the pump," said Bob McCullen, general sales manager of Bow, New Hampshire Hyundai dealer Grappone Hyundai. "Hyundais are built with lightweight materials, innovative engines and smooth-shifting transmissions that allow drivers to return impressive fuel-economy numbers that other automakers just can't deliver."

The EPA report also notes that Hyundai is the only manufacturer to have four models achieving 40 mpg on the highway, including the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Accent, Veloster M/T and Elantra. Currently, a 1.6-liter GDI engine provides the 2012 Veloster and Accent with 138 horsepower and 40 mpg on the highway. Meanwhile, the 2012 Sonata Hybrid adds more power to the mix, thanks to a 2.4-liter gas engine, an electric motor and a lithium polymer battery that combine to deliver a total of 206 horsepower.

As the only vehicle in its segment with a standard 40-mpg highway rating across all trim levels, the Hyundai Elantra has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that returns 148 horsepower. That efficiency gives Hyundai's compact car a highway driving range of up to 500 miles, making it well suited for long summer road trips.

Hyundai is currently rolling out its 2013 Elantra, which offers new standard and optional equipment to buyers. The base 2013 Elantra GLS M/T sports a number of newly standard features like cruise control and a telescopic steering wheel, both of which previously had to be purchased in the Comfort Package. Meanwhile, the Elantra GLS A/T's Preferred Package includes heated seats to make chilly New England mornings more bearable. A power driver's seat with lumbar support is now a standard feature on Limited trim models.

"The Elantra is as ready for your morning commute as it is for your weekend getaway," added McCullen. "Great fuel economy, high resale value and Hyundai's signature styling make the Elantra a smart investment that will keep owners satisfied for the life of their vehicle."