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Next Hyundai Sonata to Get Fluidic Precision Design

John Krafcik, The CEO of Hyundai North America has been busy making his press rounds and one of the more interesting things he’s had to talk about is the new design language they are using for the upcoming new Hyundai models that we should expect to see coming out within the next couple of years. Along these design changes will be a fluidic precision design for the Hyundai Sonata amongst some of the other popular Hyundai versions.

“You’ll see even more maturity with the new Santa Fe, and future cars will feature something we’re internally calling Fluidic Precision, where the forms might be a little less extroverted,” Krafcik said. “You’ll see that with the next Sonata, the design of which has just been frozen.”

Krafcik also talked about if Hyundai was planning on building a premium brand such as Honda did with Acura or Nissan did with Infiniti.

“We actually thought about launching the Genesis that way, and putting them in their own showrooms, but we’re not going to do standalone premium franchises because costs are so high. If you multiply 200 dealerships by a cost of $10-20 million per dealer to make a new space, it comes out to something like $5000 or $6000 that would have to be added to the price of the car. As far as our Equus ‘experience,’ our customers love it. If Equus were its own brand the satisfaction ratings with customer service would be number two, just behind Cadillac. But would we do it? Probably not.”

Finally and of course what everyone is curious about is wondering about was what he thinks about the Hyundai Elantra fuel economy class action lawsuit. In particular we are wondering if Hyundai will change over to combined fuel ratings to avoid future suits. His answer didn’t make a lot of sense to us, but maybe you can make heads or tails out of it:

“The lawsuit, as we see it, focuses on the fact that they thought we didn’t fully disclose that 40 mpg was highway fuel economy. If you look at the way Ford marketed the Fiesta and Focus, Chevy marketed the Cruze Eco, Dodge is advertising its Dart — we’re all doing the same thing. We screen all of our advertisements to meet FTC regulations, and we feel we met the standard. As far as combined numbers go, if you have a car with class-leading fuel economy, more product sales are arguably better for the environment, national fuel consumption, et cetera. And if you’re out there showing the okay number while the other guy is showing the excellent numbers, you’re going to lose sales, and it’s going to be detrimental to the environment, dependence on foreign oil, et cetera. I just don’t think it’s socially responsible to advertise that way. It’s a bold move, but I’m not sure it’s the right move.”

Source Automobile Magazine

Hyundai unveils Elantra Coupe-based Zombie Survival Machine at Comic-Con

Surviving the impending zombie apocalypse just got a whole lot easier with Hyundai's The Walking Dead-inspired Zombie Survival Machine.

In that desperate moment, when your existence on this earth hangs by a thread, cornered in dark alley with all hope ripped from your very being, the zombie horde shuffling toward you with its relentless undead zeal, a moaning rabble of flesh and bone hungry for every inch of your depleted and exhausted body, know this: You probably would have survived had you been able to cruise around in Hyundai’s Zombie Survival Machine.

Thankfully that day will never come (or will it?!). But just in case it does, Hyundai has you covered. The Korean automaker recently showed off its Elantra-based Zombie Survival Machine at this year’s Comic-Con and needless to say it’s quite the impressive piece.

Designed by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, the menacing coupe sports dangerously delicious, zombie-killin’ features including a spiked-out, custom-made front-end zombie plow, armored window coverings (you’ll need to keep an eye out for strapped survivors just as much those pesky walkers), a conveniently placed roof hatch, and a trunk full of electric and pneumatic weaponry. The apocalypse-ready coupe is even outfitted with spiked all-terrain tires, front and back end floodlights, and CB radio for those lonely nights when you’re desperately searching for any remnants of humanity.

The car marks the release of the 100th issue of The Walking Dead comic and fans of the series, and gearheads alike, will surely get a kick out of it.

“Our custom Elantra Coupe Zombie Survival Machine is the ultimate car for The Walking Dead fans and anyone who wants to survive a zombie invasion,” said Steve Shannon, vice president of Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “We are excited for fans to come and experience the Elantra Coupe and GT in a unique, post-apocalyptic way.”

On top showcasing the car at this year’s Comic-Con, event attendees were allowed to slip inside the vehicle and see for themselves all the undead-inspired features crammed in, with a limited edition “owners manual” on hand illustrating how each of the coupe’s unique features could be used to take down walkers.

The Walking Dead will kick off its third season on AMC this October.

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The 2012 Hyundai Equus Signature: super-luxury, served Korean style

The Hyundai brand is best known in the United States for their lineup of popular economy cars including the Elantra and the Sonata with prices that tend to stay in the low 20,000 range – all the more reason for critics of the Equus to question the near-60k price tag. However, Hyundai is easily among the most improved automakers in the US auto industry over the past decade. While the Hyundai brand of the late 1990s and early 2000s would have been an awkward place for a super-premium luxury sedan, the Equus stands as a shining symbol of just how much the brand has improved. While their high volume vehicles like the Elantra, Sonata and Genesis family are the bread and butter, the Equus shows that the brand is capable of far, far more than just $20,000 economy cars.

The Exterior
The 2012 Hyundai Equus sports the big, bold styling that has become expected of the full size luxury sedan segment but unlike the other Hyundai models – the Equus does not sport the aggressive design with respect to the rest of the segment. While models like the Sonata, the Elantra, the Veloster and the Tucson are far more aggressive in their exterior design than many of their competition’s models of the same segments – the Equus has a slightly less radical design. However, the design cues of the Hyundai brand are still very much there even though the Equus wears a badge of its own on the hood and wheels with an abstract bird emblazoned in chrome.

 

 

Across the front, the 2012 Hyundai Equus wears large headlight housings that stretch out along the fenders with a classy projection and LED combo providing great light along with an eye-catching look. Below the headlights are bold chrome trim pieces that follow the contour of the lens and below those are a lower fascia area with chrome fog light bezels and three large air inlets. The centerpiece of the Equus front end is the massive chrome grille with thin horizontal bars and a thick center dividing bar. This front end of the Equus is not as aggressive as some of the other Hyundai models (Veloster, Genesis Coupe) but the Korean automaker has done a great job of applying “their look” to the front end of this super-sedan in a very luxurious layout.

Along the sides, the 2012 Hyundai Equus has a very fluid design with only a subtle body line running from the front end through the front door handles with a rear angle cutting up in front of the rear door handles – forming a wide, muscular rear end. The Equus packs plenty of chrome and down the sides there are chrome trim pieces along the lower skirts, the door handles, on the side mirrors, around the side windows and – of course – on the distinct Equus branded 19” aluminum wheels. The side profile of the Equus gives it a very powerful, upright design while the long greenhouse gives the sedan a slippery look without compromising head room inside. The rear roofline flows through the back glass and into a short trunk lid, a design which adds some sportiness to the brawny luxury sedan.

Out back, the Hyundai Equus has more chrome on the upper edges of the rear fascia, on an appliqué above the license plate area and in the angular, molded exhaust tips. The Equus wears large, predominantly red tail lights with only a pair of long, thin strips providing light when backing up. These lights pour down into the middle of the fascia – completing the flowing look of the Hyundai design theme.

The 2012 Hyundai Equus has a big, bold exterior design that allows it to both fit into the full size luxury sedan segment but also stand out with the design dues for which the Hyundai brand has become recognized. While driving the Equus, I had more than one person ask me “are you driving that new Mercedes out front?” They were all shocked to hear that it wasn’t a Mercedes but instead – it was a Hyundai. Those people were even more shocked when I let them check out the interior of this luxury sedan.

The Interior
As soon as you open the door of the 2012 Hyundai Equus, the level of luxury is very, very clear. Soft black leather is found on the dash, door panels, the center console and the plush seats – front and rear. The door panels have padded areas on the armrest and on the vertical portion of the panel where your elbow may rest. The black scheme continues through the carpeting and across the dash with high gloss wood grain panels adding to the luxury feel around the gauges, across the dash face, through the center shift console and on the top and bottom portions of the steering wheel. A light grey headliner provides a sexy contrast against the predominantly black interior with that lighter trim blending down into the inner pillars all around. The interior of the Hyundai Equus looks fantastic but it is even more comfortable than it looks.

The seats of the 2012 Hyundai Equus are all very plush, feeling more like expensive living room furniture than a car interior and that applies to both the front and rear seating positions. Buttons located for easy use high on the door panels for all four normal seating positions make it very easy to adjust the seats to your liking. The driver’s seat allows you to basically adjust every direction and parameter of the seat for the optimal driving experience, including all of the basics as well as the angle of the seat back relative to the lower seat portion. The front passenger can adjust their seat almost as much as the driver with just the seat angle being removed. The driver’s seat also features two different messaging modes as well as multi-directional lumbar adjustments.

The Equus interior was designed with car service duty in mind and when you fold down the rear center armrest, you find far more than you do in your average full size luxury sedan with a large control panel. This includes buttons to adjust the reclining rear seats, heated seat controls, and full controls for the stereo system and climate control. The rear passengers also have controls to move the front passenger seat forward – which allows enough room for someone under 6 foot to basically stretch completely out in the back seat. Even with the front passenger seat set to comfortably fit an average adult, there is still enough room for the rear passengers to stretch their legs.

The infotainment system of the 2012 Hyundai Equus leaves little to be desired and the entire system is controlled via a fantastic interface mounted on the center shift console – right in front of the center armrest. Without lifting your right arm off of the armrest, the driver cab select what appears on the high mounted LED screen with FM/AM radio, XM satellite radio, DC, Auxiliary, Map, Navigation controls and the phone connectivity system. Each of the various models are selected with the push of a button mounted around a large knob that allows the driver to easily scroll through the options. The driver can also control the stereo, the cruise control, the phone functions and the trip display from the buttons mounted on the steering wheel. The silver center shift console that houses the Hyundai infotainment controls also contains the controls for the adjustable ride height and the Sport mode – both of which we will address in the drive portion of the Equus review. Oh, and the Lexicon sound system sounds fantastic even at the highest volume levels with enough speaker power to turn heads like an aftermarket system.

The 2012 Hyundai Equus interior offers every amenity that a new luxury car buyer can request and most impressively – almost all of these features are standard. While other luxury automakers offer interior setups similar to the one found in the Equus, many of them offers the more luxurious features as optional equipment and with a much larger final price. However, price aside, the Equus interior is truly a luxury setting that provides tons of comfort for the driver and passengers in the front and rear.

The Drive
The 2012 Hyundai Equus Signature is powered by the 5.0L Tau V8 – packing 429 horsepower and 376lb-ft of torque – and funneling that power to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. This is enough power to allow the Equus to rocket away from a stop with enough ferocity to beat the majority of the cars on the road (reported quarter mile times are in the higher 13 second range) but it is a big heavy car – not designed for drag racing. Where the Equus really feels comfortable is when barreling down the highway as, even when speeds are well beyond the legal speed limit, the Hyundai super sedan is every bit as smooth as it is at 55mph. The adaptive air suspension system allows the Equus to maintain a smooth suspension level regardless of the interior or trunk loads but more importantly, this system affords the Equus great handling capabilities while keeping this large sedan riding like it is on glass. If you want a little stiffer suspension, the Sport mode provides a sportier ride with a shade more “road feel” transferred into the vehicle while also allowing the Equus hit the corners a little harder. Don’t get me wrong – it is still a full sized sedan so you aren’t going to get Ferrari-like handling but the Equus handles well enough to make it a ton of fun to drive…while still being whisper quiet when cruising on the open road. That is actually my one complaint about the car as when I am roaring down the highway with 429 horsepower thrusting this large sedan along the road surface – I want it to sound like a 429 horsepower V8. Unfortunately, not all luxury owners want their car to roar so the quiet exhaust makes sense but were I to buy an Equus – a throatier exhaust system would be in my plans.

The one key area where the 2012 Hyundai Equus is the most impressive is when out on the open road where the curb weight is less of a factor. When you put the hammer down, the Equus quickly and effortlessly climbs way beyond the century mark with an urgency that will surely get a “wow” out of everyone in the car and an angry scowl on the fast of older Mustang owners who think that they are about the blow away this massive Korean luxury sedan. The Equus is so loaded inside that it doesn’t need a 429 horsepower V8 engine to complete the package but with this powerful yet efficient engine – the Equus is able to compete with the other luxury cars and a great many performance cars on the US market today. The Equus is also more than willing to put a serious smoking to the large 19” rear tires when the traction control has been turned off so the high performance driving is ideal for those who want to have a luxury car that can still get your blood pumping when you put the pedal to the floor.

The Hyundai Equus is all about luxury so the interior is whisper quiet in almost any driving situation but it does not achieve this level of silence by making the car a spongy, boring car to drive. The suspension is responsive when you need it to be and smooth when you want it to be – with enough power to get you from point A to point B in a major hurry. I have grown up a lover of American muscle cars but I loved every second of driving the 2012 Equus as it exceeded every expectation that I had on the highway, in the city and when cutting through the twisty backroads of rural Michigan.

The Final Word
The 2012 Hyundai Equus Signature is an absolutely amazing vehicle with amenities throughout the cabin that allow this roomy Korean super sedan to stand proudly alongside the best full sized luxury sedans in the world. While the $60k price tag may be out of reach to many “average” new car buyers, the amount of standard (and optional) features in the Equus make it a smokin’ deal compared to other models in the segment which offer similar features – with substantially higher prices.

If you are in the market for a premium full sized luxury sedan and you are more interested in a true luxury experience than you are the name on the trunk lid – the 2012 Hyundai Equus packs all of the highest end amenities at a significantly lower price than the competition. This is a car that prospective luxury sedan buyers should make sure to drive before purchasing a German or Japanese luxury sedan. The 2012 Hyundai Equus might not give you the over-inflated sense of self worth that some other luxury brands seem to provide but there is very, very little that the Equus doesn’t offer that you can get elsewhere in the segment. All of that luxury and a 429 horsepower V8 engine makes the car enjoyable for the driver and the passengers.

In short, the 2012 Hyundai Equus is a beautiful luxury sedan that truly deserves to be compared to the best luxury models in the world. If you are looking for a luxury sedan with loads of amenities, a lower price tag than the competition and a drivetrain that will get your blood pumping – make sure that the Hyundai Equus is on your list of cars to drive before you buy anything. I would bet that it will impress and maybe even surprise as many prospective car buyers as it impressed me.

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Making of the Elantra Coupe ZE: The Build

Come check out this beautiful 2012 Hyundai Azera!

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Thanks to this wonderful author for writing up a great review!

An amazing group of people who went above and beyond for me. Thanks Inver Grove!!!! I'm loving my Hyundai each passing day. Couldn't have gotten better care from amazing people.

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"Mike was professional, prompt, friendly, fair and honest. I'm very satisfied with my new car and with the service given by Mike Parr and the rest of the staff at Inver Grove Hyundai." - TABailey

Click here to read this review and many more on DealerRater! 

 

June 2012 Sales: Hyundai Up 7.7 Percent at 63,813 Units

Both Hyundai and Kia reported their best June sales ever, with Kia up 13.9 percent over the same period last year with 51,326 units sold, and Hyundai up 7.7percent,with 63,813 total sales. Kia also notes that in the second quarter of this year, it sold more than 150,000 units for the first time.

The Sonata midsize sedan once again led sales volume for Hyundai, with 20,931 units sold for a gain of 12.2 percent over the 18,644 units sold in June 2011. Sales of the compact Accent were also strong in June, with 5660 units sold – an increase of 56.7 percent over the 3612 units sold the same month last year. The all-new Azera sold 1001 units, way up compared to the 222 units sold in June 2011, when production of the previous-generation Azera was beginning to wind down.

Hyundai’s SUVs and crossovers weren’t as successful as the automaker’s cars, with the Santa Fe down 16.1 percent from the 7987 units sold the same month last year, to 6703 units. With an all-new model arriving this month, however, the crossover’s sales may soon improve. The Hyundai Tuscon compact crossover slipped to 4231 units in June, down 4.0 percent from the 4406 units sold in June 2011. Crossovers weren’t the only models to see decreases in June, as the compact Elantra was down 11.7 percent from the 19,992 units sold the same period in 2011, at 17,655 total sales this past month. Hyundai attributes this to low dealer stock.

Another great review!

Best Customer Service I have ever seen with any other Dealers. Best price with a good deal compare to all other dealers. Andy and Chris helped me a lot to find the right car.-kabaskula

Monday Maintenance Tip: Avoiding Potholes

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Potholes destroy tires, and the price of tires is rising sharply due to a supply shortage of natural rubber (yes, it still comes from trees, mostly in southeast Asia) and increasing demand from China, where car ownership is undergoing double-digit growth. Petroleum is also used in tire manufacturing, adding further to cost volatility. Blow out just one tire on one pothole and expect to pay out more – one major tire manufacturer increased prices three times in 2011 alone.

Damage from potholes doesn’t stop at tires. In a blink of the eye, you can experience $1000 of damage, possibly more, when your car hits a pothole – it’s possible to impair your car’s shock absorbers, suspension system, struts, rims and alignment as well. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the average additional vehicle operating costs due to rough roads in 2007 was $400, with higher costs experienced in places including Baltimore ($589), Concord, NH ($656), Dallas-Fort Worth ($512), Los Angeles ($746), New Orleans ($622), New York-Newark ($638), Oklahoma City ($631), San Francisco-Oakland ($705) and Tulsa ($703). Deteriorating roads and general inflation since 2007 likely pushed these costs higher.

But there are things you can do before, during and after hitting a pothole. A preventive strategy is more about preparation, driving skills and reacting appropriately when a pothole sneaks up to surprise you. We suggest you approach it on three fronts, as follows.

Adopt smarter driving practices

You can reduce damage with vehicle preparation and driving with good sense:

• Check your tire pressure to keep it at the tire manufacturer’s recommendation. If a tire is too soft, it handles poorly and in a sudden bump may rupture if the wheel rims pinch it against the jagged edge of a pothole. Over-inflated tires are more susceptible to damage as well.
• Have a clean windshield! Your field of vision is critical.
• Observe the traffic ahead of you – if other cars are swerving and stopping, it’s because of a problem in the road.
• Beware of puddles – what might look like a little surface water might have a nasty, deep and sharp-edged pothole lurking below.
• Reduce your speed on roads that are prone to potholes. Slower hits generally involve less damage, a simple matter of physics.
• Stay focused and pay attention to the amount of traffic in front, behind and alongside you. You might be able to avoid potholes but do not want to cause an accident while doing so.

React quickly, intelligently when a pothole is upon you

Assuming you drive defensively – and do not tailgate, which restricts your ability to anticipate potholes or sudden braking by the vehicle in front of you – here is what to do if you are just about to hit a pothole:

• Brake only lightly, if at all. And do something counterintuitive by letting off on the brakes entirely the moment before impact. Clamping down on your brakes at higher speeds not only tempts rear-end collisions but also compresses the front-end suspension system, increasing the damage.
• Hard braking can actually cause greater contact between the tire and the pothole where it might otherwise glide over it.
• Do not swerve in a last ditch attempt to avoid the pothole. Aside from creating a hazard for vehicles immediately behind and beside you, you risk hitting the pothole on an oblique angle, which can cause more damage to the tire, wheel rim and alignment than if you hit it perpendicularly.

Reduce the damage in the aftermath

Post-impact, the right moves can at least limit the extent of the damage:

• Immediately pay attention to whether or not you have a flat tire. If so, minimize how much you drive on it, pull off the road as soon as you can do so safely where you can change the tire to your spare. This will minimize the damage to your wheel rim.
• Even without a flat, there may be preliminary damage. At your next stop, check tire rims to see if they were bent, if there is visible cord material or bulging. This could fail later while driving.
• Note if your car pulls to one side without corrective steering. This suggests the wheels are out of alignment and need mechanical attention.

In most municipalities, you can and should report potholes to the streets department – use a smartphone app such as SeeClickFix or SaveMyTire.com, or the local 3-1-1 or other call-in line. You might also be compensated for your loses if that pothole was reported previously and left unfixed, however rules for this are determined on a city, township or county level.