Hyundai auto news

Chicago: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe serves up space and style in equal measure

In addition to the GT hatchback, Hyundai also rolled out a new Coupe version of the C-segment Elantra here at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The new two-door is clearly meant to take on the likes of the Honda Civic Coupe, and it's got a spec sheet that compares rather favorably with its competitor from Japan.

For starters, the 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe rides on a wheelbase that's three inches longer than the Civic. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine puts out 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet and up to 29 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on the highway highway with the six-speed manual gearbox. Automatic models score one mpg less in both city and highway testing.

So... the Elantra Coupe has more room, more horsepower and better fuel economy than the Honda Civic Coupe. As far as styling goes, that's obviously subjective... but we'll cast our lot in the direction of the Hyundai for its sweeping good looks over the more subdued sheetmetal of its biggest competitor. Check out our high-res images of live photos above.

Chicago: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT delivers lightness, functionality

After driving the 2013 Elantra GT out on stage here in Chicago, Hyundai executives immediately focused on one of its new five-door's core values: lightness. You see, the GT is the lightest C-segment hatchback in the United States, weighing 151 pounds less than a Mazda3, 175 pounds less than a Ford Focus and 222 pounds less than the fatty-fat-fat Volkswagen Golf. Even so, the Elantra GT has the most capacious interior in its class.

Power comes from the Elantra sedan's 1.8-liter naturally aspirated inline-four, meaning 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque are on tap, and can be paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Fuel economy is only slightly worse than the 40-mile-per-gallon Elantra sedan, with the GT expected to get as high as 39 mpg on the highway. The full details are available in Hyundai's release below the fold.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT delivers lightness, functionality

Official: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT is one handsome hatch

When you intend to go up against cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Mazda3, it doesn't matter how softly or loudly you speak, your stick had better be impressive. Hyundai believes it has just the thing in the 2013 Elantra GT, which is the updated moniker for the Elantra Touring (and a throwback to five-door Elantras of yore).

The GT is the U.S. version of the European i30, and it's quite a looker if you're a fan of Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design language. Under the hood, you'll find the same 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder as the sedan, sending 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque to the ground via either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. That puts it in the thick of a competitive set that, for Hyundai, also includes the Subaru Impreza and Toyota Matrix, but gives it the best power-to-weight ratio of them all. That's because the Elantra GT is 57 percent ultra high- and high-tensile steel, which helps keep its weight down to a lightest-in-segment 2,784 pounds when equipped with the automatic transmission.

Fuel economy is the beneficiary, with the automaker estimating an EPA rating of 28 miles per gallon in the city and 39 mpg on the highway (32 combined). Hyundai says this is good for a cruising range up to 448 miles.

Driving pleasure will be attended to with a sport-tuned suspension that uses MacPherson struts up front aided by a stabilizer bar, and a torsion bar setup out back. The real pleasures, though, are claimed on the inside, where the Elantra GT is said to provide more cargo room than the aforementioned competition and even the Nissan Juke. The mod-cons are prodigious and include, as standard, a cooled glovebox, heated front seats, 10-way power driver's seat, leather seating surfaces, automatic headlights, Bluetooth and seven airbags.

The 2013 Elantra GT goes on sale this summer. Have a read of the press release after the jump and stay tuned for live pics from our team at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT is one handsome hatch

Official: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe has the Civic in its Fluidic sights

Hyundai wants its Elantra to dominate the C segment, and that means in all body styles. The just-introduced five-door GT is set to battle the Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza hatchbacks, and this new Elantra Coupe clearly has the two-door Honda Civic in its sights.

The four-door Elantra already wears pretty rakish sheetmetal that carries over nicely to the Coupe, which is actually half an inch longer than the sedan (173.8 inches versus 173.3 inches). The other dimensions are identical to the sedan, and Hyundai cites greater interior room as one of the Coupe's advantages over its competition. By contrast, the Honda Civic Coupe is 0.3 inches shorter than the Elantra Coupe, and the Honda rides on a three-inch shorter wheelbase.

The Elantra Coupe has more power than the Honda Civic Coupe and the manual should get 1 mpg more in the city and 4 more mpg on the highway

There will be two Elantra Coupe trims: base GS or top-spec SE. Both have been tuned for extra sportiness versus the sedan and, as we've come to expect, while Hyundai throws plenty at the GS, the SE gets the truly sporty goods. The SE swaps the 16-inch standard rims for 17-inchers, gets a rear "lip spoiler design element," even more suspension tuning for its lower-profile tires, and only it offers the option of touchscreen navigation and a rear-view camera. Both models, however, will get seven exterior colors, three of them Coupe-only, but inside it's nothing but black or grey.

Pricing should come soon, but for now, enjoy the press release after the jump and the high-res gallery of images. Stay tuned for more impressions live from the Chicago Auto Show floor.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe has the Civic in its Fluidic sights

Long Term: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: January 2012

January was not a busy month for our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus. It did ferry one of our editors between auto company cocktail hours and dinners during the week of the Detroit Auto Show, but for the latter half of the month it wasn't driven all that much. But that's good news, because our Equus spent quite a bit of time at LaFontaine Hyundai, in Dearborn, Michigan, receiving a long-awaited repair to the driver's seat.

As we wind down its year in the Autoblog fleet, we also saw fit to address some cosmetic damage to the front fascia and have our 22,500-mile service completed. While the service was free, the "minor" scrape on the lower corner of the bumper skirt set us back some $669.25. Our time with the Equus ends in just a few weeks, which means we'll only have limited time to enjoy the now-comfortable seat. This has been one of our biggest issues with the car, and to have it finally fixed after all this time is so wonderful that some editors are grumbling that they won't have the chance to get back in the car again.

We do wish, however, that the seat bottom wasn't made to look even more worn by the contrast of the brand new seat back. At least we don't have to look at it while we drive around enjoying the comfort of the now-working back massager.

Did Hyundai pull MPG claims from Super Bowl ad due to watchdog group pressure? [w/video]

Hyundai has been targeted by Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit advocacy organization, over the automaker's 40 mpg fuel efficiency claim on the Hyundai Elantra. The group says Elantra owners have seen fuel economy averages of 18 and 19 mpg instead of the the 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway reported by Hyundai and the Environmental Protection Agency. As such, the group has sent letters to both Hyundai CEO John Krafcik and President Eok Jo Kim warning that if the automaker advertised the 40 mpg claim in the company's Super Bowl spots, Consumer Watchdog would release a retaliatory video of its own. The group has since followed through with that threat.

Hyundai has since released a new, updated version of its Super Bowl ad, and Consumer Watchdog claims the Korean automaker has now promised not to include the 40 mpg figure in any of the spots. Hyundai, meanwhile, released a statement saying the company's advertising was "in no way" influenced by the Consumer Watchdog claims, comments or statements. Click past the jump for a look at the Elantra Super Bowl spot, the Consumer Watchdog clip about the vehicle's mileage claims and a press release from the non-profit.

Also worth a read is Popular Mechanics just-published (and very timely) fuel-economy test of two cars boasting 40 mpg EPA highway ratings: the Ford Focus SFE and the Hyundai Elantra. Ultimately, when you get past all the noise, it's important to remember that "your mileage may vary" is a mantra for a reason.

Continue reading Did Hyundai pull MPG claims from Super Bowl ad due to watchdog group pressure? [w/video]

Video: Hyundai i30 commercial previews upcoming Elantra five-door

Based on the can't-make-enough status of the Hyundai Elantra, the public hasn't gotten tired of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design theme. Based on this commercial for the Hyundai i30, we admit that we haven't either. The five-door sold in Europe and based on the Kia Cee'd platform shows us what we can generally expect from the upcoming Elantra Touring replacement.

The last Elantra wagon didn't get big play here three years ago, but neither the Elantra nor Hyundai were in the position they're in now. In Europe, the i30 five-door will get a choice of four engines and three transmissions, but we shouldn't expect to be so spoiled for choice. Follow the jump to see the video.

Continue reading Hyundai i30 commercial previews upcoming Elantra five-door

Video: Hyundai i30 commercial gives good look at coming Elantra five-door

Based on the can't-make-enough status of the Hyundai Elantra, the public hasn't gotten tired of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design theme. Based on this commercial for the Hyundai i30, we admit that we haven't either. The five-door sold in Europe and based on the Kia Cee'd platform shows us what we can generally expect from the upcoming Elantra Touring replacement.

The last Elantra wagon didn't get big play here three years ago, but neither the Elantra nor Hyundai were in the position they're in now. In Europe, the i30 five-door will get a choice of four engines and three transmissions, but we shouldn't expect to be so spoiled for choice. Follow the jump to see the video.

Continue reading Hyundai i30 commercial gives good look at coming Elantra five-door

Report: These are North America's top producing auto plants

Volkswagen has the honor of being this year's top producing North American automotive manufacturer by a wide margin with its Puebla, Mexico facility. The factory managed to produce 510,041 units last year, beating out second-place Nissan and its Aguascalientes, Mexico plant by a staggering 149,245 units, according to Ward's Auto. Nissan jumped from third to second place after Toyota and its Georgetown plant dropped from the top five. Toyota and Honda both saw themselves ousted from the leader board after a year pockmarked by disruptions from earthquake and tsunami activity in Japan and flooding in Thailand.

The Japanese automakers' vacancies made room for Hyundai and its facility in Montgomery, Alabama with 338,127 units to take fourth place. Ford, meanwhile, moved from fifth in 2010 to third in 2011 with 344,446 units from its Dearborn Truck plant. Nissan rounded out the top five last year with the company's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee taking the automaker's second spot on the list.

Ward's Auto reports Volkswagen enjoyed a boost from the popularity of the Jetta. That model alone helped push the company's Puebla facility to a 75,356 unit gain over last year's figures. Head over to Ward's to see the full report.

Report: Analysts: U.S. automakers will lose marketshare in 2012

Domestic automakers have much to be happy about, with Chrysler, Ford and General Motors all gaining market share last year for the first time since 1988. Yet according to Bloomberg, 2012 won't be as good to Detroit. Total sales are projected to grow from 12.8 million vehicles last year to 13.6 million, according to the report, but increasing competition from Korea and a Japanese recovery from the natural disasters of 2011 mean those extra sales aren't likely headed to the Big Three.

The news agency spoke to five analysts, and predictions have the U.S. automakers losing 1.3 percentage points this year. The analysts estimate that GM will drop 0.6 of a percent, Ford will lose 0.5 percent, and Chrysler will be down 0.2 percent. Toyota is seen gaining 0.9 percent, with Honda grabbing an extra 0.5 percent, while Hyundai and Kia are only projected to see their combined market share improve by 0.01.

If all this comes true, GM would have the top market share in the U.S. at 19 percent, with Ford in second at 16.3 percent, followed by Toyota at 13.8 percent, Chrysler at 10.5 percent, and Honda at 9.5 percent.