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Hyundai US marketing chief steps down

For the past four and a half years, Hyundai's marketing efforts in America have been steered by Steve Shannon. But now the Korean automaker is going to have to find a new marketing guru, because Shannon has reportedly stepped down with apparently immediate effect.
A career automobile marketer, Shannon came to Hyundai early in 2011 after over a quarter century at General Motors, effectively switching places with Joel Ewanick and Chris Perry, who moved from Hyundai to GM the previous year.
During his 25 years in Detroit, Automotive News points out, Shannon worked with such brands as Buick, Oldsmobile, Saab and Hummer. He was particularly instrumental in launching the Saturn brand and served as executive director of marketing for Cadillac prior to moving to Hyundai.

Hyundai previews the subcompact Kona crossover's funky fresh face

It seems as though the already crowded subcompact crossover segment will welcome yet another competitor. Hyundai says it will launch its new Kona this summer, and it just released a teaser showing its front fascia. We'd previously seen spy photos of the car, but this is our clearest look at the nose yet. From the looks of it, it will be going down the funky styling route of the Toyota C-HR and Nissan Juke. The first styling cue you'll notice is the split headlight arrangement that we've seen before on the Jeep Cherokee and Nissan Juke. The top lamps are just LED running lights, and the lower units, also LED on the Kona, provide the actual forward illumination at night. Together, they create a scowling aggressive look. Between the lower lamps is a low and wide version of Hyundai's corporate "cascading" grille. It does have a unique twist, though, in the upper slot that looks rather like a scoop. It also helps create a dual-plane look to the front of the vehicle. Hyundai hasn't released many details about the Kona aside from a release date and a size. It actually hasn't even announced the markets in which the Kona will be available. However, it's likely it will come to the US, since the subcompact crossover arena has been booming here. The only other information Hyundai has revealed about the Kona is that it will have good visibility and "agile driving dynamics." That sounds good to us, but we can't verify either until we get our hands on one. At least it won't be a long wait. Related Video:

Hyundai Ioniq blends familiar cues with futuristic design

Hyundai is preparing to unveil its first dedicated electrified vehicle. Called the Ioniq, it's set to launch at the Geneva Motor Show this March. Now, the Korean automaker is giving us an idea of what to expect with a series of teaser renderings. As you can see from the first image in the slideshow above, the exterior design of the Ioniq announces the environmentally friendly powertrain at its heart. That means an aerodynamically optimized shape to cut through the wind with a minimum of interference. The greenhouse tapers off to a high tail not unlike those seen on the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt – whose drivers Hyundai will seek to attract with this new model. The wheels also appear to adopt an aero-focused design, but signature Hyundai design traits are still evident, from the hexagonal grille to the upward kink in the C-pillar. Inside the cabin promises a forward-looking but comfortable space with simple rounded surfaces. Cool blue trim sets the mood, and screens in the instrument cluster and the center of the dashboard reduce clutter and display vital information. The manufacturer says it's using "eco-friendly materials to convey a futuristic yet warm cabin ambiance that will appeal to a new generation of motorists." The Ioniq will offer a choice of three powertrain options with varying degrees of electrification: a gasoline-electric hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and full electric propulsion. It's rare for an automaker to offer all three choices. Most electrified vehicles come in conventional and hybrid versions (like Hyundai's own Sonata), hybrid and plug-in hybrid (like the Prius), or even plug-in or fully electric variants (like the BMW i3). Hyundai is slated to unveil the Ioniq in Korea next month ahead of its auto show tour, so watch this space for more. CLASS-LEADING AERODYNAMICS AND STRIKING DESIGN DETAILS FOR HYUNDAI MOTOR'S NEW ALTERNATIVE-FUEL IONIQ - Teaser rendering highlights eye-catching silhouette and design details - Sleek and simple exterior reduces aerodynamic drag for greater efficiency - Elegant interior combines environmentally-friendly materials and flexible space December 16, 2015 – A new rendering of Hyundai Motor's all-new IONIQ hints at how the innovative, alternative-fuel compact vehicle, which is due for launch in early 2016, will combine head-turning good looks with class-leading aerodynamic performance.