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Hyundai refreshes the Sonata for South Korea, and later the US

Thanks to its debut in South Korea, we have an early look at the revised Hyundai Sonata that will eventually reach the US with minor adjustments. And that's not just speculation. We reached out to Jim Trainor at Hyundai, who told us, "Much of what you have seen from Korea will be seen here, but there will be differences both on the exterior and the interior along with some mechanical and option differences." That said, we don't expect major changes to this Korean model. So without further ado, let's take a look. Up front is a thoroughly revised fascia. The most noticeable change is the grille, which descends much lower in the front bumper, much like those on the Elantra sedan and Elantra GT hatchback. The top edge of the grille appears lower, and that brings the whole nose of the car lower. The hood also has a few more creases running longitudinally. The exterior varies a bit between models, with the standard model getting a grille with slats and the 2.0T getting a mesh grille. The 2.0T also gets black headlight bezels and dark chrome all around. Though Hyundai didn't provide photos of the interior, the company says it has been changed, and some of the buttons will have a more premium feel. The 2.0T also gets a few exclusive interior bits to complement its unique exterior. The seats have more bolstering, and the standard steering wheel is replaced with a flat-bottomed piece. There are some functional updates to the new Sonata as well. Most notable is the introduction of an 8-speed automatic on the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder model. In the US, the turbo Sonata is only available with a 6-speed automatic. Hyundai also touts the introduction of wireless phone charging and lane-keep assist. The big differences between this and the US version likely involve visual tweaks and the packaging of some options. There's also the question of whether the 8-speed automatic will be available, but it would be odd if it weren't offered. The Korean model goes on sale later this year, and Trainor told us the North American debut is coming soon. Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla Electric Road Trip, Google autonomous cars vs. cyclists

Tesla is inviting owners on "Electric Road Trip" events on four continents. To celebrate the 2.5 billion electric miles Tesla owners have logged, the automaker is hosting a series of open house events at Destination Charger locations (think hotels and resorts) in various cities across North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. Attendees will "have the opportunity to swap stories and share your favorite road trip experiences with fellow Tesla owners and like-minded fans," according to Tesla, as well as enjoy local food and drinks. Owners have received email invitations to the series of events, but those interested can also RSVP online. Learn more about the events at Tesla's website, and read more at Teslarati. Google has published its most recent autonomous vehicle testing results, this time with regard to sharing the road with cyclists. The system is programmed to predict when a cyclist will swerve around an open car door, leave room for cyclists during passing and other situations, recognize and remember cyclist had signals, and recognize a variety of bike styles – even unicycles. The report also lists two minor collisions with other vehicles in June, both occurring in Austin, Texas. In one instance, another car swerved into the Google car's lane. In the other, the Google car was rear-ended. Read more at Green Car Congress. Hyundai is expanding its fuel cell program in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) beyond Southern California. For the second phase of the fuel cell confirmation program, Hyundai will provide the DOE with a number of its Tucson Fuel Cell crossovers for daily use in Northern California, Washington, D.C., Denver, and Michigan. The partners are looking to expand the use of fuel cell vehicles to the rest of the country in the near future. Read more in the press release below. Hyundai And U.S. Department Of Energy Extend Fuel Cell Vehicle Loan Partnership In Concert With New D.C.-Based Hydrogen Fueling Station Latest, Phase II of current program prepares for rollout of fuel cell vehicles nationwide in near future WASHINGTON, July 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are extending their fuel cell vehicle confirmation program, originally from 2013 through 2015, to its second phase, from 2016 through 2017. The program involves Hyundai providing a number of Tucson Fuel Cell CUVs for daily use and confirmation by the DOE using existing hydrogen infrastructure.

Hyundai, Kia to temporarily close U.S. plants in path of Irma

SEOUL — South Korea's Hyundai and sister car maker Kia said on Monday they planned to temporarily shut down plants in the United States to avoid potential damage from Hurricane Irma. The shut down comes at a time Hyundai's U.S. sales have fallen more than the market average, and after it recently announced plans to expand its SUV lineup and launch a pickup truck in the market in an attempt to reverse the slide. In a statement, Hyundai Motor said it would suspend operation of its Alabama plant for two days - between Monday and Wednesday — while Kia Motors will stop operation of its Georgia plant for one day - between Monday and Tuesday. The suspension is expected to result in lost production of about 3,000 vehicles for both, the Yonhap news agency earlier said on Monday, citing a Hyundai Motor group spokesman. A Hyundai spokeswoman declined to comment on the number. Hurricane Irma took aim at heavily populated areas of central Florida on Monday as it carved a path of destruction through the state with high winds and storm surges that left millions without power, ripped roofs off homes and flooded city streets. Hyundai's U.S. sales are down nearly 11 percent this year through July 31, worse than the overall 2.9 percent decline in U.S. car and light truck sales. Sales of the Sonata, once a pillar of Hyundai's U.S. franchise, have fallen 30 percent through the first seven months of 2017. In contrast, sales of Hyundai's current SUV lineup are up 11 percent for the first seven months of this year. Reporting by Joyce LeeRelated Video: Plants/Manufacturing Hyundai Kia alabama