2014 Hyundai Elantra Gt on 2040-cars

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Hyundai's bizarre pooping robot baby pitches new Sonata

There are certainly some very weird auto ads out there, but a new challenger is entering the ring with Hyundai's absolutely bizarre Exobaby commercial for the latest Sonata. Blending inspiration from the video game Mega Man, the classic 1970s TV show The Six Million Dollar Man and a waking nightmare, Exobaby falls very deeply into the uncanny valley. Its proportions and movement come off as just slightly distorted, and the result is a baby that's more creepy than cute for this ad. Things get even odder just a few seconds in when the robo-toddler poops. Ostensibly, the Exobaby ad is supposed to show off all of the high-tech features on the Sonata, but many viewers are just going to be left trying to figure out what they're watching. If you need just over a minute of weird advertising to lift your day, then this Hyundai commercial must be seen. Related Gallery 2015 Hyundai Sonata News Source: HyundaiWorldwide via YouTubeImage Credit: Related images copyright Hyundai Marketing/Advertising Weird Car News Hyundai Videos Sedan car ads

2018 Hyundai Accent packs compact car style in a subcompact

Hyundai's smallest American offering, the Accent, has undergone a thoroughly substantial redesign. The result is a subcompact sedan that's slightly wider and slightly longer, and looks very much like its larger Elantra sibling. The Elantra's hexagonal, slatted grille, headlight shape, and greenhouse have all been scaled down to the Accent's smaller body. Even the taillights echo the pattern of those on the Elantra. Fortunately, the proportions weren't thrown off in the shrinking process, so the Accent is a reasonably handsome, if slightly conservative, sedan. The new Accent also sports a rather spiffy interior, at least with the red and black upholstery shown. That particular color combo wouldn't look out of place in an Elantra Sport. The dash itself isn't particularly remarkable, but it looks attractive enough and fairly straightforward. It also features a 7.0-inch touchscreen with which the occupants can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The seats can also be had with heaters. Hyundai touts automatic emergency braking as an available safety option. Mechanically, the big news comes in the form of chassis rigidity improvements. Hyundai says the new Accent is 32 percent stiffer, thanks in part to more high-strength steel. Under the hood is an updated 1.6-liter direct injection four-cylinder that makes 132 horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque. This is a bit surprising, as the output is slightly less than that of the outgoing model. On the flip side, Hyundai claims this engine is 7 percent more fuel efficient, and that low-rpm torque has been improved. Plus, 132 horsepower is on par with competitors, and buyers who want to make the most of it have the option of a six-speed manual. A six-speed automatic is available, too. Pricing hasn't been announced for the new Hyundai Accent, but the sedan will show up at dealers during the third quarter of this year. The hatchback version, which has yet to be shown, will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2017. Related Video:

2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI vs. sport compact sedans: How they compare on paper

Hot hatchbacks may be stealing the headlines, but they're not the only way to get cheap speed. There are actually a number of small sporty sedans on the market, too, in case you want that more formal roofline. The recently revealed 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI highlighted these vehicles, so we figured we'd take a look at the specifications and see how they compare to each other. Our contenders are the aforementioned VW, along with the 2019 Honda Civic Si, 2019 Subaru WRX and 2019 Hyundai Elantra Sport. All four start under $30,000 and offer more than 200 horsepower. And of course, they all have trunks. In our comparison, we'll look at each car's powertrain comparing horsepower and torque. We'll also look at practicalities such as interior space, fuel economy and pricing. You can see the raw numbers in the chart below, followed by additional analysis and links to reviews. If you'd like to compare any of these cars with a different group, be sure to check out our car comparison tool. Engines and drivetrains Performance, and particularly power, is likely a priority for a sporty sedan buyer, and there's a clear leader: the Subaru WRX. At 268 horsepower, it's 40 ponies ahead of the next most potent car, the 228-horsepower Jetta GLI. It also ties the GLI for torque at 258 pound-feet. Both cars also support the old adage that "there's no replacement for displacement," since each have 2.0-liter engines while the Hyundai has a 1.6-liter unit and the Honda engine only displaces 1.5 liters. The Hyundai and Honda are nearly tied for power and torque, too, at roughly 200 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Another bonus for the Subaru is its standard all-wheel-drive system, which is handy for power delivery, lateral grip and for inclement weather. While the Jetta GLI and Civic Si are front-drive only, they do feature mechanical limited-slip differentials to enhance traction under power. The Elantra Sport makes do with electronic aids and an open differential. We're pleased that all four of these cars offer manual transmissions, too. But if you do want or need an automatic transmission, the VW, Subaru and Hyundai have you covered. The VW and Hyundai rely on seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions, and the Subaru uses a CVT with eight preset ratios for manual mode shifting. The Civic Si, though, is manual only (and it's an excellent manual at that).