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First 2015 Hyundai Sonata ad surfaces

The new Hyundai Sonata just made its debut at the 2014 New York Auto Show, but it's already begun making its slow march towards dealers, meaning it's about time we start seeing ads for the new family sedan on the TV and internet. This 62-second spot is one of the first.
The ad places a particular focus on styling, and what great design really is. There's also a glimpse at the super-cool gesture control that's baked into the Sonata's infotainment screen. We'll admit, we're pretty geeked to give this feature a full test once we finally drive the all-new sedan.
As for when that will be, with the car set for an arrival at dealers this summer, we're hoping to have a full write-up on the 2015 Sonata soon. Until then, scroll down for the full ad from Hyundai.

Hyundai's Santa Fe for SEMA has 1,040 hp and rear-wheel drive

Bisimoto, working with Hyundai, will not disappoint at SEMA this year. Continuing its tradition of absurdly powerful versions of ordinary cars, the company will show off a Santa Fe with 1,040 horsepower. Not only that, but this crossover, named "Santa-Fast," also sends that power through a six-speed manual to the rear. To create this monstrous machine, Bisimoto started with a normal 3.8-liter Hyundai V6. The company then completely rebuilt the engine with forged pistons, stronger connecting rods and more aggressive cams. After that came a pair of Turbonetics turbochargers that can reach a peak pressure of 39 psi. That's a lot of boost, and in turn a lot of power, so the computer limits boost in certain gears to help with traction and, you know, not totally destroying the tires. Connected to this engine is a mix of other Hyundai parts, starting with a six-speed manual transmission from a Genesis Coupe R-Spec. The power then goes back to a differential from a Hyundai Equus. This differential resides in a completely new, custom rear subframe built by Rothfab. The rest of the crossover is fairly standard SEMA fare. It gets a flashy livery, big Buddy Club brakes, Fifteen52 wheels, KW coil-over suspension, a roll cage and Momo racing seats. It's a solid looking package, and we can't wait to see more photos of this nutso build. That being said, Bisimoto's other project, a Hyundai-powered 911, could give this Santa Fe a run for its money. Related Video: Featured Gallery Bisimoto Hyundai Sante Fe: SEMA 2016 Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Aftermarket SEMA Show Hyundai Crossover hyundai santa fe bisimoto santa fe

Weekly Recap: Kia leads Korea's quality surge

The rapid rise of Korea's auto brands in the US market has been apparent on the sales charts for several years, and now it's showing up in an area that's just as crucial: quality. Kia and Hyundai earned the highest rankings among mainstream brands in the J. D. Power Initial Quality Study released on Wednesday. The study tracks problems owners report during the first 90 days they own their car. Kia reported 86 problems per 100 vehicles, or fewer than one problem per car sold, to take second in the rankings behind luxury sportscar-maker Porsche (80). Kia's score improved by nearly 20 percent compared with the 2014 study. "The big industry story is Kia," Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power, said in a video statement, noting Kia's infotainment systems were the key reason for its improved performance. Hyundai was fourth for the second straight year, though its score actually worsened by one, to 95. Even with Hyundai's slight dip, Korean quality increased 11 percent, according to the study, which far outpaced American and European companies' three-percent increases. Japanese brands improved one percent. Hyundai Motor Co. (parent company of the Hyundai and Kia brands) captured four individual vehicle awards, which tied for the most with General Motors, Nissan, and Volkswagen. "The Korean brands have really taken off," Stephens said. "There's movement in the industry, and the patterns are shifting." Another luxury brand, Jaguar (93 problems), slotted in between Hyundai and Kia in third place. Infiniti was fifth, followed by BMW. Chevrolet was the highest domestic brand, taking seventh place, followed by Lincoln, Lexus, and Toyota, which were all well above the industry average of 112 problems per 100 vehicles. OTHER NEWS & NOTES Kirk Kerkorian dead at 98 Kirk Kerkorian, a billionaire activist investor who wielded enormous influence on the Detroit Three car companies in the 1990s and 2000s, died Monday. He was 98 years old. Kerkorian made headlines in 1995 for trying to take over Chrysler – with the help of former chairman Lee Iacocca – before being fended off by Chrysler management. His takeover attempt ultimately pushed Chrysler to be sold to German giant Daimler. He tried to buy Chrysler again in 2007 when Daimler put Chrysler on the market, but Kerkorian fell short and the automaker was sold to private equity firm Cerberus.