2014 Hyundai Elantra Limited on 2040-cars

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Hyundai patenting speed bump detection

Often patents are more about solving a small, annoying problem than really taking on the big issues. Take Hyundai's recent filing for a system to detect speed bumps, for example. Other than teens with a fresh license and ground-scraping supercar drivers, no one really sees spotting these traffic-slowing devices as the bane of their existence. However, the Korean automaker is out to make driving just a little more convenient for everyone with this tech. The Hyundai patent combines several pieces of currently available technology in a new way. GPS, a camera, and multiple sensors identify an oncoming speed bump, and they then measure its height, width, and curvature. With that info, the software calculates the appropriate speed to drive over the hump. If drivers are going too fast, then a warning message tells them to slow down. The patent is a straightforward solution to a problem that doesn't seem to really exist for many drivers. However, while Hyundai makes no mention of this in the documents, this tech could be extremely useful for applications in autonomous vehicles. All the system would need is the additional ability to slow itself automatically, and the driverless car could potentially handle a speed bump just as well as a human.

Genesis gets serious about selling cars in China with new CEO

Hyundai's Genesis brand announced Tuesday that former Mercedes-Benz vice president Markus Henne was named CEO of Genesis Motors China. Henne will be in charge of the company's push to introduce the brand to the world's largest automotive market.  Henne will report to the brand's new global boss, William Lee, who was appointed to run the luxury subsidiary in October. One of Lee's key goals is to expand the brand's footprint in Europe and introduce it to China. Henne previously served as VP of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz in Taiwan, and prior to that oversaw the AMG division in China.  Hyundai does not yet have an ETA for formally introducing the Genesis brand to the Chinese market. Feasibility studies are still pending.  Unfortunately, while China's auto market is massive, with more than 20 million units sold to date so far in 2019, it's also one of the most tumultuous. This will be yet another major obstacle to the success of Hyundai's premium brand, which has struggled to gain traction in the United States thanks to corporate restructuring and an anachronistic product mix leaning heavily on sedans.  Genesis is working hard to correct the issues with its lineup. A lack of crossover/SUV offerings would likely be the headline for any other struggling brand, but the company's woes extend far beyond the showroom appeal of its current offerings.  In 2019, Genesis completed a restructuring of its U.S. operations. America is the brand's core market, and for much of 2018, it was unable to do business in most states thanks to Hyundai's decision to spin Genesis off into an independent brand with its own dealer franchises. Throughout the year, sales volumes tumbled as Genesis simply did not have retail outlets through which to move product. 

Facelifted Hyundai ix35/Tucson shows up

It looks as though Hyundai has readied a facelifted version of its ix35 crossover (known as the Tucson here in the U-S-of-A) for the Geneva Motor Show next week. While we haven't been able to get the Korean automaker to cough up the official details - or more than one image - reports indicate that the new Euro CUV will get revisions to the engine lineup, technology offerings and more.
The Hyundai's sheetmetal has been nipped and tucked from the looks of the photo, with bolder, bi-xenon headlamps and LED running lights the most obvious alterations. Inside we're told to keep an eye out for improved materials and a new, larger TFT infortainment control screen.
Expect clearer intel about both the ix35 and the home-market Tucson no later than next week, and most likely a bit earlier.