2014 Hyundai Elantra Limited on 2040-cars

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Hyundai keeps building mid-engine Velosters for some reason

Hyundai returned to the Busan Motor Show in South Korea this past weekend with the RM16 concept, a mid-engined prototype that takes the Veloster into even more radical territory. If the idea sounds familiar to you, that's because this is the concept's third iteration. Sadly, it doesn't seem any closer to reaching production. The project was first presented at the same show two years ago as the Veloster RM, packing a 2.0-liter turbo four behind the two-seat cockpit. The concept resurfaced last year in Seoul as the RM15 with even more extreme bodywork. And now it's back again. The engine stays right where it was, helping give the test bed 43/57 front-rear weight distribution. This time, however, the conventional turbocharger is replaced by an electric compressor, similar to the ones you might find in the Audi SQ7 TDI or Bugatti Chiron, and there's an electronic differential to channel its 296 horsepower to the road. The RM16 uses a six-speed manual transmission. The RM16 also features a new front end to put a fresh face on the carbon-fiber bodywork, an active rear wing, and an electronically variable exhaust. All of which is well and fine, but while the prototype is supposed to inform the forthcoming N-badged performance models, we wouldn't hold our collective breath waiting for a mid-engined hot hatch like this in Hyundai showrooms. Related Video: Hyundai Motor Demonstrates its Passion for High-Performance at the 2016 Busan International Motor Show • Hyundai Motor builds anticipation of high-performance 'N' models with RM16 concept • RM16 hints at future Hyundai 'N' model characteristics June 2, 2016 - Hyundai Motor today reinforced its high-performance aspirations with the world premiere of RM16, its latest 'N' model concept, at the 2016 Busan International Motor Show in South Korea. Hyundai Motor's performance-focused exhibits, which included the Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, hint at future N model characteristics. Hyundai Motor's high performance sub-brand 'N' was launched in September 2015, demonstrating the company's commitment to manufacture responsive, intuitive performance vehicles that bring 'Fun to Drive' to a broad range of customers.

2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport Quick Spin Review | Returning to the revolution

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata represents a course correction of the sort that just wasn't needed with the previous-generation model. Besides a few added features here and there, that car really didn't change much during the course of its lifetime, and frankly, it didn't need to. When something works, don't screw it up. It arrived at a time when Honda and Toyota were pretty much phoning it in, and boasted a revolutionary design that quite literally changed the way midsize family sedans look to this day. Toyota designer Ian Cartabiano told me that Sonata was one of the few cars over the years that made his fellow designers wake up a bit and realize the game was changing. Then, after staging a revolution, Hyundai played it safe. The Sonata introduced three years ago was conservative to the point of anonymity outside, while not really moving the needle on the vehicle dynamics front. If there was one, clear area where that revolutionary Sonata fell short -- and indeed virtually every Hyundai -- it was in the sophistication and poise it demonstrated out on the road. Well, after the cool reception to the model redesign, Hyundai got a wake up call of its own. This 2018 Hyundai Sonata gets a rather significant facelift, adopting the curvy trapezoidal grille found on more recently introduced models, and ditching its conservative anonymity for a more organic overall appearance certainly in keeping with its "Fluidic Sculpture" predecessor. The rear was also redone with more tapered, dare I say "aggressive" taillights and the license plate relocated to the bumper. Is the end result a great-looking car? Shoulder shrug, but it's sure better than before. Compare the 2018 Hyundai Sonata to its rivals using the Autoblog Compare Cars tool. 2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport View 5 Photos However, I knew the 2018 Sonata looked different. I was quite frankly not expecting it to drive different, because when you review cars long enough, you start to know what a particular brand's cars feel like behind the wheel. There'll be subtle changes over the years, but the language remains the same. Well, the Sonata has been hitting the Rosetta Stone. The change is immediately apparent. The on-center steering feel is crisp, the turn-in more immediate and effort is consistent. It just feels "right" now whereas before turning the Sonata was one of numb indifference.

2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

Hyundai leased its first Tucson Fuel Cell crossover last week, which the automaker claims makes it the first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle (FCV) that has been offered to the public (Honda may have something to say about that...). The vehicle, which consumes hydrogen and emits only clean water vapor from its exhaust pipe, will initially only be offered for lease in Los Angeles and Orange Counties - two regions with the greatest density of approved hydrogen stations in the country - at a monthly fee of $499. Since the Tucson FCV rolls down the same Ulsan, Korea, production line as its gasoline-powered relative, production is scalable based on customer demand.
We attended the festivities with the dignitaries and elected officials - clapping until our hands hurt. But once it was over, we grabbed a set of keys and took the new FCV for a half-hour jaunt. According to the press materials, written with a welcomed sense of humor, Hyundai will offer it in three colors: white, white and optional white. Our test model was the latter.
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