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Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis GV70e continue EV product blitz through 2022

A Hyundai presentation to investors has revealed an onslaught of competitive-looking products coming in the next couple of years. It includes more electric variants of existing vehicles, as well as dedicated EVs for the Ioniq sub-brand, as well as updates for popular existing models that have to ensure they don't get stale. Perhaps the biggest news is the fact that Ioniq 6 is sedan will follow the retro-cool Ioniq 5 hatchback, hitting the road by 2022. With styling flowing from the stunning Prophecy concept revealed last year, it will help bolster the Ioniq sub-brand as an exciting choice for mainstream EVs. It's classified as a C-segment sedan, meaning it will be about the size of a Honda Civic. But before the Ioniq 6 arrives, a yet-unnamed CUV will also join the lineup in 2021. It's not clear whether that model will be for foreign markets or the U.S., but either way Ioniq is shaping up to be a strong nameplate. However, that doesn't mean it will be the sole source of EVs in the Hyundai empire. Following the launch of the battery-electric G80 later this year, Genesis will in 2022 offer an battery-electric version of its GV70. These will be named the G80e and GV70e, if trademark filings discovered earlier this year are any indication. Unlike the Ioniq 5 and 6, it will likely take the shape of their gasoline-powered counterparts with only minor styling changes. In 2022, updates to both the Sonata and Palisade will hit the market. Both vehicles were all-new in 2020, and their strong designs still appear fresh. However, Hyundai clearly understands the importance of keeping its bread-and-butter offerings fresh in a competitive market, unlike some Japanese and American automakers we could mention. Nowhere in the presentation was Kia mentioned, as the company is trying to keep the brands separate. However, Kia's boss has said it is going full steam ahead in the EV push, trying to outdo even Hyundai. The Hyundai juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down, and other automakers should take note (or be very afraid). Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Hyundai reveals the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai files patent for smartphone feature disabler in proximity to steering wheel

Combatting driver distraction continues to be a hot topic in automotive safety, especially when it comes to young motorists. While simply not using a smartphone behind the wheel would fix much of the problem, automakers are trying to work out complicated ways to make people safer. For example, GM is experimenting with head and eye tracking to make sure folks are paying attention to the road. Now, Hyundai might have come up with a technology that offers a very simple fix: disable the phones. The Korean automaker explains the idea in explicit detail in a recently published patent. The tech specifically "limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user," according to the abstract. Depending on variables like the vehicle's speed, the system determines what smartphone functions are safe to use, including texting or voice calls. Based on a plethora of permutations in the document, these restrictions could only be for the area around the driver's seat or for the whole vehicle. The key to the patent is placing antennas around the vehicle and monitoring for cellular signals. When the system detects them, it can begin selectively deciding what features to allow on the device. The tech isn't a simple on/off switch either, and can possibly detect the time of day or importance of the caller to let messages though. The major downside to all of this is the phone would need to run a specific program or firmware for all of this to work. With such a recently published patent, it might be years before the tech arrives in Hyundai vehicles, if at all. Still, this is an interesting solution. Of course, it would be far simpler if people just put down their phones. You can read the full description of the automaker's concept, here. News Source: Free Patens Online via US Patent and Trademark Office Auto News Hyundai Technology Emerging Technologies Smartphone distracted driving patent cell phone driver distraction

Biden says U.S. is willing to continue talks with South Korea on EV subsidy

SEOUL — President Joe Biden has expressed willingness to continue talks with South Korea over recent U.S. legislation that denies subsidies to most foreign makers of electric vehicles (EVs), an official from Yoon's office said on Wednesday. Biden gave the assurance in a letter to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who had asked the U.S. president last month for help to allay Seoul's concerns that the new U.S. rules would hurt South Korea's automakers. "We assess that President Biden reaffirmed his understanding of our concerns through a personally signed letter .... it shows Biden's willingness to be considerate towards South Korean companies in the future," the official said. The Inflation Reduction Act, signed by Biden in August, requires EVs assembled in North America to qualify for tax credits in the United States, but excluded Hyundai Motor Co and its affiliate Kia Corp from EV subsidies, as they do not yet make the vehicles there. As a result, only about 20 EVs qualify for subsidies under the new rules. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Government/Legal Green Genesis Hyundai Kia EV tax credit