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Hyundai and Kia will offer AI assistants in 2019 cars

Hyundai and Kia both have reputations as early adopters of in-car tech, and that's truer than ever now that voice assistants are becoming a practical reality on the road. The Korean automakers have revealed that they plan to include AI assistants in their new cars starting from 2019, with every vehicle being "connected" by 2025. As Hyundai explained, they've been working with SoundHound to create an Intelligent Personal Agent (based on Houndify) that both makes proactive suggestions (such as reminding you of a meeting) and offers remote control of both your car and your home. This sounds a whole lot like what other voice assistants do, but the car brands are counting on support for "multiple-command recognition" as the ace up their sleeve. If you tell your car to check the weather and turn on the lights at the same time, it'll do both instead of scratching its head like so many other AI helpers. You won't have to wait until 2019 to see the technology in action. Hyundai will unveil Intelligent Personal Agent at CES 2018, and it'll test a "simplified" take on the Agent in hydrogen fuel cell cars slated to drive on South Korean roads throughout the year. It's hard to say if IPA will have an advantage over companies borrowing "off-the-shelf" AI like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, but it's more the ubiquity that will be important -- you won't have to buy a premium-priced model to treat your car like a smart home hub.Reporting by Jon Fingas for Engadget.Related Video: Image Credit: Hyundai Auto News CES Hyundai Kia Technology Emerging Technologies CES 2018

Hyundai kicks off NFL sponsorship with 'D-Gate'

After a long summer, football season is finally back. Hyundai is ready for the snap as the National Football League's new automotive sponsor, and the company hopes its new ad campaign scores with fans. The company's first NFL spot is titled D-Gate and it's about a group of buddies with a Tucson at an Arizona Cardinals game hoping to get on the Jumbotron. One guy brings something from home that doesn't make his wife too happy, as you'll see in the clip. The 30-second commercial is premiering during the season-opening weekend. The automaker's second ad called Field Goal arrives on Sept. 24 and is about a dad who loves the Houston Texans but has to deal with his napping newborn. Hyundai promises even more football-oriented advertising coming throughout the year. Hyundai has a four-year agreement with the NFL as the league's automotive sponsor, and the deal includes events like the draft and providing vehicles for the Super Bowl. General Motors previously held the rights since 2001 and it reportedly cost the company over $150 million a year. Kickoff Celebration Includes Two All-new Fan-inspired Television Ads FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 9, 2015 – Harnessing the passion of NFL fans, Hyundai's first NFL marketing execution launches literally with the very first kick of the regular season. During the season opening celebrations on September 9-10, Hyundai is the presenting sponsor of the 2015 NFL Kickoff activities that include a concert in the San Francisco Bay Area, home of Super Bowl 50. Hyundai is also unveiling two new NFL-themed television ads that highlight what it truly means to be a fan. "Our NFL campaign is all about conveying our love for football and providing opportunities for people to celebrate the game in a meaningful way," said Jacquelyn Kim, director, customer communications and promotions, Hyundai Motor America. "In the new television creative, we want to showcase what passionate fans do #BecauseFootball, and include the role our vehicles can play in that." Hyundai's New NFL Creative Hyundai's all-new Tucson SUV just recently hit dealers, and with its Hands-free Smart Liftgate with additional cargo space, is the perfect vehicle to help fans come game day. Hyundai's "D-Gate" 30-second spot, which will run during the season opener, is a fun take on some passionate Arizona Cardinals fans and their effort to create the ultimate symbol of support for their team.

Recharge Wrap-up: Batty battery covers, Mercedes at Silvretta, new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid available in 2015

Apparently, Chevrolet Volt battery covers make suitable homes for bats. As part of an Eagle Scout project, Matthew Netherland created 30 bat houses out of scrapped Volt battery covers donated by Chevy. 22 of the bat houses will be set up near hydroelectric dams in Michigan. Each bat house will accommodate 100 bats, and divert the scrapped materials from the landfill. The battery covers also make great nesting boxes for wood ducks, which General Motors has previously set up at its Milford, Michigan Proving Ground. Last weekend was the Silvretta E-Auto Rally, which saw emissions-free vehicles cross the Montafon Mountains in Austria, including cars from Mercedes-Benz. These cars included the B-Class Electric Drive, B-Class F-Cell, SLS AMG Electric Drive and even the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive. Also on hand for the Silvretta Classic Rally was a V8-powered C111, a 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC and 300 SL Roadster. Read more in the press release, below. BMW has finalized pricing for the i8 in the US at $135,700 (plus $925 in destination charges). In addition to the base price tag, which we've known for a while, BMW Blog has the complete pricing guide with options and packages. Most of the i8 orders were the Pure Impulse World package, which includes various aesthetic upgrades. It also provides membership to the BMW i Pure Impulse Program, which allows you to "to enjoy innovative ideas and trends in a variety of areas, including home styling, culture, gourmet gastronomy, design and many more." Head over to BMW Blog for more information. The new generation of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid will arrive later than the rest of the model lineup, confirms Car and Driver. While the gas-powered Sonatas get updated now for the 2015 model year, the Hybrid remains unchanged until late this year or early 2015, when it will arrive as a 2016 model. Hyundai is offering a 2015 Sonata Eco edition, but with 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg highway (32 combined), it's not quite as appealing as the current Sonata Hybrid's 36/40/38 figures. Read more here. In June, average US fuel economy was 25.5 miles per gallon, making it the fifth straight month above 25 mpg, according to University of Michigan. The average window sticker ratings from vehicles sold in June dropped slightly from 25.6 mpg in May. The year started at 24.9 mpg in January, and hasn't dropped below 25 mpg since.