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Hyundai's zombie obsession is just good business

In case you somehow missed it, Hyundai has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with The Walking Dead, the critically acclaimed zombie apocalypse show that entertains the masses while they're waiting for the next season of Game of Thrones. Fans of the show will recognize Rick, Michonne, Carol, Maggie and Glenn's mint green Hyundai Tucson, a staple vehicle for the crew of survivors, but the relationship between manufacturer and show goes far beyond that. There's a whole line of Zombie Survival Machines, as well as a special-edition production model (shown above). Heck, even Hyundai's post-LA Auto Show party featured actors staggering about as startlingly realistic walkers (TWD's name for zombies).
So what is it about the dead that quickens the pulse of Hyundai's marketing department? Ward's Auto has a great interview with Steve Shannon, the brand's US vice president of marketing. In it, Shannon describes the sudden nature of the tie-in between the show and the automaker, while describing how the company's corporate overlords in South Korea saw the results of the deal. It's an interesting insight into automotive product placement, as well as Hyundai's marketing philosophy and plans for the future (spoiler alert: the Tucson, which has had a role in the show for several seasons, was seemingly abandoned at the end of season four).
Head over to Ward's and have a look.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe shows off in four video teasers

Hyundai is ready to turn the lights on the 2019 Santa Fe, and in at least one case, that's the literal state of affairs. The PR folks at the carmaker's Korean HQ released four teaser videos, one of them a commercial demonstrating a few of the tech bits in the coming crossover such as Safe Exit Assist. That driver aid notifies occupants about to exit the vehicle when there's another vehicle approaching from behind, and will temporarily lock the doors to keep passengers from wrecking doors, vehicles, or themselves. The other three vids highlight details throughout the Santa Fe's brand new bodywork, one of them devoted to the fourth-generation vehicle's lighting signatures. When Hyundai goes totally public with the crossover on February 21, we look forward to finding out which lights do what. Beyond that, we'll look to see if this split design lasts longer than the related aesthetic on the resurrected Jeep Cherokee. Elsewhere on the Santa Fe, we see there'll be multicolored digital dash gauges, the option of quilted seat inserts, and a set of dual rectangular exhaust tips. Hyundai's managed to keep most of the Santa Fe's secrets ... secret, but we do know the 2019 model brings a larger footprint and more interior room. Tech goodies should include Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with integrated automatic braking, a Rear Occupant Alert that reminds a departing driver not to forget any precious cargo in the back seat, and some semi-autonomous assistance features. There have also been rumors that Hyundai will do more with this model to differentiate the three-row version from the two-row Santa Fe Sport. The first dose of real info comes on Wednesday, the public reveal goes down at next month's New York Auto Show. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Hyundai Veloster facelift includes new 7-speed DCT, light cosmetics

Hyundai hasn't given the Veloster the exterior overhaul that we expected, but it has outfitted the quirky, oddly doored hatchback with some new tech, at least in the Korean market. The biggest change for the Veloster is confirmation that the previously rumored seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox will replace the current six-speed unit in the Turbo. It's mated to the same 1.6-liter, forced-induction four-cylinder featuring 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The exterior receives a few tiny tweaks, too, with new wheel designs and slightly different silver trim around the grille, but the bigger changes are found in the cabin. Those alterations aren't limited to new materials: Hyundai has included a new engine sound equalizer for the Veloster that lets drivers select from six different engine soundtracks. The instrument cluster also gets slightly altered, and there are new two-tone looks for the seats, as well. According to a blog post by Hyundai, the price for the Turbo with the seven-speed dual clutch starts at 23.7 million won ($22,000). Unfortunately, there's no official word whether these changes are going to make it across the Pacific to the US market. We've got an inquiry in with Hyundai Motor America, and will let you know if we hear more.