2013 Hyundai Sonata Gls Sedan 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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Hyundai refreshes the Sonata for South Korea, and later the US

Thanks to its debut in South Korea, we have an early look at the revised Hyundai Sonata that will eventually reach the US with minor adjustments. And that's not just speculation. We reached out to Jim Trainor at Hyundai, who told us, "Much of what you have seen from Korea will be seen here, but there will be differences both on the exterior and the interior along with some mechanical and option differences." That said, we don't expect major changes to this Korean model. So without further ado, let's take a look. Up front is a thoroughly revised fascia. The most noticeable change is the grille, which descends much lower in the front bumper, much like those on the Elantra sedan and Elantra GT hatchback. The top edge of the grille appears lower, and that brings the whole nose of the car lower. The hood also has a few more creases running longitudinally. The exterior varies a bit between models, with the standard model getting a grille with slats and the 2.0T getting a mesh grille. The 2.0T also gets black headlight bezels and dark chrome all around. Though Hyundai didn't provide photos of the interior, the company says it has been changed, and some of the buttons will have a more premium feel. The 2.0T also gets a few exclusive interior bits to complement its unique exterior. The seats have more bolstering, and the standard steering wheel is replaced with a flat-bottomed piece. There are some functional updates to the new Sonata as well. Most notable is the introduction of an 8-speed automatic on the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder model. In the US, the turbo Sonata is only available with a 6-speed automatic. Hyundai also touts the introduction of wireless phone charging and lane-keep assist. The big differences between this and the US version likely involve visual tweaks and the packaging of some options. There's also the question of whether the 8-speed automatic will be available, but it would be odd if it weren't offered. The Korean model goes on sale later this year, and Trainor told us the North American debut is coming soon. Related Video:

Hyundai Santa Fe crossover teased as sporty with new safety features

Hyundai has released a teaser image of its upcoming fourth-generation 2019 Santa Fe crossover ahead of its world premiere next month and its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The crossover is due for a series of what Hyundai says is industry-first active safety features. The photo suggests the CUV has undergone a considerable redesign, with a longer, swept-back roofline and elongated body, plus a lower stance, giving it a more sporty look. The headlamps appear to be slightly narrower and less angular. It'll get safety features under Hyundai's Smart Sense system like Rear Occupant Alert, which monitors the rear seats to detect passengers and can let the driver know when they are leaving the car, and its Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning is improved with an added automatic braking function to help drivers when backing out of narrow areas with limited visibility, such as an alley. Hyundai sold 133,171 Santa Fe crossovers, including the Sport, in 2017, an increase of about 1.5 percent over 2016, to make it the brand's second top-selling vehicle after the Elantra. The model was last updated with an exterior facelift and new technology including a standard backup camera and new safety features for the 2017 model year. Image Credit: Hyundai Geneva Motor Show Hyundai Crossover 2018 Geneva Motor Show

Hyundai to launch European performance sub-brand

Hyundai has quickly emerged from the sidelines as one of the biggest players in the industry, outselling rivals left, right and center. Still, a dedicated performance division is still something that separates it from the big boys. Now, according to the latest reports, that's just what it's getting.
After setting up its own Nürburgring test center and gearing up to launch its assault on the World Rally Championship, the next step in the ramping up of Hyundai's performance credentials - in Europe, especially - will reportedly be to set up its own performance division along the lines of what Nissan has done with Nismo.
The first product in Hyundai's new European performance portfolio is expected to be a version of the next i20 hatchback that's set to launch in 2015. That in turn will be used as the basis for the company's next WRC challenger, to replace the upcoming model, pictured above undergoing testing. After that it's anyone's guess, but performance versions of the Veloster, Genesis Coupe and Elantra could be in the cards.