2014 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

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Feds open investigation into recall of 1.7M Hyundais, Kias

US safety regulators have opened a formal investigation into the recall of nearly 1.7 million vehicles by Hyundai and affiliate Kia over engine defects, according to filings published Saturday. A South Korean whistleblower reported concerns last year to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which will probe the timeliness of three recalls carried out in the United States and whether they covered enough vehicles. Fines could be imposed on the automakers if the NHTSA determines the recalls were not conducted properly. The agency did not immediately comment on the probe. A Hyundai spokesman in Seoul the company "has conducted recalls in compliance with US regulations and procedure" and will "sincerely" cooperate with the investigation. In 2015, Hyundai recalled 470,000 U.S. Sonata sedans, saying engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. At that time, affiliate Kia did not recall its vehicles, which share the same "Theta II" engines. Kim Gwang-ho, then an engineer at Hyundai, flew to Washington in August 2016 to tell NHTSA the companies should have recalled more vehicles over the problem, citing an internal report. He also reported several alleged safety lapses to both U.S. and South Korean authorities. On March 31, Hyundai expanded its original U.S. recall to 572,000 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles with "Theta II" engines, citing the same issue involving manufacturing debris, the NHTSA said. On the same day, Kia also recalled 618,160 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles which use the same engine. The recall, which was also conducted in Canada and South Korea, cost the duo 360 billion won ($322.40 million). "TIMELINESS AND SCOPE" According to the filings published Saturday, the agency opened a probe May 18 into "both the timeliness and scope" of the "Theta II" engine recalls and their "compliance with reporting requirements." In August 2014, Hyundai agreed to pay a $17.35 million fine to settle a NHTSA investigation it delayed the recall of 43,500 Genesis cars to fix a brake defect linked to two injuries. NHTSA said in 2014 Hyundai "must change the way they deal with safety-related defects." Hyundai vowed to make improvements to how it handled safety issues after the fine. In 2015, the company retained former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as an adviser on safety issues.

Redesigned 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and PHEV revealed in Chicago

The refreshed 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and PHEV have been revealed at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. While the updates are subtle, it's enough to breathe a little life into an underappreciated member of the Sonata clan. Like the rest of that clan, the fascias front and back have been redesigned. The grille in particular looks considerably more shapely and modern than the outgoing 2016 model's rather plain, Audi-aping unit. The fog light recesses are much more aggressive, better complimenting the headlights, which are new LED units. New wheel designs top off the exterior changes. It's all fairly handsome in toto. Inside, there's a new steering wheel, and behind that a revised instrument cluster. The infotainment system is upgraded with new nav overhead perspective features, and there's a Qi charging pad if you option the nav as well. Safety is a big part of this refresh: blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist are now standard. Automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist are also new options for these two cars. The gasoline-electric powertrains are unchanged. The Hybrid's 193-horsepower-combined electric and gas motor output remains the same. That includes a 2.0-liter gas engine, a 38-kW electric motor mounted in the transmission, and a 1.76-kWh battery pack in the trunk. The PHEV gets a bigger 9.8-kWh battery for up to 27 miles of electric range. With the larger 50-kW motor, the PHEV combined horsepower rating swells to 202. Like every other 2018 Sonata, however, the suspension and steering have been revised. The front roll bar has been stiffened, the steering assistance has been recalibrated, and the rear trailing arms have been fitted with new bushings. As we discovered in our 2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport quick spin review, these changes make a surprisingly significant difference in the way this midsize sedan drives. One would assume the improvements to the hybrid models' vehicle dynamics would be comparable. The PHEV will only be sent to dealers in certain states: California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. If you want a PHEV in another state, your dealer can order one – so technically it's available in all 50 states, if you're patient. Hybrids are available now-ish, and PHEVs will be available in the second quarter of this year. Related Video:

Hyundai says, maybe driverless cars won't be so bad

The allure of autonomous driving for many people is the tech's ability to free up their time behind the wheel from paying attention to the road. However, the driverless future might also increase the mobility of folks all over the world. Toyota's recent billion-dollar research investment aims to tackle both of these questions, and Hyundai now has a moving commercial that offers a glimpse at some of these possibilities. Hyundai also used a clever approach to show off its driver assistance systems in an ad last year, but this time it took a more emotional style to demonstrate the future. We don't want to spoil the optimistic spot's hook, but the video stars a little boy who just wants to drive. The way that he does it is heartwarming and beautifully shot. The commercial is in Korean, but like any good piece of marketing, the visuals break down the language barrier.