2010 Hyundai Tucson Limited on 2040-cars

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2015 Hyundai Azera is refreshed, may still be on life support

What you see above is the 2015 Hyundai Azera. It's slightly refreshed for the new model year, with a new grille, lighting elements and fascia joining some newly standard technology bits inside the cabin. Other than those few updates, this is the same Azera we've known and loved since its most recent redesign for the 2012 model year. Thing is, we're not sure if the Azera will actually live past 2015 here in the United States. Hyundai has said that it still sees some space above the Sonata midsize sedan and its larger and more luxurious Genesis Sedan for a vehicle sized and priced like the Azera, but just hasn't been able to find many buyers who agree. Put simply, if you like what you see in the 2015 Azera, now would be a good time to mosey on over to your nearest Hyundai dealer to see if this fullsize sedan suits your specific needs better than competitors like the Chevy Impala, Toyota Avalon and Buick LaCrosse.

Hyundai will add smaller crossovers and make the Santa Fe and Tucson bigger

At the LA Auto Show, Hyundai North American CEO Dave Zuchowski detailed plans to change the all-important crossovers in the company's lineup to better suit the ravenous tastes of American CUV shoppers, Automotive News reports. There are two important aspects: up-sizing existing crossovers, and introducing new small crossovers beneath them. With regard to the first part, Zuchowski said that the Santa Fe and related Santa Fe Sport will both grow in size, and differentiate from each other – which is good, because consumers are generally confused about how the five-seat Sport relates to the seven-seat Santa Fe. In the future, the regular Santa Fe will grow to become an eight-seat crossover, and the Sport will also grow and be redesigned as a more rugged-looking Jeep competitor, AN reports. Along those lines, Zuchowski says the company will change the name of the Santa Fe Sport to reduce confusion and better communicate its market position. The Tucson will grow a bit, but won't be significantly reimagined. The report also indicates that Hyundai also plans on introducing a B-segment crossover in 2018 – that is to say, a competitor to vehicles like the Honda HR-V and Jeep Renegade. We had previously reported that a B-segment crossover was on the way but didn't have timing. Further down the road, an even smaller A-segment crossover will be introduced. These new vehicles will be on sale by 2020, as will the revised Santa Fe and Tucson lines. Related Video:

Krafcik says US Gov. shutdown is slowing Oct. auto sales

The government shutdown is eroding consumer confidence in the auto market, says John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai's US sales unit, and could lower October sales by as much as 10 percent, Automotive News reports. "It's that anxiety that keeps customers, potential buyers, on the sidelines when making a big purchase like an automobile," Krafcik says, adding that industry sales could be off by five to 10 percent in October compared to September.
The fourth quarter, which started October 1, usually consists of increased auto sales as dealerships clear their lots to make room for the next year's models. Leading up to the fourth quarter this year, the auto industry was doing well in the fragile, recovering US economy, although September deliveries decreased by 4.2 percent, due in part to this year's Labor Day sales being recorded for August.
To help its customers, Hyundai announced it is deferring new-car loan and lease payments for furloughed federal workers until they're called back to work and also offering them a three-month payment deferral if they buy a new Hyundai in October. "We have already had requests from over a thousand people to have their payments deferred," Krafcik says.