2014 Hyundai Tucson Limited on 2040-cars

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Hyundai to build test facility at N"urburgring

It looks as if Hyundai is set to build a test facility at the famous Nürburgring. Carscoop reports the Korean automaker has commenced construction on a 10,000-square-foot test center with access to the lengthy German track. Hyundai says the $7.3 million facility will help the company focus on improving the ride and handling of its vehicles through extensive research and development.
Sounds like a plan to us. While we've seen Hyundai vehicles improve on many fronts over the past few years, the company continues to struggle with suspension refinement compared to its Japanese, German and domestic rivals.
Automakers routinely flock to the Nürburgring for testing and development thanks to the track's unusual attributes. With a variety of surfaces, banking, turns, elevation and even weather, the circuit offers engineers the ability to put a vehicle through its paces in a wider range of conditions than most facilities.

2019 Hyundai Nexo fuel-cell debuts in California by year’s end

Hyundai will make its 2019 Nexo hydrogen fuel-cell crossover available in California by end of the year, and while it still hasn't announced pricing, it said the vehicle will be sold at Hyundai dealerships in Van Nuys and Tustin in Southern Cal, with a San Jose dealer coming online in early 2019. Read Autoblog's Quick Spin review of the 2019 Nexo here. The Nexo is the replacement for the Tucson Fuel Cell, which it leased to customers and use to log testing miles in 18 countries. Considered the second generation of Hyundai's fuel cell car, the Nexo boasts an estimated range of 380 miles, 115 more than its predecessor, in the Nexo Blue trim, with an estimated MPGe of 65 miles in the city, 58 on the highway and 61 combined. The Limited model offers a slightly more, uh, limited driving range of 354 miles and an estimated MPGe of 59/54/57. The EPA has yet to publish official fuel-economy ratings. Power and acceleration are also improved to 161 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque. Hyundai developed the Nexo on its own dedicated architecture, which it says weighs less (though how much is not known), offers an improved power-to-weight ratio, and delivers a 20 percent faster 0-60 mph sprint time at a not-particularly blistering 9.5 seconds over the Tuscon. Despite the three hydrogen tanks, they take up less total space than the Tucson FCEV, so rear cargo volume is increased by nearly 6 cubic feet to 29.6 cubic feet, with the battery relocated to the trunk. The Nexo is also longer by 10.3 inches and wider by 1.5 inches, with a longer wheelbase, though it's shorter by 1 inch. Overall power increases to 135 kilowatts, with a slightly less energy-dense fuel cell but a battery pack that jumps by 16 kW to 40 kW. The Nexo also gets a host of driver-assist technologies, like forward collision-avoidance assist, high-beam assist and what it calls remote smart parking assist, which enables the car to autonomously park or retrieve itself from either a parking space, including parallel slots and rear-first parking spaces. Related Video:

Kia reportedly plans to increase production of Telluride SUV

A new report from overseas says that Kia will increase production of the new Telluride SUV to 100,000 units due to strong demand for the three-row hauler in the U.S. Korean news site Motor Graph reports the decision was announced on a conference call at Kia’s headquarters in Seoul; Autoblog has sought confirmation from a Kia spokesman. The news comes on the heels of word that the Telluride, along with its corporate sibling the Hyundai Palisade, were getting some minor price increases, the second for both, with the Telluride starting at $33,060, including destination, after launching at $32,735. ItÂ’s also the latest sign of the popularity and positive reviews of the Telluride, which went on sale in March of last year. The Telluride just won the title of 2020 North American Utility of the Year, vanquishing the Palisade and the Lincoln Aviator, and itÂ’s earned a slew of other honors from automotive publications and organizations. Kia builds the Telluride at its plant in West Point, Georgia and sold 58,604 models in the less than eight months it was on sale in 2019, with an established clip north of 6,000 per month by yearÂ’s end. Recent rumors have suggested Kia could be planning a range-topping trim level, complete with fancy new interior colors and an off-road package that could push the Telluride toward the $50,000 mark. Kia also plans to launch the compact Seltos crossover during the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, corporate sibling Hyundai also launched the Palisade three-row ‘ute in 2019, one of two new Hyundai nameplates last year along with the compact Venue crossover, which launched in November. From its launch in June through December, the Palisade posted sales of 28,736, with steady month-over-month increases. A Hyundai spokesman said he had no information to share about production plans but said the Palisade was seeing good demand from car buyers. The Palisade is built in Ulsan, South Korea for the U.S. market. Related Video: