2012 Hyundai Veloster Coupe Automatic Sunroof on 2040-cars

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Dodge, Hyundai crowdsourced-funding sites deemed successes

What's not to love about crowdsourcing? This idea, after all, has given us Kickstarter as well Local Motors, but automakers are starting to use the social platform to sell more cars (or just drum up a little PR). Both Dodge and Hyundai have used "crowd-funding" recently, and while Automotive News is reporting that neither has racked up big sales with this gimmick, both automakers are pleased with the attention.
For Hyundai, it teamed up with website Motozuma.com to help customers crowdsource money for a down payment, and the automaker matched this amount up to $500. Last year, this helped Hyundai sell an extra 1,600 units, a fraction of its total 2012 sales. That figure is far larger than Dodge fared with the Dodge Dart Registry - it netted only two sales and a small number of individual options. This registry did help University of Southern California fraternity crowdsource $18,000 to buy a Dart for a local Meals on Wheels, however. Despite the low sales figures, Dodge and Hyundai are considering their crowdsourcing programs a success since it helped them connect with younger buyers.

Hyundai bringing new Veloster model to Chicago

The quirky Hyundai Veloster range is expanding, and we'll see the next take of the Korean automaker's hatchback at the Chicago Auto Show next week. Buried in a release about the company's social media activities, which you can read below, is a line confirming the "reveal of the newest addition to the Veloster lineup."
Mum's the word on what to expect in the world of Veloster, but our best-guess is that it won't be something Earth-shattering. Keep in mind, Hyundai just used the LA Auto Show as its venue to debut the Veloster Turbo R-Spec - a lower-cost, performance-minded version of its hot-ish hatch. Whether or not this new model builds upon the base car (pictured) or the more potent Turbo, remains to be seen.
We'll have the full scoop next week, so stay tuned.

Hyundai New Generation i20 WRC previews next year's rally weapon

With just three events left in the 2015 World Rally Championship season, Hyundai Motorsport is sitting in second place in the teams' championship behind Volkswagen Motorsport. The South Korean company is already looking forward to next season, though, when it debuts a new WRC car based on the latest i20. Those attending the Frankfurt Motor Show are getting a preview of the future rally machine in a pristine racing livery ahead of hitting the dirt. Dubbed the New Generation i20 WRC, the car replaces the current i20-based rally car. The competition-spec body sports some big, boxed fenders at the front and rear, and the double-decker wing looks great at the back. Hyundai claims that the latest version also has better aerodynamics, a more efficient powertrain, and improved weight distribution. It's still undergoing rigorous testing and debuts at the Rally Monte Carlo next year. The racer was originally supposed to be based on the latest three-door i20, but a delay caused the five-door body to become the basis for the machine. Beyond the aggressive shape, some of the most obvious visual touches on the New Generation i20 WRC are the massive N logo in the grille and smaller badges on the fenders and wheels. These are supposed to denote the rally car's connection to Hyundai's freshly launched performance sub-brand. The company claims that the lightweight materials, engine tech, tight handling, and aero bits developed for its racers could find their way to the road through these upcoming vehicles. Hyundai Motor Reveals Passion for High Performance with N Sub-brand at Frankfurt Motor Show • Hyundai Motor's high performance sub-brand N takes center stage at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show • A preview of the New Generation i20 WRC car is presented alongside N performance concepts • A vision of high performance technology in Hyundai vehicles is shown with two dynamic concepts – RM15 and Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo • Hyundai N Bobsleigh 2016, developed for the Korean national bobsleigh team, is displayed at the Motor Show September 15, 2015 - Hyundai Motor, the fastest growing automaker by brand value, showcases its high performance sub-brand N at the 2015 Frankfurt International Motor Show. Built on the foundation of the company's intensive product development and motorsport experiences, Hyundai N ultimately aims to bring 'the most thrilling winding road fun' to customers who truly love cars.