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Trump wants a trade deal, but South Korea doesn't want US cars

SEOUL - US auto imports from the likes of General Motors and Ford must become more chic, affordable or fuel-efficient to reap the rewards of President Donald Trump's attempts to renegotiate a trade deal with key ally South Korea, officials and industry experts in Seoul say. Meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in last week in Washington, Trump said the United States would do more to address trade imbalances with South Korea and create "a fair shake" to sell more cars there, the world's 11th largest auto market. "What we really want to say to the United States is: Make good cars, make cars that Korean consumers like." While imports from automakers including Ford, Chrysler and GM more than doubled last year largely thanks to free trade deal which took effect in 2012, sales account for just 1 percent of a market dominated by more affordable models from local giants Hyundai and affiliate Kia. Imports make up just 15 percent of the overall Korean auto market, and are mainly more luxurious models from German automakers BMW and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz, which also benefit from a trade deal with the European Union. "Addressing non-tariff barriers would not fundamentally raise the competitiveness of US cars," a senior Korean government official told Reuters, declining to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject. "What we really want to say to the United States is: Make good cars, make cars that Korean consumers like." TASTE BARRIER In Korea, US imports are seen as lagging German brands in brand image, sophistication and fuel economy, industry experts say. US imports do have a competitive advantage in electric cars: Tesla Motors' electric vehicles are seen as both environmentally friendly and trendy, while GM has launched a long-range Bolt EV. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross had cited a quota in the current trade deal as an obstacle to boosting imports. The quota allows US automakers to bring in each year 25,000 vehicles that meet US, not necessarily Korean, safety standards. Should GM, for example, decide to bring in more than its quota of one model - the Impala sedans - it would cost up to $75 million to modify the cars to meet Korean safety standards, the company told its local labor union. Asked about non-tariff barriers, a spokesman at GM's Korean unit said removing them could expand the range of models the company can bring in from the United States. No US company, however, has yet to make full use of the quota, industry data shows.

Hyundai CVVD engine brings another dimension to valve timing

A new technology from Hyundai Motor Group places another marker on the march to more efficient internal combustion engines. Called Continuously Variable Valve Duration, the innovation permits two options for how long the intake valves remain open during the combustion cycle. The feature adds a third take on valve chicanery, atop variable valve timing that changes when valves open, and variable valve lift that changes how far valves open. Hyundai says the feature returns a 4% improvement in performance, a 5% increase in fuel economy, and lowers emissions by 12%. Hyundai applied for two patents on the valvetrain process in South Korea in 2011 and again in 2015. The altered valve duration in this latest iteration is made possible by two movable arms inside the camshaft. Each arm is anchored at its base to a pin at the center of the camshaft, while the end of each arm extends toward the edge of the camshaft. Changing the position of the pin in the center of the camshaft changes the angle of the arms relative to one another, which moves the camshaft along its mounting rod. Voila, a new intake cam profile that either lengthens or shortens valve overlap.   During low-speed spells at low load, CVVD opens the intake valve from the middle to the end of compression stroke. The weaker detonation isn't a factor at low load, and the reduced friction during compression improves fuel economy. During heavy engine loads, the intake valve closes at the beginning of the compression stroke to maximize the amount of air mixed for detonation, boosting torque. Four additional features enhance the benefits of CVVD. A more powerful direct injection system increases fuel spray pressure from 250 bar to 350 bar. Hyundai doesn't go into details on its Integrated Thermal Management System, but says the ITMS "quickly heats or cools the engine to the optimal temperature." Low-friction components lower overall engine friction by 34 percent. And a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation layout diverts low-pressure exhaust gas from the traditional EGR route to the turbocharger compressor under high load for better fuel efficiency.   The first engine to boast the new tech is the Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi four-cylinder, which produces 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It will appear in the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Turbo going on sale in South Korea later this year.

Kia Optima Hybrid and Plug-In detailed ahead of launch

Kia wants to be a leader in the green car world in the next five years, and the global launch of the Optima Plug-in Hybrid (pictured above) is an early step in that $10.2 billion plan. The company also has tech updates ready for the Optima Hybrid. However, both new models essentially copy Hyundai's latest improvements for the Sonata Hybrid and PHEV. According to a UK press release, the Optima PHEV will arrive in some global markets in the second half of 2016 with a 9.8-kWh lithium-polymer battery and a 67-horsepower electric motor – just like the 2016 Sonata PHEV. Kia will also aim for an EV range of 27 miles. There will be a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 154 horsepower and 140 pound-feet under the hood for a total system output of 202 hp, and power will get to the road through a six-speed automatic. The company will expect its Hyundai sibling's 99 US mpge fuel economy, too. The PHEV will wear a few unique parts like a charging panel at the front of the driver's side, chrome side sills, and different wheels. Updated instruments will provide info about the electric powertrain, and a charge indicator on the dashboard that will let drivers check the status even when outside the sedan. The updates for the Optima Hybrid will also generally follow the electrified Sonata with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 51-hp electric motor, and total output of 192 hp. It will go on sale in "the majority of Kia's global markets in the first half of 2016," according to the release. However, we don't yet know whether the US will be one of those regions. Autoblog asked Kia Motor America spokesperson James Hope about both of these vehicles, and he told us: "KMA has made no announcement regarding the Optima hybrid. We will have more to share at a later date." HYBRID FUTURE PLANNED FOR NEXT GENERATION KIA OPTIMA New Optima range will include Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models Optima PHEV to combine high-capacity batteries with 2.0-litre GDI engine, offering more electric range than any other PHEV saloon Targeting 10% greater fuel economy for new Optima Hybrid Kia aims to improve average fuel efficiency by 25% over 2014 by 2020 Kia Motors has today revealed details of a range of advanced new powertrains planned for the all-new Optima, as part of the company's ongoing commitment to broaden its global range of low-emission vehicles.