Automatic Factory Warranty Cruise Control All Power Spoiler Off Lease Only on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Will Norway and South Korea lead us to the hydrogen future?

In the US, California leads the hydrogen highway. But, globally, the countries at the forefront include Japan, Norway, and South Korea. A new announcement by the Norwegian ambassador in Seoul, Jan Grevstad, makes it sound like those last two countries should think about Voltron-ing it up to promote H2 cars. The ambassador was speaking at the Korea-Norway Economic Cooperation Council at the Federation of Korean Industries. "A great example of the Norwegian–South Korean energy cooperation can be found in the transport sector," he said, according to Yonhap News. "South Korean engine technology is paired with Norwegian hydrogen production and infrastructure technology to create hydrogen driven cars." Grevstad said that the two countries could also work together on solar, wind, and other energy efforts, but didn't get into more detail about what he meant by this. The first Toyota Mirai hydrogen car was just delivered to Norway, but other H2 vehicles have been on the roads there for many years. Back in 2009, for example, as part of the 24th Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS24), some hydrogen cars road tripped from Oslo to Stavanger. That same year, Mazda delivered 30 hydrogen-powered RX-8 RE vehicles. Hyundai – a South Korean company, of course – has been leasing its Tucson Fuel Cell (also known as the ix35 Fuel Cell) in hydrogen-friendly areas and believes that hydrogen-powered cars have a bright future. There's even a Tucson Fuel Cell car-sharing program operating in Germany. As gung-ho as Hyundai is, it's only sold 26 Tucson Fuel Cells in Norway so far, out of a total of about 500 around the world, Yonhap News says. Related Video: News Source: Yonhap News Agency Green Hyundai Green Culture Hydrogen Cars h2 ix35 tucson

Keep it simple, stupid | 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-In First Drive

The Ioniq is Hyundai's "golden medal project," conceived from the outset as a car to beat the Toyota Prius and be the most efficient on the market. Ki-Sang Lee, Hyundai's senior vice president in charge of eco R&D, promised that if they could accomplish that feat, he'd give every single engineer on the project a gold medal. The result of their work is an attractive trio – hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric – built on the company's first dedicated green vehicle platform. And Lee gave out more than 500 gold medals to his engineers. With a growing number of drivers – bolstered by Millenials replacing the buying power of baby boomers – who value efficiency and consider the environmental impact of their purchases, hybrids and electric cars should be a popular choice, right? While cheap gas has not helped to encourage people to make the switch to greener vehicles in the last couple years, the added cost and complexity of electrified cars have also been barriers to wider adoption. Hyundai's approach appears solid. The Ioniq hybrids are straightforward, affordable, and something drivers would be proud to own without appearing smug. So Hyundai has built the car people claim to want, but will the drivers show up at dealerships? The Ioniq is attractive for a number of reasons, not the least of which is pricing. The Ioniq Hybrid starts at $23,035, undercutting the Toyota Prius by $2,535 (with its base MSRP of $25,570). It's also more efficient, with EPA mpg figures of 57 city/59 highway/58 combined. The most efficient Prius (the Two Eco trim level) falls slightly short at 58 city/53 highway/56 combined. While the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn't have price or fuel economy figures yet – it doesn't go on sale until the fourth quarter of 2017 – we do know its 8.9-kW battery pack offers over 27 miles of all-electric range and can be topped off in 2.5 hours on a Level 2 charger. The Ioniq's green cred doesn't stop at its efficient powertrain. Sitting inside the cabin, you wouldn't realize that the soft plastics contain 25 percent sugar cane, or that the headliner and carpet contain about 20 percent of the same renewable plant material. There's no way to tell by look or feel that door trim uses recycled plastics mixed with wood powder and volcanic stone, making it 20 percent lighter. Interior metallic paints use soybean oil to lessen their environmental impact. Even better, it all agrees with the senses.

Peter Schreyer designs the future of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis

Peter Schreyer now leads the design teams at Hyundai, Kia, and the new Genesis brand. He has the difficult task of differentiating the three brands aesthetically, even if they share mechanical components. A new profile about the designer by Bloomberg shows just how much he means to the Korean brands, and it's well worth a read. According to Bloomberg, Schreyer has distinctive ideas for the Korean brands' design. A Kia should look sporty and appeal to young buyers. In contrast, a Hyundai would be for someone who prefers a minimalist design. So far, Genesis is blending those traits for its Athletic Elegance design language. Schreyer went to Kia from Volkswagen Group in 2006, and his mission was to revolutionize the Korean's brand's boring look. He succeeded with sharper, more modern designs for vehicles like the Optima and Sorento that arrived after he took over. He did such a good job there that Hyundai-Kia Motor Group appointed him as its first non-Korean president at the end of 2012. He also now oversees former Lamborghini designer Luc Donckerwolke at the Genesis luxury brand. Bloomberg speaks with industry analysts and other designers to get a better idea of Schreyer's meaning to the company. The piece presents him as an easygoing person who knows exactly how each vehicle should look. If you want to get a better Schreyer and his work at Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, the story is worth checking out. Related Video: