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Feds open investigation into recall of 1.7M Hyundais, Kias

US safety regulators have opened a formal investigation into the recall of nearly 1.7 million vehicles by Hyundai and affiliate Kia over engine defects, according to filings published Saturday. A South Korean whistleblower reported concerns last year to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which will probe the timeliness of three recalls carried out in the United States and whether they covered enough vehicles. Fines could be imposed on the automakers if the NHTSA determines the recalls were not conducted properly. The agency did not immediately comment on the probe. A Hyundai spokesman in Seoul the company "has conducted recalls in compliance with US regulations and procedure" and will "sincerely" cooperate with the investigation. In 2015, Hyundai recalled 470,000 U.S. Sonata sedans, saying engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. At that time, affiliate Kia did not recall its vehicles, which share the same "Theta II" engines. Kim Gwang-ho, then an engineer at Hyundai, flew to Washington in August 2016 to tell NHTSA the companies should have recalled more vehicles over the problem, citing an internal report. He also reported several alleged safety lapses to both U.S. and South Korean authorities. On March 31, Hyundai expanded its original U.S. recall to 572,000 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles with "Theta II" engines, citing the same issue involving manufacturing debris, the NHTSA said. On the same day, Kia also recalled 618,160 Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles which use the same engine. The recall, which was also conducted in Canada and South Korea, cost the duo 360 billion won ($322.40 million). "TIMELINESS AND SCOPE" According to the filings published Saturday, the agency opened a probe May 18 into "both the timeliness and scope" of the "Theta II" engine recalls and their "compliance with reporting requirements." In August 2014, Hyundai agreed to pay a $17.35 million fine to settle a NHTSA investigation it delayed the recall of 43,500 Genesis cars to fix a brake defect linked to two injuries. NHTSA said in 2014 Hyundai "must change the way they deal with safety-related defects." Hyundai vowed to make improvements to how it handled safety issues after the fine. In 2015, the company retained former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as an adviser on safety issues.

Hyundai plant one of 100 factories shutting down in wake of Beijing pollution scare

Many factories and chemical plants have suspended production in Beijing in an attempt to curb dangerous pollution, according to the South China Morning Post. The air pollution is some of the worst the city has seen in years, with harmful PM2.5 particle rates hovering between 200 and 400 micrograms per cubic meter. That number is down from as high as 886 on Sunday. For contrast, the US Environmental Protection Agency regulations say PM2.5 concentration at any location be no higher than 65 micrograms per cubic meter, with average maximums not to exceed 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
China blames the pollution on vehicle emissions, industrial production and an increase in domestic coal use to heat homes during cold weather. A total of 48 work sites, including construction zones, metal refineries and chemical plants have suspended production, and 41 factories have cut back production as well. That includes Hyundai Motor Beijing, which suspended production on Sunday.
Even so, the area's children's hospitals are receiving up to 10,000 patients per day with respiratory ailments. The city's government says it is in the midst of an eight-year plan to curb pollution and that levels have dropped between 30 and 70 percent over the past 14 years thanks to its actions.

2018 Hyundai Kona First Drive Review | Serving style, price, and utility, in that order

Utility is an interesting word. As it applies to cars and trucks, it's a nebulous term — but this vague concept is the main reason for buying one rather than a coupe or sedan. Both truck-based SUVs and car-based CUVs claim a modicum of it. And so-called utility vehicles come in all shapes and sizes. The Hyundai Tucson could be considered a small crossover, but when you park the brand-new 2018 Hyundai Kona next to it, you'll see that the new kid is a full foot shorter than its older sibling. Crucially, though, for right about the same asking price, the Kona boasts a little more cargo space but slightly less rear-seat legroom than a Hyundai Elantra. That means a buyer could conceivably compare and contrast the subcompact Kona crossover with the compact Elantra sedan, and decide which shape better suits their needs. View 48 Photos More likely, however, a prospective buyer is going to know before even stepping foot into a dealership that they are interested in the Kona, not the Elantra, because they want the appearance of rugged capability (more than actual rugged capability). Buyers in this category rank design and style as more important than driving manners or fuel efficiency. Utility vehicles are perceived as stylish and trendy, so let's talk style. Design is critical in this segment, and that means boringness is a death sentence. The Kona certainly isn't boring, but it's also a little over the top, especially in the model's trademark Lime Twist bright green hue. Bright colors accentuates the various textures and finishes of the Kona's helmet-like front fascia. Having a vehicle that stands out from the crowd is a good thing, but we like the Kona better in darker colors. Split lighting units front and rear give the Kona a distinctive appearance, especially after the sun goes down with the lights turned on. Jeep introduced the split light look on the Cherokee several years ago, controversially – and subsequently the Cherokee has returned to conventional headlights. Despite Jeep's backtracking, the design works better for the Kona thanks to more compact proportions. It's also a new vehicle without the baggage and overwrought expectations of Jeep's adoring fanbase. The Kona is strongest in profile. The car's designers say the meandering cut lines that start over the front wheel arches, stutter and restart across the doors, and merge in the rear quarter panels over the blocky plastic moldings, are inspired by the flowing and unpredictable lines of lava.