2011 Hyundai Equus Signature on 2040-cars

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2019 Hyundai Veloster shows off its colorful new face

The next-gen Hyundai Veloster is coming soon. When I was in Korea for the launch of the new Hyundai Kona, all three variants — standard, Turbo and N — were trotting around the automaker's proving grounds, teasing and laughing at us since we weren't allowed to use our cameras. After some sleuthing, we uncovered some new info. Thanks to the automotive media back in Korea, we have what appears to be official images of the new Veloster Turbo done up in some of the best-looking camouflage we've seen in a long while. The car will make its full debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. It seems the car was shown off to the Korean press at Inje Speedway in Gangwon Province. The car retains the same basic three-door layout of the old model. That means two doors on the passenger side and one for the driver. The shape may be generally the same, but the car looks far cleaner than before. It's as if Hyundai's designers smoothed out all the lines and pulled the bodywork tighter to the frame. Like before, the exhaust appears to exit from the center, though the N model I saw in Korea and in spy photos has a more traditional dual-exit exhaust pipe. Floating red-painted calipers appear to clamp on some pretty large rotors. There appear to be two wheel designs, too. There aren't any photos of the interior, but once again our spy photographers have come through. The press release we found also lists a new heads-up display. Since these photos came from Korea, we contacted representatives at Hyundai here in the U.S. for more info, but weren't given any clear answers. All we were told was that the images came from their counterparts in Korea. Expect the Veloster Turbo to share the 201-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four and transmissions from the Elantra GT Sport. Korea apparently gets a 1.4-liter engine, but it's unclear if that's coming here. We hope the hopped-up Veloster N will get the 271-horsepower turbocharged inline-four from the i30 N. Hyundai has been on a killer roll as of late. We can't wait to drive this. Related Video:

Hyundai opens up European Test Centre at N"urburgring

Anyone who's anyone among automakers tests at the Nürburgring, and the latest to join them is Hyundai. After fifteen months of construction and a €6.6-million investment - just shy of $9M USD - the Korean automaker has finally completed its new trackside testing center that was initially announced back in January.
Hyundai's new European Test Centre encompasses nearly 40,000 square feet of floor space on four levels in a glass and steel building that houses workshops, offices and hospitality areas. Acting as an extension of the company's European R&D center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new Nürburgring test center will allow Hyundai to conduct more regular and rigorous testing around the 73 corners and 13 miles of tarmac that make up the famous racetrack - definitely a good thing for a powerhouse brand that still sometimes fumbles when it comes to the dark arts of suspension and steering tuning.

Recharge Wrap-up: Nissan UK battery plant, Hyundai EV/FCEV station

Hyundai has opened a joint hydrogen fueling/EV charging station in South Korea. Called a "Fusion" station, it allows customers to take advantage of both types of alternative energy Hyundai uses for its vehicles. The station in Gwangju began as a hydrogen station, and EV charging capability was added recently. While users will have in common the use of green energy to power their vehicles, it will be interesting to see if spontaneous debates erupt between drivers over the merits of the two alternative powertrains. Hyundai will now use the hydrogen fueling part of the station to study fuel usage. Read more at Inside EVs. EV charging company EverCharge is teaming up with Schneider Electric to provide charging infrastructure to multi-tenant buildings. Because of the limited electricity for buildings like apartments, condominiums and offices – as well as the fact that multiple occupants often share power – installing charging at such locations has been challenging. EverCharge's SmartPower technology senses excess or limited power supply, and uses it to charge multiple vehicles accordingly. The groups will use this technology along with Schneider Electric's EVlink Home EV Charger to provide charging services at these otherwise difficult locations. Read more at Green Car Congress, or at the EverCharge blog. Nissan will build fourth-generation lithium-ion batteries for the Leaf at its plant in Sunderland, England. The announcement comes amidst rumors of the automaker outsourcing battery production. The decision means that Nissan's $37.5 million investment will preserve 300 jobs at the plant. The factory currently manufactures second-generation, 24-kW Leaf and e-NV200 batteries, and imports the third-generation, 30-kW Leaf battery from Nissan's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. "Today's announcement reflects Nissan's intention to remain EV leaders for many years to come, with our European operations at the heart of our future innovations," says Nissan Europe Chairman Paul Willcox. Read more at Automotive News Europe, and in the press release below.