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Hyundai Prius-Fighter Hybrid could preview next attack on Toyota's champion

Hyundai is no stranger to the hybrid game, selling a gas-electric version of the Sonata in the US since 2011. The 2015-model-year version gets 38 miles per gallon combined, which is certainly admirable but not quite in the same league as the hybrid champion Toyota Prius (50 mpg combined). New spy shots reveal that Hyundai might be finally ready to targeting the non-plug-in fuel economy leader. Why else would some mysterious Hyundai prototypes be cruising through the desert hills with a few Priuses in tow?
Our photographers believe these mules hint at an all-new hybrid model, which makes us think of the Blue Will concept from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. At the time, Hyundai said the concept could be a preview of a future dedicated hybrid that would compete with the Prius.
We don't know what it all means for sure, but our spy photographers found four heavily modified Elantra GT prototypes driving around with a standard Prius and a Prius V. As if that wasn't enough of a clue, the four changed Elantras represent different approaches Hyundai might be using to go after Toyota, since there were two versions driving by our photographer's lenses, with different rear extensions indicating that both the standard Prius and the larger V might be in Hyundai's sights.

Recharge Wrap-up: Hydrogen Hyundais and Tesla tax breaks

The 70 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cells owned by customers in southern California have driven a cumulative 475,000 miles. "Over the past year, Hyundai's Tucson Fuel Cell owners are showing the world today that this technology represents the next generation of zero-emissions transportation," says Hyundai's Mike O'Brien. "Building momentum for fuel cell vehicles and their real-world applications, these customers are sharing their experiences of how the Tucson fits seamlessly into their daily lives." A new video from Hyundai shares the story of a year of ownership for one such customer. Dave Uselton took delivery of his Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell in June of 2014. Other drivers' experiences have been shared in video on a dedicated website. See the video above, and read more in the press release below. The first of 200 fast charging stations as part of France's Corri-Door project are now operational. The Corri-Door project aims to have all 200 charging points installed by December 2015. The universal chargers can quick charge an electric vehicle to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. The first two are now online at the Bosgouet Nord (A13) and Tardenois Nord (A4) service stations. The chargers will be installed along major motorways throughout France at intervals of about 50 miles. Read more in the press release from Renault. California may give Tesla $15 million in tax cuts in exchange for jobs. After losing out on having the state be home to the Gigafactory, Governor Jerry Brown's GO-Biz agency is proposing the tax cuts in order for Tesla to buy equipment and property and create 4,400 jobs in California. In all, GO-Biz is proposing $49.5 million in tax relief to California companies in return for 11,000 new jobs. Last year, California lost out on the Gigafactory when Nevada offered $1.3 billion in tax breaks — an amount Governor Brown said would be unfair to taxpayers. Read more from CBS Sacramento.

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT starts at just over $20,000

The soon-to-be-released 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback finally has pricing, and it is quite competitive. It starts at $20,235 for the base model with a manual transmission, with the automatic adding an extra $1,000. That puts the base, manual Elantra GT at a few hundred dollars less than the Honda Civic hatchback and Ford Focus hatchback, and a couple thousand less than the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback. The base, manual Elantra GT also comes nicely equipped even in the base model. It features 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, heated side mirrors, a rearview camera, cross-traffic alert, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 161 horsepower, and it can be coupled to the standard six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. View 52 Photos The 2018 Elantra GT Sport starts at $23,250 with the six-speed manual, while an extra $900 nets a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The extra cost brings significantly more performance and features. Under its hood is the familiar turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder good for 201 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque we already enjoyed in the Forte5 SX and Elantra Sport sedan, but for significantly less than the manual Forte5 SX we drove. The GT Sport also swaps the standard GT's torsion bar rear suspension for a coil-spring multi-link setup for improved handling. Braking improves, too, with larger discs behind 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the GT Sport gets leather upholstery, heated sport seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, blind-spot detection, and a proximity key with push-button start. The Elantra GT has a number of comfort and safety features available as options, though most of the latter are only available on the Sport. Lane-change assist, panoramic sunroof, and a seven-speaker sound system with subwoofer are available on both standard Elantra GT and GT Sport. Lane-keep assist, forward collision with automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control that can stop the car completely and restart. Hyundai previously announced that Elantra GTs would arrive at dealers this summer, so they should be on lots soon. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Hyundai Hatchback Economy Cars hyundai elantra gt hyundai i30