2024 Hyundai Kona Sel on 2040-cars

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Hyundai Tucson N would be a hot hatch on crossover stilts

Auto Express reports that during last week's launch of the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe, the carmaker's global head of sales said a hotted-up N version of the Tucson "is under development, and other models will come after that." The remark should quell a year of speculation that a performance-oriented Tucson N had to figure somewhere in Hyundai's plans. The question now is when will the Tucson N get here. The N performance sub-brand's first product, the i30 N, just launched. We'd been told that a "fastback" would come next, probably an N version of the i30 Fastback going on sale in international markets this year. After that would come a B-segment vehicle — likely an i20 N, a road-going model of the four-door that Hyundai uses for the World Rally Championship. After that would come an SUV, however, we're also expecting a Veloster N to reach the U.S. market late this year. We know that the N division plans to take the time to make sure each model delivers all the goods — the i30 N's received uniformly high marks so far — so we could be looking at mid to late 2019 for a spicy Tucson. The hot crossover playground will entertain more global players by then — Seat just debuted its 296-horsepower Cupra Ateca in Europe, for instance — but in the US, the Tucson N could own a niche without a true competitor. The Mazda CX-5 earns across-the-board praise for driving dynamics, but its four-cylinder tops out at 187 hp and it would never be called a "lovable thug." Unless Ford decides to roll out an Escape ST after three years of scuttlebutt on the matter, nothing else in the segment could touch a 'roided Tucson, especially one given the full 271-hp from i30 N's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot. Related Video:

Hyundai’s new Plug-in has a range of 590 miles

Hyundai’s new Plug-in has a range of 590 miles Hyundai revealed the 2018 Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. The Plug-in Hybrid includes a 50 kW electric motor battery pack and has a combined range of 590 miles. The two Sonatas will be built in Asan, Korea. Transcript: HyundaiÂ’s new Plug-in has a range of 590 miles Hyundai revealed its redesigned sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. Blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assist all come standard. The Hybrid powertrain includes a 2.0-liter 4-cyl engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 38 kW electric motor. The Hybrid has a net power of 193 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The Plug-in Hybrid powertrain includes a 50 kW electric motor with a battery pack 5 times larger than the Hybrid at 9.8 kWh, and has a total system output of 202 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The Hybrid boasts a combined mpg of 42 while the Plug-in Hybrid claims a total combined range of 590 miles. Hyundai claims the Hybrid can operate solely on electric power at speeds up to 75 mph. The sonatas will be built in asan, korea. Hyundai Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video PHEV hyundai sonata hybrid 2018 Chicago Auto Show hyundai sonata plug-in hybrid sonata sonata plug-in hybrid

At meeting with automakers, Trump launches new attack on NAFTA

WASHINGTON — Ten American and foreign automakers went to the White House on Friday to push for a weakening of U.S. fuel efficiency standards through 2025, while President Donald Trump used the occasion to launch a fresh attack on the North American Free Trade Agreement that has benefited the companies. A draft proposal circulated by the U.S. Transportation Department would freeze fuel efficiency requirements at 2020 levels through 2026, rather than allowing them to increase as previously planned. Trump's administration is expected to formally unveil the proposal later this month or in June. "We're working on CAFE standards, environmental controls," Trump told reporters at the top of the meeting, referring to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for cars and light trucks in the United States. Trump said he wants automakers to build more vehicles in the United States and export more vehicles. But much of the hour-long meeting focused on NAFTA. Trump blasted the pact involving the United States, Canada and Mexico as "terrible" and noted that negotiations to make changes sought by his administration were ongoing. "NAFTA has been a horrible, horrible disaster for this country and we'll see if we can make it reasonable," Trump said. Automakers have called NAFTA a success, allowing them to integrate production throughout North America and make production competitive with Asia and Europe, and have noted the increase in auto production over the past two decades with the deal in place. They have warned that changing NAFTA too much could prompt some companies to move production out of the United States. The chief executives of General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Fiat Chrysler, along with senior U.S. executives from Toyota Motor Corp, Volkswagen AG, Hyundai Motor Co, Nissan Motor Co, Honda Motor Co , BMW AG and Daimler AG met with Trump, as did the chief executives of two auto trade groups. Major automakers reiterated this week they do not support freezing fuel efficiency requirements but said they want new flexibility and rule changes to address lower gasoline prices and the shift in U.S. consumer preferences to bigger, less fuel-efficient vehicles.