2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night on 2040-cars

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Hyundai's new i30 is America's new Elantra GT

Hyundai pulled the wraps off of the European-designed i30 hatchback ahead of the Paris Motor Show, and the automaker confirmed that it will appear in the United States next spring under the Elantra GT name. The exaggerated curves and swoops from the previous model were discarded in favor of straighter, subtler lines. According to Hyundai, the i30 represents the future of the brand's design, and the "Cascading Grille" will be its signature. On the inside, the i30 features a wide dashboard that is slightly less driver-oriented than the Elantra sedan. Hyundai also uses a touchscreen set out from the dash, which is popular yet polarizing with consumers. In addition to being styled in Europe, other parts of the i30 were also developed and tested over there, and the car even spent some time at the Nurburgring. The chassis is 22-percent stiffer and steering that is 10-percent more direct, Hyundai says. The car also features a McPherson strut front suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension. Europeans will get a variety of engine choices, but only one of them is likely to come here: a turbocharged 1.4-liter gas four-cylinder that makes about 140 horsepower. The other engines are smaller and less powerful gas engines and variations on a 1.6-liter diesel. It's also possible that it could get the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine in the Elantra, or the turbo 1.6-liter engine in the Veloster Turbo and other Hyundais. Hyundai also announced the i30 would spawn a few variants. It didn't give any specifics on body styles aside from saying the i30 would have a "family of unique products." The i30 will be the first Hyundai with an N version. For those out of the loop, N is the performance brand Hyundai has been preparing to launch. The company also said the i30 N would arrive in 2017. Hyundai only confirmed with us that the standard i30 would be coming to America, but it would make sense for Hyundai to bring the hot version as well, even if it comes a little later than in Europe and/or South Korea. We certainly wouldn't turn it down, especially if it sounds like the current prototype. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Hyundai i30: Paris 2016 View 12 Photos Related Gallery 2017 Hyundai i30 View 10 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Paris Motor Show Hyundai Hatchback hyundai elantra gt

NHTSA investigating 8 million airbags not made by Takata

In a shocking turn of events, we have a line of airbags under investigation that weren't made by Takata. Rather, Automotive News reports that 8,000,000 airbags made by ARC Automotive Inc. are under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to Automotive News, NHTSA is looking into ARC's airbags after two injuries and a recent death were attributed to the company's products. The two injuries occurred first and prompted the initial inquiry of 490,000 airbags, which then expanded after an airbag from a different line caused the death of a Canadian driver. The airbags in question are found in GM, FCA, Hyundai and Kia products, and all automakers are cooperating with the investigation, Automotive News reports. It is also important to note that these airbags have not been recalled, as NHTSA is trying to determine the issue and whether a recall is necessary. NHTSA also told the news outlet that the ARC inflators use a different design than those from Takata, instead using some pressurized gas and an ammonium nitrate charge. While the design may be different, the Takata inflators also used ammonium nitrate propellant, which other manufacturers have avoided. We will be watching this situation closely to see what develops. Here's hoping – for our collective safety and sanity – that we won't have to go through another airbag crisis like with the Takata recall. Related Video: News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Shutterstock Government/Legal Hyundai Kia Safety FCA airbag fiat chrysler automobiles

2015 Hyundai Sonata already recalled for bad wiring harnesses

It's barely arrived in dealerships, and already, Hyundai is recalling its 2015 Sonata. A total of 2,138 vehicles are facing issues with a wiring harness that could limit the amount of power steering help and in some cases, making it difficult to shift out of Park. Most of the cars are not yet in customer hands.
This is a followup action to a very quiet stop-sale that was issued to dealers in early June, which originally included a recall of 1,790 vehicles across the continental US and 58 vehicles in Puerto Rico. That figure eventually grew to a total of 2,080 vehicles in the US and 58 in the Caribbean territory.
Only the 2.4-liter, naturally aspirated model is affected, and of the 2,100-plus sedans, only 12 of them are in the hands of customers, according Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor. Each customer has been notified and asked to report in for free repairs. As of this writing, there are no reports of injuries or crashes due to the issue.